Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – May 19, 2024 — A decade-long vision has come to life with the official opening of Mongolia’s first-ever demonstration green kindergarten, located in Songinokhairkhan district—one of the most air-polluted areas of Ulaanbaatar. This innovative, eco-friendly facility marks a major milestone in sustainable public infrastructure and early childhood education in Mongolia.

The project began as a sketch in early 2015, when the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with Green Technology Center-Korea (GTC-K), initiated efforts to conceptualize and design a sustainable public building tailored to Mongolia’s unique climate and needs. Within the framework of project “Design and Assessment of educational green building in Mongolia” the design and adaptation work were carried out by a consortium comprising Buildings Technology LLC and the Mongolian Green Building Council, ensuring that the green features were both practical and impactful.

A Living, Learning Space for the Future
Kindergarten goes far beyond traditional education infrastructure. Powered by solar energy and optimized through a smart automation system, the building is filled with natural day light and features a multifunctional green roof equipped with photovoltaic panels and grass cover to help reduce CO₂ emissions. Inside, children not only learn but also actively engage in sustainability through an on-site greenhouse, where they grow vegetables and explore the role of plants in health and the environment.
The building incorporates a TABS (Thermally Activated Building System) floor heating solution combined with a heat pump—an energy-efficient and climate-resilient system, ideal for Mongolia’s harsh winters. It also includes a self-contained sustainable wastewater management system, reflecting the project’s comprehensive approach to green building.

Powering Community Change
While the kindergarten operates from September to June, its solar energy system continues to benefit the community year around. During the summer months, surplus energy is fed back into the grid—contributing to local power supply and generating income to help maintain the facility. This design not only educates children but also empowers the broader community to embrace sustainable living.

After years of planning and effort, construction was made possible through a successful partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), mobilizing over MNT 2.4 billion (USD 0,7 million). Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was completed and commissioned—ten years after its initial conception.

Today, the green kindergarten welcomes 125 children from nearby ger districts and has created 26 new jobs. As the first of its kind in a remote, underserved area of the capital, this flagship project paves the way for sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient infrastructure across Mongolia’s off-grid and rural regions.

“Every day, we welcome many visitors who come to see our kindergarten. I’m truly happy to collaborate and share our experiences with them. Because by creating a green space where children can grow, learn, and thrive, we are planting the seeds of a more sustainable society” said Mrs. Purevdulam, Director of Kindergarten #333.

GGGI and its partners look forward this project to serve as a model for future green public buildings in Mongolia. demonstrating that with persistence, innovation, and collaboration, sustainability can start with a single sketch.

Media Contact:

Bayarmaa Enkhbayar

MELC officer

Global Green Growth Institute – Mongolia

Email: e.bayarmaa@gggi.org

Phone: 976-99009224