Clean Air with a Mongolian Ger

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the biggest problems facing Ulaanbaatar, and coal-burning stoves in thousands of traditional yurts (gers) surrounding the city are a significant contributor to the pollution. A team of students developed a DIY retrofit insulation system, consisting of radiant barrier, clear plastic, and EPS foam, that would allow coal stoves to be replaced by a small electric heater. This eliminated the production of pollutants from the ger, made the air in the ger cleaner, and made the home more comfortable by giving residents effortless control of the temperature inside.