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Online Event and Report An online event was held to promote the publication of a new report on the status and prospects of emission-free construction. There, we also introduced the Nordic network of collaboration and displayed the video from the site visit to the Green Construction Site of the Future. Volvo CE and SiteHub talked about their way towards emission-free construction sites. Recording of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNRE0HAhaSw Read the report: https://www.norden.org/da/node/79878 Testing of a battery-electric excavator in Oslo Emission-free excavators have been tested in three different construction sites in Oslo in the last year. In a new report from SINTEF, the results are summarised. The electric excavators from Nasta ran for a total of 6817 hours and saved NOK 372 000 in energy, and emission reductions were in excess of 91 tons CO2. Read the report here. Emissions from a construction site in Oslo n a SINTEF report calculations and results are presented for CO2 emissions on a construction site in Oslo.

Demonstrating Real and Affordable Sustainable Building Solutions with Top-level whole life cycle performance and Improved Circularity (Drastic) About the project Drastic is a four-year Horizon European project that aims to showcase innovative solutions to reduce whole-life carbon and the climate impact of construction across the entire construction value chain in Europe. There are 23 partners in the project from 8 European countries. Green Building Council Iceland worked on the project in 2024 as a part of World Green Building. We were responsible for: gathering profiles of businesses and organisations involved in or influencing circular and sustainable practices within Iceland's construction sector. These actors are listed in the Stakeholder Map ; communication and dissemination activities. Drastic Website Stakeholder map The Drastic project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101123330.

Some EDPs on aggregates in Iceland. Environmental product declaration (EPDs) - Building blocks in Iceland Steypustöðin Bakki aggregate Jarðefnaiðnaður ehf. Steypustöðin Hólabrú aggregate Björgun Steypustöðin Vatnsskarðs aggregate Björgun Pumice and scoria (hekluvikur) Natural and Crushed Aggregates from Lambafell Natural and Crushed Sea-dredged Aggregates from Álfsnesvík

Certifications There are many different types of environmental certificates for buildings, but in general, it can be said that the goals of using them are to: - Increase the quality of buildings. - Reduce negative environmental impact. - Build healthy and safe buildings. - Reduce operating costs. In Iceland, two certification systems have been extensively used to certify buildings and areas: BREEAM and the Nordic Swan. BREEAM BREEAM is one of the most well-known environmental certification systems for buildings today, which encourages sustainable building design and ecological management during construction and operation. The BREEAM certification system uses a recognized requirements framework to assess the performance of a building's design, construction time and operating time, taking into account numerous factors, from ecology to energy consumption. These factors are included in the form of nine environmental sections having varying degrees of weight, as can be seen below: More about the BREEAM certification can be found here . BREEAM-certified buildings and construction in Iceland can be found here . The annexe for the BREEAM certification of Sundhöll Reykjavíkur (swimming pool in Reykjavik) in Icelandic can be found here . THE NORDIC SWAN ECOLABEL The Nordic Swan is a co-Nordic certification system that can be seen widely on products of various kinds. The Swan's certification system is rapidly growing buildings in the Nordic countries and elsewhere. In Iceland, the Environmental Agency is the coordinator of the Swan, and its staff is responsible for assisting companies through the certification process and granting permission to use the logo. More information on the Swan certification and the list of Swan-certified buildings can be found here . Other certification types LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building rating system commonly used in the U.S. and Canada. It was created in the early 90s by the United States Green Building Council. More information on LEED can be found here . Level(s) Level(s) is a framework developed by the European Commission to assess and report on the sustainability performance of buildings. More information on Level(s) can be found here or in the video below.

Green Building Council Iceland's materials on other topics than construction and demolition waste or certification systems. Emission-Free Construction Sites Grænir verkstaðir - Bæklingar Green Building Council Iceland, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Housing and Construction Authority, and the University of Iceland are working on the Emission-Free Construction sites project. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The final report from the project can be read by clicking on the brochure below. Frekari upplýsingar um dæmi í bæklingunum: CityLoops verkefnið Útboðskröfur í Osló Stovner sundlaugin Útgáfur Nordic Sustainable Construction verkefnisins Útgáfur Losunarlausir verkstaðir - Skýrslur 2025 Green Building Council Iceland, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Housing and Construction Authority, and the University of Iceland are working on the Emission-Free Construction sites project. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The final report from the project can be read by clicking on the brochure below. The final report from Emission-Free construction sites: How barriers and Policies Influence the Transition to Emission-Free Construction Sites. 2024 Green Building Council Iceland, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Housing and Construction Authority, and the University of Iceland are working on the Emission-Free Construction sites project. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The second report from the project can be read by clicking on the brochure below. The second report from Emission-Free construction sites: Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs. Aðra skýrslu verkefnisins má lesa með þvi að smella á bæklinginn hér að neðan. 2023 Green Building Council Iceland, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Housing and Construction Authority, and the University of Iceland are working on the Emission-Free Construction sites project. The project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The first report from the project can be read by clicking on the brochure below. The second report from Emission-Free construction sites: Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs. The first report from the Nordic Sustainable Construction project on Emission-free Construction sites. It provides an overview of the emerging concept of emission-free construction sites - the background, definitions, technology and methods.

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2025 2024 2023 2022 Græna Skóflan The Green Shovel is an award for buildings that have been built with outstanding environmental and sustainable values. Information about the award itself and the award winners can be found here. Græna Skóflan - The Green Shovel The Green Shovel Award The Green Shovel Award was awarded for the first time on Green Building Day 2022. It is a recognition of a structure that has been built with an excellent ecological and sustainable focus. The award has its roots in action 6.9. in the Roadmap to Green Building Construction 2030 (6.9. í Vegvísi að vistvænni mannvirkjagerð 2030 - in Icelandic): About the Award In winter 2021, a competition took place among the students of the Iceland University of the Arts (Listaháskóli Íslands) to design the trophy. Hekla Dís Pálsdóttir won that competition, and the trophy was based on her design. In 2022, the trophy was made of Icelandic graystone. Arngrímur Guðmundsson was in charge of preparing working drawings, Steinsmiðjan was in charge of cutting the graystone, and Stálnaust did the water-cutting. The Green Shovel for Renovations In fall 2025, a call for nominations for a new award called The Green Shovel for Renovations was sent out for the first time. The Green Shovel for Renovation is a recognition for buildings that have been renovated with an excellent ecological and sustainable focus, to promote the renovation of existing structures. Renovation projects that have truly demonstrated an environmentally friendly impact upon completion will receive higher weight. 2025 Nominations for The Green Shovel were open from early August to early September. This year, nominations were received for numerous outstanding projects that required careful and detailed review by the jury. The jury was composed of the board of GBCI, and the awards were presented on GBCI day on October 8th. One of the main focuses of the jury this year was that the project demonstrated clear innovation, how it is possible to step beyond traditional solutions and thus shed light on what is possible when creative thinking and implementation go hand in hand. The holders of both awards, The Green Shovel and The Green Shovel for Renovation, are strong examples that can serve as encouragement and inspiration for other future projects. The Green Shovel 2025 The jury's conclusion states about the building: The project demonstrated that even within the current regulatory and legal environment, it is easy to reduce the carbon footprint and reuse various building materials in parallel with universal design principles in a successful way. Compared to a comparable building, Háteigsvegur's carbon footprint is 50 percent lower. Háteigsvegur emphasizes accessibility for all, cost-effectiveness, the use of high-quality and healthy materials, as well as creating a homely environment. The building that received The Green Shovel for 2025 is Háteigsvegur 59. Háteigsvegur 59 is owned by Félagsbústaðir. The following parties were involved in design and execution: →Architect/Head designer: Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, s. ap arkitektar →Fire safety: Örugg verkfræðistofa →Structural design: HANNA verk verkfræðistofa →Utilities design: Varmboði →Electrical installation design: Verkhönnun →Project owner: Félagsbústaðir →Inspection: VSB verkfræðistofa →: Vinahús ehf. → LCA and LCC: VSÓ Ráðgjöf Project partners in material development and reuse are BM Vallá , Gluggagerðin , SSJ Steinsmiðja/ Grafa og grjót , Egill Árnason/Junckers parkett and Húsasmiðjan . More on H59 The Green Shovel for Renovations 2025 The jury's conclusion states about the building: Menningarleg og söguleg þýðing þessa mannvirkis sameinast framtíðarsýn, þegar horft er til umhverfislegra þátta sjálfbærnis og má þá nefna atriði eins og að endurnýta eins mörg byggingarefni og hluti og hægt er en núverandi burðavirki er frá 1957, hanna bygginguna þannig að auðvelt sé að taka hana niður, velja heilnæm og endurvinnanleg efni og einnig að hugsa um að draga úr orkufari í allri notkun byggingarinnar. Mannvirkið se m hlaut Grænu skófluna fyrir endurbætur árið 2025 er Stöng í Þjórsárdal. Stöng er í eigu Minjastofnunar Að hönnun og framkvæmd stóðu eftirtaldir aðilar: →Arkitekt/Aðalhönnuður: SP(R)INT STUDIO →Burðarþolshönnun: VSB Verkfræðistofa →Landslagshönnun: SP(R)INT STUDIO →Verkkaupi: Minjastofnun →Framkvæmd endurbóta : Langeldur →Umsjón framkvæmdar : FSRE Meira um Stöng 2024 Opið var fyrir tilnefningar mannvirkja til Grænu Skóflunnar frá maí og fram í miðjan ágúst. Í ár voru mörg afburðagóð verkefni tilnefnd og krafðist mikillar gaumgæfni dómnefndar. Það gefur góða tilfinningu að sjá natni hönnuða, framkvæmdaraðila og verkkaupa aukast með hverju árinu að þessu leyti. Dómnefnd var skipuð stjórn Grænni byggðar, og voru verðlaunin veitt á Degi Grænni byggðar þann 25. september. Vistvæn mannvirkjagerð er margbrotin og að mörgu að hyggja. Áhersla á lækkun kolefnisspors byggingar var í ákveðnum forgangi hjá dómnefnd, en einnig var tekið mikið tillit til samfélagslegra áhrifa mannvirkisins. Í niðurstöðu dómnefndar segir um mannvirkið: Mannvirkið ber með sér vandaða hönnun og samræmingu allra sem að verkinu koma. Hún gefur sterka tilfinningu fyrir mannlegum skala og næmni gagnvart notandanum. Vellíðan notandans er hér í fyrirrúmi auk þess sem efnisval og meðhöndlun þess er unnin á forsendum umhverfisins og arkitektónískrar fagurfræði. Byggingin er vottuð af Svaninum - Norræna umhverfismerkinu sem einnig er hvatning til annarra hönnuða að nýta sér, til aukinnar vistvæni. Niðurstaðan var einhlít þó svo að mjótt væri á munum Mannvirkið se m hlaut Grænu skófluna árið 2024 er Urriðaból - leikskóli í Garðabæ Urriðaból er í eigu Garðabæjar. Að hönnun og framkvæmd stóðu eftirtaldir aðilar: →Arkitekt/Aðalhönnuður: HJARK → Arkitekt: Sastudio →Burðarþolshönnun: Exa nordic →Lagnahönnun: Teknik →Raflagnahönnun: Lota →Hljóðvistarhönnun: Myrra →Landslagshönnun: Teiknistofa Norðurlands →Verkkaupi: Garðabær →Verktaki: Þarfaþing →Eftirlit: Strendingur → Aðalverktaki: Eykt ehf. Hönnunargögn og lýsing 2023 Opið var fyrir tilnefningar mannvirkja til Grænu Skóflunnar frá því í lok apríl til 15. ágúst. Mörg framúrskarandi verkefni voru tilnefnd í ár, og voru mannvirkin fjölbreytt, allt frá stórum stofnunum til tilraunakenndra smáhýsa. Dómnefnd var skipuð stjórn Grænni byggðar, og voru verðlaunin veitt á Degi Grænni byggðar í lok september. Í niðurstöðu dómnefndar segir um mannvirkið: Þessi bygging bar af. Allt frá upphafi markaðist hönnun mannvirkisins af sjálfbærni, hvort sem litið er til framkvæmda- eða rekstrartíma. Áhersla var lögð á efnisval, innivist, orkumál og góða umhverfisstjórnun. Lífsferilsgreiningar og líftímakostnaðargreiningar voru notaðar við ákvarðanatöku í hönnun. Dagsbirtugreiningar voru framkvæmdar ásamt hljóðvistagreiningum. Sem dæmi má nefna að hljóðverkfræðingur skoðaði sérstaklega kröfur um hljóðvist fyrir notendur með sérstakar heyrnar- og samskiptaþarfir. Segja má að einstakur metnaður hafi verið lagður í að tryggja vellíðan vistmanna samhliða því að draga úr neikvæðum umhverfisáhrifum byggingarinnar. Það var mikill samrómur innan dómnefndar og ég held að við séum sammála um að hér sé á ferðinni verkefni sem sýnir: • Framúrskarandi hönnun • Fer lengra en að uppfylla bara skilyrði • Setur ný viðmið fyrir aðbúnað hjúkrunarheimila með vistvænum áherslum • Tryggir samfélagslega sjálfbærni Mannvirkið se m hlaut Grænu skófluna árið 2023 er Móberg - hjúkrunarheimili í Árborg. Móberg er í eigu Sveitarfélagsins Árborg og Heilbrigðisráðu neytisins, og er rekið af HSU. Að hönnun og framkvæmd stóðu eftirtaldir aðilar: → Umsjón hönnunar og framkvæmda: FSRE → Arkitektar: Urban arkitektar ehf. og Loop Architects (DK) → Verkfræðihönnun: Verkfræðistofa Reykjavíkur ehf. → Rafkerfahönnun: Liska ehf. → Ljósvistarhönnun: Liska ehf. → Brunahönnun: Mannvit hf. → Landslag: Hornsteinar arkitektar ehf. → Hljóðhönnun: Brekke Strand (NO) → BREEAM: EFLA hf. → Algild hönnun og ráðgjöf: Harpa Cilia Ingólfsdóttir → Aðalverktaki: Eykt ehf. Hönnunargögn og lýsing 2022 Early this summer, the nominations for the award were opened. Numerous nominations were received from various sources across the country, and the nominations spanned a very wide range of civil engineering, from smaller bridge projects, single-family houses and extensions, to large-scale service facilities and apartment buildings. After a review by a jury, which, this time, was made up of the board of Green Building Council Iceland, one structure was chosen to receive the prize. The jury felt this project stood out quite a bit in many areas. What the jury's verdict said about the structure: During the preparation of the structure, care has been taken in setting goals for the project, both in terms of the social activities that the structure accommodates and the specifications that should be included in its design. When solving the design, a life cycle analysis (LCA) was used for the structure as a whole, which supports the credibility that the building is environmentally friendly and prevents greenwashing. A comparison of the environmental impact of building materials was also made, and the designers' choice of materials was based on its results, which shapes the building's overall and natural appearance. The construction instructions and the project's goals were reflected in the contractor's work and the owner's follow-up with BREEAM certification of design and construction will confirm how the project's sustainability goals will be achieved. The project was a renovation of an older building, where every effort was made to make the best use of the existing concrete structure. This ensured that the construction process was easier than otherwise and prevented the unnecessary production and transportation of new building materials. As such, the building is a worthy model for future reconstructions of older structures. The structure that received the Green Shovel in 2022 is the Brákarborg preschool in Reykjavík at Kleppsvegi 150-152. Brákarborg is owned by the City of Reykjavík . The following parties were responsible for the design and implementation: → Arkís arkitektar ehf. ; → Efla hf. supervised the life cycle analyses (LCA); → Arkamon ehf. was in charge of structural design; → Teknik verkfræðistofa ehf. designed the piping; → Liska ehf. designed the electrical system and lighting; → Kanon arkitektar ehf. were in charge of landscape design; → fire design was in the hand of Mannvit hf. ; → the contractor was Þarfaþing hf. ; → BREEAM certification was under the supervision of Verkís hf. Design data and description

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

Rannsaka möguleikana og tækifærin á innleiðingu hringrásarhagkerfis í auknum mæli tengt notkun byggingarefna About the project Grænni byggð works with Lendager Island , Minjastofnun , SORPA , and Verkís hf on this project. There is a noticeable interest in the Icelandic construction sector in material and product reuse; however, the reuse is in its infancy due to: a lack of knowledge among stakeholders on how to reuse construction materials and products the common belief that the reuse of materials and products is blocked by current legal regulations (e.g., building code, need for CE marking, lack of standards for reused materials/products) in Iceland. The project aims to address these aspects. The project outcome will provide an overview of opportunities and identify risks for reusing various construction materials and products. The information on the legal requirements the secondary material and products need to meet to be approved for use will also be included, followed by suggested possible directions to change these legal requirements to facilitate reuse. Mynd: Ástrós Steingrímsdóttir Collaborators The project received a grant from Askur - mannvirkjarannsóknasjóður which is funded by Húsnæðis- og mannvirkjastofnun, Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education.

Some EDPs on building blocks in Iceland. Environmental product declaration (EPDs) - Building blocks in Iceland PAGO Durisol D365 Standard Block FRAUÐSTEYPA EHF Unreinforced AAC building block BM VALLÁ Filigran element

About Green Building Council Iceland. Green Building Council Iceland The Green Building Council Iceland (GBCI) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in 2010 to encourage sustainable construction by inspiring and empowering people to work for the common goal of creating a healthy, sustainable built environment that promotes well-being for all. We realise our mission on multiple fronts by: - promoting environmental awareness and green action planning for the building and infrastructure sector; - lobbying authorities to pass legislation that will direct the market in a more sustainable direction; - educating, connecting, and motivating stakeholders involved in the urban planning and building sector. As one of over 70 members of the World Green Building Council, we share the goal of catalysing the uptake of sustainable built environments with the Green Building Councils' network. The main areas of our focus are: - decarbonisation of the built environment; - supporting resources regeneration by promoting circular economy principles in the construction sector; - encouraging a built environment that delivers healthy, resilient, and sustainable constructions. Currently, our organisation has arouhnd 60 members working towards their goal of making the building sector an active player in creating a more sustainable future and a healthier society. Our members Summary of our activities in three main areas: INFORMING → We produce and publish diverse educational materials. → We participate in various research and development projects. → We organise and participate in educational events, panel discussions, and public meetings on sustainable construction. ENCOURAGING → We encourage market players to contribute and show social responsibility in action. → We encourage the public sector to reward projects that meet certain environmental requirements with economic incentives. → We promote the circular economy to be used as a guiding principle in the design, construction, and operation of buildings. CONNECTING → We bring together people from all over the community with the goal of sustainability in the local environment. → We actively cooperate with our sister organisations, especially in the Nordic countries, through projects and events. Vertu með

Green Building Council's (Grænni byggð) members. Green Building Council Iceland members The following companies, organizations, institutions, and individuals are members of Green Building Council Iceland: 1. Flokkur BM Vallá Eik fasteignafélag Húsnæðis- og mannvirkjastofnun Reitir fasteignafélag Verkís verkfræðistofa 2nd Category Fasteignir ríkissjóðs Landsvirkjun Tark-Teiknistofan 3. Flokkur Alta ráðgjöf Alverk Arkitek Arkís arkitektar ehf ASK arkitektar Basalt Arkitektar Byko COWI Eignaumsjón exa nordic HJARK Hornsteinar Húsasmiðjan Iðan fræðslusetur Íslandsbanki Íslenskir aðalverktakar Jáverk Klasi ehf. Landmótun sf Landslag ehf. Landsvirkjun Langeldur Límtré Vírnet Lota ehf Maison Pago Samstæða Orkuveitu Reykjavíkur Skipulagsstofnun Steinull hf. Steypustöðin Teiknistofan Tark ehf. Teiknistofan Tröð ehf. THG arkitektar Umhverfis- og orkustofnun VA Arkitektar Vegagerðin Verkvist Vista verkfræðistofa VSB verkfræðistofa VSÓ Ráðgjöf 4th Category - Arnhildur Pálmadóttir - an architect at Studio Arnhildur Pálmadóttir; - Finnur Sveinsson - environmental scientist at Visthús; - Hildur Ýr Ottósdóttir - an architect at Ydda arkitektar; - Magnús Jensen - an architect and chairman Miðgarðs byggingarfélags; - Sigríður Maack - an architect at Arktika ehf.