Rural Eco-Heating & Welfare Project
Replacing coal briquettes with heat pumps and sustainably sourced wood pellet boilers for elderly households. Eliminating CO risks and reducing winter utility bills.
Our Community Mission
Community Support:
Empowering Korea's Vulnerable Villages
We lift rural elderly communities out of severe energy poverty. By replacing hazardous coal briquette heating with modern heat pumps, weatherizing drafty homes, and launching community solar networks, we secure health and warmth for our neighbors.
342 Homes
Converted to Clean Heat
Elderly households converted from coal to heat pumps
680 Tonnes
CO₂ Eliminated
Annual greenhouse gas reduction from clean energy transition
68% Savings
Energy Cost Cut
Average reduction in annual winter heating bills
Zero CO
Carbon Monoxide Incidents
4 consecutive winters with no gas poisoning events
Community Care
Leaving No One Behind in the Green Transition
At Dasom Saessak Initiative, we believe a sustainable future is impossible without social equity. As South Korea's metropolitan hubs deploy high-tech microgrids and electric public transit, remote mountain valleys are facing severe population aging and energy isolation. Hundreds of low-income elderly residents still rely on coal briquettes (yeontan) in drafty, uninsulated homes, exposing them to lethal carbon monoxide gas and high fuel bills.
Our program bridges structural engineering and community care. We audit each household's thermal envelope, sealing gaps and installing double-glazing window insulation before introducing new equipment. By deploying air-source heat pumps and locally thinned biomass wood pellet boilers, we slash utility bills and health hazards. Every installation features remote smart thermostats, enabling our care networks to run welfare audits throughout the winter season.
Insulate-First Weatherproofing
We block draft leaks and line interior walls to permanently decrease a home's thermal demand by up to 40% before sizing heating systems.
Integrated Care Networks
We link smart temperature telemetry with volunteer check-ins and emergency services to ensure isolated seniors are never left without heat or contact.
Household Thermal Loss Audit
Infrared heat escape maps and baseline thermal efficiency surveys across old agricultural residences in mountain valleys.
Our Approach
The 3-Phase Energy Welfare Framework
Our rural conversions follow comprehensive guidelines approved by the Korea Energy Agency (KEA) and regional welfare centers to deliver long-term, safe results.
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Phase 1: Social Census & Thermal Audit
Field coordinators visit isolated rural homes to carry out energy welfare audits. We map thermal escape pathways, test current Ondol chimney safety, and understand daily resident routines to design customized solutions.
- Home-visit welfare census audits
- Infrared thermographic scans
- Flue-gas carbon monoxide checks
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Phase 2: Weatherisation & Clean Install
Volunteer builders install double-glazed windows, door strips, and wall insulation panels. Licensed contractors then replace old coal briquette burners with high-efficiency air-source heat pumps or pellet boilers.
- Double-glazed windows weatherproofing
- Sustainably sourced wood pellet boilers
- Air-source winter heat pump systems
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Phase 3: Smart Stewardship & Caring Networks
We connect smart thermostats to our central monitoring system to detect boiler issues in real-time. Local coordinators conduct monthly welfare check-ins, delivering home care and safety reassurance.
- Solar-powered real-time sensors
- Citizen scientist winter bird counts
- Community forest fire watch programs
Active Initiatives
Our Active Community Projects
Explore the real, community-led initiatives currently being managed by our NGO to support vulnerable villages across South Korea.
Rural Eco-Heating
Heating Welfare
Solar Cooperative
Yeongwol Insulation Blitz
Weatherisation
Bukhansan Elder Farm
Urban Agriculture
Jeju Haenyeo Care
Divers Health
Scientific Advisory
Our Scientific Advisory Council
We collaborate with leading energy institutes, local county offices, and elder welfare professionals to guarantee our thermal insulation and solar programs reach elite safety limits.
Dr. Choi Min-su
Gangwon Social Welfare Director
"Older residents in high valleys accept energy poverty as seasonal routine. Replacing Yeontan with heat pumps transforms both indoor air and physical comfort."
Prof. Kim Young-hoon
Community Planning Lab Advisor
"Thermal envelopes must be weatherized before resizing boilers. Insulating wall margins and window frames is our key to cutting heating demand."
Dr. Lee Ji-hye
Rural Development Economist
"Biomass microgrids using wood pellets thinned from regional pine forests represent a closed-loop energy economy, generating steady agricultural careers."
Affiliated Organizations & Research Partners
Korea Energy Agency (KEA)
Kangwon National University
Pyeongchang County Government
Daegwallyeong Forestry Cooperative
Help us warm up and protect our neighbors
Join our summer weatherization builds, coordinate elder farms, or sponsor heating boilers.