BYU Capstone Ger Project - Mongolia

In Mongolia it is estimated that 25 to 40% of the Mongolian population are nomadic herders who have a Ger and will move their Ger as they move from place to place    In Ulaanbaatar it is estimated that 50 to 60% of the population live in a Ger shanty town.  A Ger or Yurt as some people know it, is a round structure that can easily be disassembled and moved.  Over the years the Mongolians have perfected the art of being able to build, assemble and transport their Ger’s.

Living in a Ger is a traditional way of life in Mongolia, but there are also a lot of problems associated with Ger life.   One is that Ulaanbaatar has a pollution problem and a large part of what is driving the pollution is the coal burning stoves that the Ger’s are using for their heating and cooking. Mongolia has a very high morality rate from respiratory complications.   

The BYU Engineering Capstone Project has taken on the challenge to find a way to improve the lives in the Ger district.  They are looking at ways to replace the present Ger Structure and the present method of Ger heating. 

Their goals for the design objectives are:

1.  To minimize air pollution in the Ger Districts by using a zero emission heating source.
2.  Develop affordable and low power heating options, which will include energy efficient electrical heating.
3.  Improve thermal efficiency and heat retention of the Ger home. They estimate the new Ger insulation method will reduce the need for heat from 5-10 Kw to just 1 Kw.
4.  Develop an alternative Ger home dwelling as a Ger replacement.

The objectives for the project is:
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 1.  To improve air quality in Ulaanbaatar by reducing particulates emitted from coal stoves – one ger at a time
2.  Enhance the insulated properties of a traditional Ger.
3.  Provide controllable heating throughout day or night.
4.  Provide affordable and energy efficient housing alternative for low income families.
5.  Help improve quality of life for the Mongolian people.

For those visitors that are interested, as part of the BYU MS Mongolia conference we will try to have some tours to go out to see the BYU Engineering Capstone Ger project.  This project will be in three phases and the BYU MS Mongolia conference will be in middle of the BYU Capstone project, so not all data would have been collected or changes made.