Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, May 31, 2022—Sakura House, an energy-efficient private house in the capital city Ulaanbaatar, is the first in Mongolia to be awarded IFC's EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) green building certification. The pilot home, showcasing the benefits of going green, uses electricity rather than traditional fossil fuel-based heating, and will save over 50 percent on energy costs.
The 70m2 two-story Sakura House was built by Sakura Property LLC to promote energy-efficient housing schemes in Ulaanbaatar's ger district — settlement for low- and middle-income families. By replacing traditional fossil fuel-based heating, Sakura House will not be emitting any smoke in the winter, which is crucial given air quality and health concerns in the area. Additionally, solar PV (photovoltaic) panels have been installed to provide 55 percent of the electricity needed. Overall, the house—through innovative housing technology and designs—will save 57 percent in energy use, 27 percent in water, and 42 percent in building materials.
The pilot EDGE certified home, developed with the support from international and Mongolian partners, including the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Mongolian Bankers Association (MBA), and the Mongolian Sustainable Finance Association (ToC) is set to be just the first of its kind in Mongolia.
" IFC and the Ministry have been cooperating in the field of green building certification and promotion in Mongolia," said E.Zolboo, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Construction and Urban Development (MCUD). "We are grateful that IFC's EDGE program made issuing building energy certificate possible. We commit to further implementing green development policies in the country."
EDGE is a voluntary resource efficiency certification system developed by IFC specifically for emerging markets. It provides technical solutions for reducing energy, water, and embodied energy in building materials consumption of construction projects by at least 20 percent compared with similar buildings, helping lower greenhouse gas emissions and building operational costs.
The EDGE certification system will be used in 10,000 new affordable homes to be built under a green affordable housing project planned in the capital. IFC is also working to assess the energy efficiency of more buildings in Ulaanbaatar.
"Green buildings can help meet the growing housing demands of a rapidly urbanizing city like Ulaanbaatar while reducing carbon emissions," said Rufat Alimardanov, IFC's Resident Representative for Mongolia. He added, "Sakura House is an important milestone for our work in the area of green building certifications in Mongolia. Going forward, we will support more public and private buildings in the country to help them adopt energy efficiency measures."
IFC—in partnership with the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program administered by the World Bank and the government of Hungary—has also been facilitating the MCUD and the Energy Regulatory Commission to assess the energy efficiency of buildings in Mongolia through a labeling system developed over the last few years. This month, IFC will audit five public and private buildings in Ulaanbaatar, including the MCUD office building.
About IFC
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About EDGE
An innovation of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, EDGE is a green building standard and a certification system that empowers building professionals to quickly and easily determine the most cost-effective ways to build green based on building type and the local climate. Available worldwide, EDGE was created in response to the need for a measurable solution to prove the financial case for building green.
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