Green Building Council's (Grænni byggð) events in 2023. 2024 Turfhouse event 08/10/2024 GBCI and Lendager Iceland held a morning meeting about turf houses at Norræna húsið on october 8th. The event included lectures about the history of turf houses, their carbon footprint, and what can be learned from the past about circularity in future building projects. Hjörleifur Stefánsson , a turf house expert, spoke about the final era of the Icelandic turf house in the first decades of the 20th century. Katarzyna Jagodzińska from GBCI explained a Life Cycle Assesment (LCA) done on a model turfhouse, which serves as a baseline for further conceptual investigation of how to adopt “past” techniques and materials in modern design and build circularly. Arnhildur Pálmadóttir from Lendager Iceland spoke about the future of building with circularity, and the opportunities to learn from the past. Recording of the meeting can be found here. GBCI Day 2024 25/09/2024 The Day of Green Building, GBCI's annual conference, was held in IÐNÓ on the 25th of September. Keynote speaker was Kasper Benjamin Reimer Bjørkskov . Kasper is a Danish architect who specializes in transforming complex environmental and social challenges into innovative, sustainable building solutions, promoting inclusive design and inspiring social change. He has been actively involved in numerous construction projects whose main goal is to minimize CO2 emissions, and at the same time demonstrate that low-carbon buildings can be built without costing more. Moderator was Freyr Eyjólfsson , musician, entertainer, media person, and current project manager of education and promotions at SORPA. Freyr has long advocated for the transformation towards a circular economy, not least in the construction sector. On the agenda was a diverse set of lectures on the design and construction of environmentally friendly buildings, as well as a panel discussion about needs and proposed solutions in the industry. The full agenda can be seen here below. At the end of the day the Green shovel was awarded to Urriðaból , a kindergarten in Garðabær. Launching event of the Icelandic network on circular construction - Hringvangur 15/05/2024 At this half-day conference, among other things, the status, challenges and future of Icelandic timber products for the construction industry were discussed, but in addition several projects were presented that received funding from the Askur - Construction Research Fund and examples of Icelandic structures made of timber were shown. The conference was part of the Innovation Week and was held by Green Building Council Iceland, the Housing and Construction Authority, Land and Forestry, Trétækniráðgjöf slf., and Iceland's Farmers' Association. Agenda (In Icelandic) Loftslagsávinningur timburvara Áróra Árnadóttir, framkvæmdastjóri Grænni byggðar og aðjúnkt hjá umhverfis- og byggingarverkfræðideild HÍ CE merking og staðlavinna Eiríkur Þorsteinsson, trétæknir hjá Trétækniráðgjöf Áskoranir, staða og framtíð íslenskra timburvara Ólafur Eggertsson, sérfræðingur hjá Land og skógi og dósent við LBHÍ Timbur sem efni í nærumhverfinu - Landsfjórðungahús Auður Hreiðarsdóttir, arkitekt hjá Esja Architecture Krosslímdar timbureiningar – áhættuþættir og meðhöndlun Gústaf Adolf Hermannsson, sérfræðingur hjá HMS Hlé Mannvirki úr íslensku timbri Hreinn Óskarsson, sviðsstjóri þjóðskóga og landa,og Trausti Jóhannsson, skógarvörður hjá Landi og skógi Tækifæri í timbri Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, arkitekt og eigandi Lendager á Íslandi Íslenskt timbur Hlynur Axelsson, arkitekt hjá HAX arkitektúr og stundakennari við Listaháskóla Íslands Gestastofa í Þjórsárdal Marcos Zotes, arkitekt og meðeigandi hjá Basalt arkitektum Val á íslensku timbri Halldór Eiríksson T.ark. Fundarstjóri var Þóra Margrét Þorgeirsdóttir, framkvæmdastjóri hjá HMS Upptöku má finna hér . Annual General Meeting 23/04/2024 GBCI's annual general meeting was held on April 24 from 14:00 - 16:00 in the Verkís building at Ofanleiti 2. Before the usual meeting work began, Magnús Arason and Björgvin Brynjarsson from EFLA gave a presentation on Carbon calculations for infrastructure projects, and Þóra Margrét Þorgeirsdóttir from HMS discussed the implementation of life cycle analyzes in building regulations. Five seats on the board were elected, four to two years and one to one year. With sustainability as a life's work 21/03/2024 On Thursday, March 21, the University of Iceland, the Architects' Association of Iceland, Green Building Council Iceland and HMS held a seminar on the sustainable solutions of architect Jón Kristinsson on the occasion of Jón's 60th work anniversary. The seminar took place in Veröld - Hús Vigdísar, and lasted from 15.00-17.00. Jón has lived in Deventer in the Netherlands for most of his life and studied architecture at Delft University of Technology, where he later held the position of professor in environmental technology and design. He is known for having designed the most eco-friendly building in the Netherlands and is widely known for his inventions in the field of sustainability. On the first of last January, Jón was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon for pioneering work in ecological building design on the international stage. Agenda: Opening Sigríður Maack chairman of the Icelandic Association of Architects, and Sigurður Magnús Garðarsson, president of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences of the University of Iceland, welcome guests Integrated sustainable design by Jón Kristinsson Prof.dr.ir. Andy van den Dobbelsteen PhD, Professor at Delft University of Technology. Frequency of moisture damage and quality of indoor air - can the problem be reduced with heat exchange on ventilation? Björn Marteinsson architect and civil engineer and former teacher at UI. In the beginning, the end should be considered Arnhildur Pálmadóttir architect talks about sustainable building Panel discussion Jón Kristinsson, architect and guest of honor; Koos Slootweg, engineer; Þórhildur Fjóla Kristjánsdóttir, engineer; Björn Marteinsson, architect; Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, architect and Andy van den Dobbelsteen, engineer Moderator: Guðrún Ingvarsdóttir architect Workshop on environmental conditions in tenders and construction contracts 6/03/2024 Central Public Procurement, the Federation of Icelandic Industries, the Housing and Construction Authority and Green Building Council Iceland called for an open conversation about environmental conditions in tenders and construction contracts in Iceland. The meeting took place on Wednesday, March 6 at 14.00 to15.30 in Hús atvinnulífsins in Borgartún 35, in the meeting hall Hyl. Agenda Þóra Margrét Þorgeirsdóttir from the Housing and Construction Authority reviewed the criteria and objectives of action 6.4 in the Roadmap towards sustainable construction 2030. Sveinbjörn Ingi Grímsson from Central Public Procurement discussed about scope in public procurement to apply environmental conditions within the legal framework. Áróra Árnadóttir, CEO of Green Building Council Iceland, discusses the results of a response survey on the use of environmental conditions in tenders and work contracts for the purchase of services and goods in the civil engineering sector in Iceland. Ragnar Ómarsson project manager at Verkís hf. deals with the topic of environmental conditions in Nordic models and Icelandic ideas. A workshop with open discussions at work tables on priorities and priorities in harmonized environmental conditions for tenders and selection criteria for tenders. The moderator was Elísa Arnarsdóttir, business manager of the housing division at the Federation of Icelandic Industries Slides from the meeting can be accessed here . Let's talk about the circular economy 28/02/2024 The event Let's talk about the circular economy was held in Gróska on 28 February at 13.00 - 15.30. After discussions with stakeholders, we know that there are numerous actions that can be taken to facilitate the introduction of the circular economy in the Icelandic construction industry. But which actions should be prioritized? What should public bodies emphasize in order to promote the implementation? We summarized the possible actions that were discussed, in these three categories: Improved architectural design Correct recording of the environmental impact of new buildings and renovations Reduce risk and improve the efficiency of circular projects In the second part of the event, participants were asked to answer which activities, aimed at facilitating circular construction, the Nordic Council of Ministers should focus on. They were also invited to answer the question: what should the Nordic countries strive for at the European level? Webinar: Emission-free construction sites: Knowledge gaps and research needs 15/02/2024 In the middle of February, we held an online event where we presented a new version related to emission-free construction sites in the project Nordic Sustainable Construction, but the report points out where the focus should lie in knowledge acquisition and experimental projects. You can now watch a recording of the event and view slides here .

Green Building Council Iceland's publications on construction and demolition waste (C&DW). Construction and demolition waste 2022 GBCI received a grant from the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate through the Housing and Infrastructure Agency to work on the mapping and preparation of guidelines on the possibilities of using construction waste. The project is part of action 4.2. in the Icelandic roadmap to ecological construction (Byggjum grænni framtíð) . GBCI got VSÓ Ráðgjöf on board to do the analysis. The results of the research project can be seen below (in Icelandic). Planning and guidance on the utilization potential of construction waste 2019 In cooperation with the celandic Civil Engineering Agency (Mannvirkjastofnun ), Green Building Council Iceland (GBCI) launched the project on the preparation of guidelines for the handling of construction and demolition waste. GBCI and Mannvirkjastofnun were responsible for project management, and the project was realised in cooperation with EFLA , VSÓ Consulting , and Verkís . The project results can be seen below. The circular economy and the construction industry (in Icelandic) The guidelines for the management of construction and demolition waste (in Icelandic) Construction and demolition waste mapping (in Icelandic) The assessment of hazardous substances in construction and demolition waste and a plan for their treatment (in Icelandic)

Koma á skýrri kröfu um skil á rauntölum um magn úrgangs og virkja eftirfylgni (BGF 4.7 ) About the project Grænni byggð worked within an action 4.7 Skil á rauntölum um magn byggingarúrgangs in Vegvísir að vistvænni mannvirkjagerð 2030 aiming to improve data collection and processing on construction and demolition waste in Iceland. We were responsible for preparing an overview of systems and ways of collecting and processing data on waste in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. This overview was based on desk research and interviews with key stakeholders dealing with waste data in the Nordic countries. This overview will provide a foundation for further work of the parties responsible for the action.

Information on circular economy principles in construction. Construction boards The handbook was created as an early-stage guide for those considering reuse. The guide focuses primarily on reuse potential, with practical tips and the legal and hazard-related barriers associated with it. Additionally, it covers recyclability and potential carbon emission savings. Below is a list of materials, along with their reuse potential and associated hazards; the full handbook is available here. Reuse handbook Interior fixtures and fenestration Cladding Flooring Insulation Roofing Construction materials reusable without/with a few minor identified issues reusable with several minor issues identified reusable with several major issues identified reuse is possible only in rare cases reusable with some minor and major issues identified Construction boards Reuse potential Chipboard MDF board OSB Plywood Plasterboard Cement-based wall elements Identified hazards* formaldehyde and other VOCs, halogenated flame retardants, wood dust, mould/rot, PCBs formaldehyde and other VOCs, halogenated flame retardants, wood dust, mould/rot formaldehyde and other VOCs, wood dust, mould/rot formaldehyde and other VOCs, wood dust, chromated copper arsenate (CCA), mould/rot asbestos, gypsum dust, biocides asbestos, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint) Plotur Interior fixtures and fenestration Reuse potential Ceiling panels Doors Sanitary equipment Ventilation ducts Windows Identified hazards* mould, dirt asbestos (older fire doors) asbestos, pathogens Dirt asbestos, PCBs * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint) Interior Cladding Reuse potential Aluminium panels (flat and corrugated) Ceramic façade systems Copper and zinc sheet cladding Fibre cement panels Metal composite panels Natural stone Timber cladding Identified hazards* not identified respirable crystalline silica (RCS) metal fumes asbestos, respirable crystalline silica (RCS) fire-related risks not identified wood dust * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint) Klaedding Flooring Reuse potential Carpet Ceramic tiles Laminate flooring Engineered wood flooring Identified hazards* dirt, pathogens, VOCs, mould asbestos, respirable crystalline silica (RCS), mould formaldehyde and other VOCs, mould/rot formaldehyde and other VOCs, mould/rot * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint) Golefni Insulation Reuse potential Expanded Polystyrene Insulation Metal insulation panels Mineral wool Polyethylene vapour barrier Identified hazards* CFC and HCFC blowing agents, HBCD flame retardants, fire-related risks not identified mould - * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint) Insul Roofing Reuse potential Corrugated steel Breathable roof membrane Bitumen roof underlay Bituminous roofing membrane Gutters and downspouts Identified hazards* not identified - - - not identified * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint) Þakefni Byggingarefni Construction materials Reuse potential CLT Identified hazards* VOCs, wood dust, mould/rot Concrete (cast-in-place) respirable crystalline silica (RCS) Concrete (precast) respirable crystalline silica (RCS) Glulam VOCs, wood dust Steel beams not identified General timber wood dust, mould/rot Chemically-treated timber creosote, chromated copper arsenate (CCA), pentachlorophenol, wood dust, mould/rot Strength-graded timber wood dust, mould/rot Thermally-treated timber wood dust, mould/rot * excluding hazards related to surface treatment (e.g. paint)

Some EPDs on paints in Iceland. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) - Paints in Iceland JOTUN Jotun Heftgrunning Universal JOTUN Jotun Lady Pure Color JOTUN Jotun Sparkel Fin Gipsplate JOTUN Jotun Jotaproff Akryl 10% JOTUN Jotun Pilot WF Primer JOTUN Jotun Sparkel Vegg & Tak medium JOTUN Jotun Jotaproff Primadekk JOTUN Jotun Prosjektsparkel JOTUN Jotun Trebitt Oljebeis

Green Building Council Iceland's materials on other topics than construction and demolition waste or certification systems. Other published materials On this page you can find reports from all over that address sustainable construction. Click the reports to read them. 2020 Let's build a greener future (Byggjum grænni framtíð) - Summary of the state of environmental issues in the construction industry in the Nordic countries (in Icelandic)

Some EPDs on timber materials in Iceland. Environment (EPDs) - Timber materials in Iceland KLH KLH CLT timber pannels Límtré Vírnet KLH CLT timber pannels

Green Building Council's (Grænni byggð) events in 2023. Newsletters GBCI publishes a monthly newsletter. Here you can find links for newsletters that GBCI has published in the last 12 months. Mynd: Ástrós Steingrímsdóttir June 2026 In this newsletter: New Publications 📖 Reuse handbook Past events 👏 NEB Transforming the North: Best Practices in Circular Built Environments To think about 💡 Reminder: The Green Shovel 2026 - Open nominations Good news ☀ Arnhildur Pálmadóttir city artist of Reykjavík 2026 Networking groups 🤝 May 2026 April 2026 January 2026 GBCI Day August 2025 March 2026 December 2025 October 2025 June 2025 February 2026 November 2025 September 2025 May 2025

Some information about EPDs,PCR and some EPDs for Icelandic products. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) An environmental product declaration (EPD) is a document providing confirmed information about the environmental impact of the product's life cycle based on the results of performed life cycle assessment (LCA). The EPD also contain the information required by the specific Product Category Rules (PCR) and General Programme Instructions . Eventually, EDP is verified by a third party who evaluates the analysis independently. As the methodology of its preparation is regulated, EPD help build transparency and increase confidence that environmental claims made by manufacturers are accurate. In many ways, such a statement is similar to the ingredient descriptions of food products, but instead of information on nutritional value, there is information on the product's environmental impact. The first Icelandic EPD was published for Steinull , based on the analysis done by EFLA , confirmed by SINTEF building research in Oslo and published by EPD-Norge . More information on EPDs can be found on the International EPD System website or in the presented video. An open EPD database can be found on the InData network website . Product Category Rules (PCR) A Product Category Rule provides specific instructions for how life cycle assessment (LCA) should be performed for a particular product category. More precisely, it includes, among others, the so-called system boundaries (which processes and product's life cycle stages should be considered) and declared or functional units, which should be used for specific products. More information on PCR can be found on the International EPD System website , and the PCR library can be found here . Some of the EPDs for construction products and materials in Iceland Plasterboards Timber Paints Wall coverings Cement and masonry mixtures Concrete Insulating materials Building blocks Steinefni Pípur

Some EPDs on wall coverings in Iceland. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) - Wall coverings in Iceland ALUCOBOND Alucobond 3A Composites GmbH ISOPAN Sandwich panels with steel facings and expanded polyurethane or polyisocyanurate insulating core KME KOPARINN TECU® Oxid copper sheets and strips VM ZINC ALPOLIC Alpolic Composite Panels KME KOPARINN TECU® Bronze copper alloys sheets and strips KME KOPARINN TECU® Patina copper sheets FALZONAL Falzonal aluminium outdoor panels KME KOPARINN TECU® Classic copper sheets and strips VM ZINC ANTHRA-ZINC QUARTZ-ZINC PIGMENTO

Some EPDs on concrete in Iceland. Environmental product declarations (EPDs) - Concrete in Iceland BM VALLÁ Berglind C25/30 BM VALLÁ Berglind Svan C25/30 BM VALLÁ Berglind C30/37 BM VALLÁ Berglind Svan C30/37 BM VALLÁ Aflsteypa C35/45 FRAUÐSTEYPA EHF Hebel Aereated Concrete Steypustöðin Ready-mix concrete C35/45 XC4 XF3 XD3 D22 S4 Ae Steypustöðin Ready-mix concrete C30/37 XC4 XF2 D22 S4 Ae Steypustöðin Ready-mix concrete C30/37 XC3 D16 S4 Steypustöðin Ready-mix concrete C25/30 XC3 XF1 D22 S4 Ae

Past projects On-going projects Here you can find our current and past projects that cover various topics, e.g., circular construction, BREEAM certification, and a net-zero building in Iceland. Projects Mynd: Ástrós Steingrímsdóttir On-going projects Bauhaus Goes North (BGN) 2024-2027 About Better data on carbon emissions from construction sites using real-world data 2025-2026 About Hringvangur – the Icelandic network for circular construction 2025-2026 About Carbon-neutral building in Icelandic conditions 2023-2025 About Guidelines to emission-free construction sites (BGF 2.9) 2023-2025 About Investigate the possibilities and opportunities for the increased implementation of a circular economy in the use of building materials 2025-2026 About Turf houses – can we learn from the past? 2025-2026 About Past projects Establishing clear requirements for reporting actual waste volumes (BGF 4.7 ) 2024-2025 About Establishing clear requirements for reporting actual waste volumes (BGF 4.7 ) 2024-2025 About Guidelines for the reuse of building materials and responsible demolition (BGF 4.9 , 4.10 ) 2024-2025 About CIRCON (The circular economy in construction: eco-design of circular buildings) 2022-2024 About Partners Newsletter CIRCON website Nordic Circularity Accelerator (NCA) 2023-2024 About Report Nordic Networks for Circular Construction (NNCC) 2021-2024 About Report Nordic Sustainable Construction - Emission-free Construction Sites 2022-2024 About Energy use - designed and measured 2022-2024 About BREEAM - An cost-benefit analysis of sustainable building certificates 2022-2023 About HringRás (Circularity) 2022-2023 About Mapping and guidance on the utilization potential of different construction waste 2022 About