ADB, IFC, and Ulaanbaatar partner to apply green building standards in design and construction of affordable homes

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Municipality of Ulaanbaatar City recently signed a memorandum of understanding to support the implementation of the Excellence for Design and Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) green building standards and certification system for 10,000 new affordable homes to be built under the Ulaanbaatar Green Affordable Housing and Resilient Urban Renewal Sector Project.

A third of Mongolia’s population live in urban ger areas, or settlements of low- and middle-income households. These districts suffer from poor sanitation, inadequate solid waste management, and limited water supply, which pose health and environmental hazards. A heavy reliance on these ger areas on coal and biofuels for heating and energy generates large carbon dioxide emissions and worsens air pollution, especially during winter.

“About 850,000 people live in Ulaanbaatar’s ger areas and have poor access to urban services,” said ADB Principal Urban Development Specialist Mr. Arnaud Heckmann. “Our partnership with IFC will help us apply the EDGE certification system and standard in designing and constructing green, comfortable, and affordable homes for citizens living in ger areas.”

ADB, the Municipality of Ulaanbaatar, and the Development Bank of Mongolia are working to transform the ger areas in the capital city into affordable, climate-resilient, and livable eco-districts with support from the Green Climate Fund and the High-Level Technology Fund. The $570.2 million project, which includes grants and some $350 million in private sector investment, will build 10,000 energy-efficient homes in 20 new environmentally friendly districts with good services, green spaces, and access to shops and jobs. Out of 10,000 homes, 1,500 will be social housing, 5,500 will be affordable housing, and the remaining 3,000 will be sold at the prevailing market price.

Original source: ADB
Published on 16 October 2019