The Door

Ecological buildings are a concept that has not quite yet entered the Icelandic vocabulary. In fact the meaning is that a building has to be sound, i.e. that it does not damage the health of the inhabitants, does not press to much on the resources of the Earth, and does not have an negative environmental impact during it’s lifetime and afterwards. There are, therefor, many factors that contribute, but in the end it is knowledge and reason that should help us to decide how to built our houses, and what kinds of chemicals we want to surround our children and ourselves for the rest of our lives.

For a long time, especially during the 20th century, building materials were used that today are considered detrimental to human health. Examples are radioactive cements, asbestos which can cause lung cancer and insulation materials containing PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), heavy metals and additives. Modern rebuilding involves, among other things, removing those dangerous chemicals. See more about hazardous chemicals and synthetics.

The certification of certified parties are a confirmation that the building material has been produced and procured on the premises of sustainable development. For instance certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensures that a door is definitely not made of rainforest wood, but from sustainable forests and the Nordic Swan labelling and the European flower label ensure that the production is environmentally responsible. A door made from PVC would most certainly be unhealthy and unfriendly to the environment. The same goes for the paint and varnish on the door. If the paint or varnish has been environmentally certified we can relax, otherwise not.