Gasa Dzongkhag is located in the north-western part of Bhutan consisting of Four Gewog (Khatoe, Khamoed, Laya and Lunana) with an area of 3117.74sq.km. The elevation of Gasa Dzongkhag ranges from 1500 to 4500 meters above sea level. The projected population of Gasa in 2010 is 3,396 (Dzongkhag Population Projections 2005-2010). Gasa has 19.60 percent of land under forest cover, 0.15 percent under agriculture, 3.54 percent under meadows, 30.58 percent under scrubs and Shrubs and 22.14 percent under snow and Glacier and 23.99 percent under other category (Land Cover Mapping Project 2010). Climatic condition of Laya and Lunana is very cold so highlanders frequently migrate to the lower altitude region during the winter season. This seasonal migration of highlanders has been a common practice since decades.
In order to mitigate this practice it demanded for the solution by which it would appeal the highlanders to dwell at their village regardless of any season. This lead to the introduction of room Heating System popularly known as Gudeul, a Korean traditional architecture. Dzongda with the vision to implement the technology at highlands (Laya and Lunana) initiated first piloting project as a trial at Gasa Dzongkhag to assure its workability. The piloting project initiated at Gasa proved to be a great success and therefore ultimately proposed to be implemented at Laya and Lunana Gewog by embedding this concept note as Flagship Program in the 12 FYP.
The Ondol being very new concept on room heating system in Bhutan, it has greater impact on the living standards of the highlanders. It is very cost effective and eco-friendly since it requires only 5-6 numbers of firewood to light up the fire and it warms the room for 24 hours. Besides timber it can be substitute with igniting materials like saw dust, dry cow dung, horse shit and yak shit.
The principle of Gudeul is through convection and radiation of heat. It is an incredibly efficient home heating system that is good for human health. It is an ancient Korean innovation of under floor heating that uses direct heat transfer from wood smoke to the underside of the thick masonry floor by heat radiation.
We believe the introduction of Gudeul room heating system in Gasa; especially in Laya and Lunana will go a long way in fulfilling the Dzongkhag?s vision of the ?Good to Great Gasa? and the National vision of ?Gross National Happiness?.

Rationale

? The primary reason for the installation of Gudeul Room heating system is to curtail rural-urban migration. Other than that it being more advantageous than that of traditional Bukhari system in terms of quantity of firewood consumption. Having said that people will adapt the same type of heating system gradually knowing its advantages and benefits, and this system will lead to encouragement of highlanders to develop homestays for tourist visiting at Highlands. Hence helping in boosting country?s revenue at national level and highlanders dwelling there can generate some income as well.


o Probable change/ improvement that project can bring :-
o It will stimulate local socio-economic development through promotion of homestays.
o It will stop the migration of highlanders to lower areas.
o It will ensure the conservation of environment.
o It will encourage tourism to Highland.

o It will provide a platform for knowledge sharing between the highlander-to-highlander.
o It will save forest, money and improve health of the people, thereby contributing meaningfully to the Gross National Happiness of our country.

Project goal: Pilot Ondol in Laya Community through promotion of fuel efficient heating technology

Project outcome:
i.Fuel efficient room heating technology installed in Classrooms of Laya School and Households of Laya Community.
ii. Reduction in ddependency and consumption on fuel wood reduced.
iii. Reduce health to students and communities and fire risk to infrastructures.

Project output:
i. Fuel efficient heating systems installed in classrooms and few households in Laya
ii.Quantity of fire wood requirements reduced.
iii. District level awareness and promotion of the technology