{"id":2632709,"date":"2025-09-04T22:55:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T22:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/2632709\/"},"modified":"2025-09-04T22:55:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T22:55:33","slug":"lessons-from-europe-on-energy-efficiency-and-house-insulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/2632709\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons from Europe on Energy Efficiency and House Insulation"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The \u201cSOAP II\u201d project, funded
\nby the European Union\u2019s SWITCH-Asia Program and the FRESH Project supported by
\nthe French Development Agency (AFD), has been implemented in Mongolia to reduce
\nair pollution by improving the energy efficiency of detached houses.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In June 2025, Geres
\nInternational NGO organized a study tour to France and Belgium (June 21-29).
\nThe visit enabled Mongolian policymakers, financial institutions, and housing
\nsector stakeholders to explore European experiences in energy-efficient housing
\nretrofits and financing mechanisms. This exchange provided valuable insights to
\naddress Mongolia\u2019s challenges, particularly in ger areas, and opened new
\nopportunities for collaboration to scale up retrofitting, reduce air pollution,
\nand cut greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Learning from France and
\nBelgium: Best Practices<\/p>\n

The study tour began in Paris,
\nwhere the delegation examined strategies and innovations in energy efficiency,
\naffordable housing, and inclusive urban development. In Brussels, the focus was
\non financial mechanisms, policy frameworks, and large-scale housing retrofits,
\nwith visits to exemplary housing projects and European institutions.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

An Ecosystemic Approach<\/p>\n

European experiences show the
\nimportance of national housing agencies playing a central role in retrofitting
\nand energy efficiency, as well as integrated and enforceable frameworks:<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ANAH (French National Housing Agency): Manages retrofitting
\nsubsidies for low- and middle-income households, condominium associations, all
\nover France. Its 2024 budget reached EUR 3.7 billion, reflecting the scale of
\nstate commitment.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SOLIHA: France\u2019s largest non-profit housing network,
\nproviding end-to-end renovation support (technical, financial, administrative)
\ntailored for vulnerable households, the elderly, and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Agence Parisienne du Climat (Paris Climate Agence): A
\n\u201cone-stop shop\u201d offering technical advice, financial guidance, and
\npost-renovation monitoring. Its digital platform CoachCopro.com helps
\ncondominium owners design and finance renovation projects.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Belgium, the SLRB (Brussels-Capital Housing Company) and
\nComensia demonstrated how long-term planning and coordinated financing can
\ntransform social housing, combining heritage preservation with modern energy
\nefficiency standards.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Inclusive Financing and
\nBalanced Incentives<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Experts emphasized that sustainable retrofit programs
\nrequire both strong financing tools and balanced incentives:<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inclusive Financial Mechanisms \u2013 Tools that allow low- and
\nmiddle-income households to access retrofits.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Balanced Incentives \u2013 Support for both supply-side actors
\n(builders, engineers, energy service companies) and demand-side actors
\n(households).<\/p>\n

Innovative models such as
\nEnergiesprong in France illustrate how prefabricated insulated walls,
\nintegrated solar roofs, and performance guarantees can deliver net-zero homes.
\nAlthough upfront costs remain a challenge, these approaches show how scale and
\nstandardization can lower long-term costs.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

European consulting firm
\nClimact underlined that subsidies alone are not enough: innovation, skilled
\nlabor, and behavioral change are equally crucial.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opportunities for Mongolia<\/p>\n

During the tour, the Mongolian
\ndelegation presented the country\u2019s pressing issues: inefficient housing in ger
\ndistricts, severe winter air pollution, and financial barriers for households.
\nExchanges with the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Commission (DG
\nINTPA, SWITCH-Asia), and AFD highlighted potential avenues for cooperation and
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n

The European Commission also
\nannounced future opportunities that Mongolia could leverage to scale up housing
\nretrofits and sustainable urban development.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/p>\n

The study tour demonstrated
\nthat successful retrofitting requires more than subsidies: it relies on a
\nstrong ecosystem of policies, financing tools, skills, and innovation. <\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 France\u2019s ANAH, SOLIHA, APC, and AFD showcase how public
\npolicies, local actors, and civil society can work together to make retrofits
\naffordable and inclusive.<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Belgium\u2019s SLRB and Comensia highlight the role of social
\nhousing as a lever for equitable and sustainable urban development.<\/p>\n

For Mongolia, adapting these
\napproaches offers a clear path to:<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Expand retrofitting in ger districts and urban housing,<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bridge financing gaps through inclusive tools, and<\/p>\n

\u25cf\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Build strong partnerships with European and international
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n

With these insights, Mongolia
\nis well-positioned to accelerate its energy transition, reduce air pollution,
\nand improve the quality of life through better-insulated homes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways for Mongolia<\/p>\n

1. Ecosystemic Approach \u2013
\nIntegrate enforceable housing-sector policies and regulations to ensure
\nlong-term sustainability.<\/p>\n

2. Inclusive Financial
\nMechanisms \u2013 Develop financial instruments tailored to low- and middle-income
\nhouseholds.<\/p>\n

3. Balanced Incentive Systems
\n\u2013 Support both builders and households to create a functional and sustainable
\nretrofit market.<\/p>\n

For more information about
\nSOAP Project:<\/p>\n

+ 976 75052000<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0414\u0423\u041b\u0410\u0410\u041d \u0428\u0418\u0419\u0414\u042d\u041b \u0422\u04e8\u0421\u04e8\u041b\u201d<\/p>\n

dulaanshiideltusul@gmail.com <\/p>\n

https:\/\/dulaalga.mn\/ <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u201cSOAP II\u201d project, funded by the European Union\u2019s SWITCH-Asia Program and the FRESH Project supported<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2632710,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[389806],"tags":[188914,785092,83845,785093,785095,201,785094,8024,576811,785098,785100,785091,785090,785101,785097,158903,785096,785099,785103,785102,7293,2482],"class_list":{"0":"post-2632709","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-europe","8":"tag-europe","9":"tag-mongol-news","10":"tag-mongolia","11":"tag-mongolian","12":"tag-mongolian-news","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-news-of-mongolia","15":"tag-politics","16":"tag-576811","17":"tag-785098","18":"tag-785100","19":"tag-785091","20":"tag-785090","21":"tag-785101","22":"tag-785097","23":"tag-158903","24":"tag-785096","25":"tag-785099","26":"tag-785103","27":"tag-785102","28":"tag-7293","29":"tag-2482"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/wakoka.com\/@news\/115148497064467842","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2632709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2632710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2632709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2632709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wacoca.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2632709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}