The not-for-profit organisation is a member of the World Green Building Council. Green Building Council Iceland undertakes research and development projects and holds regular educational events to encourage continuous reforms, in the spirit of sustainable development in the built environment.
Íslandsbanki joins Green Building Council Iceland
Íslandsbanki is the first Icelandic financial institution to become a member of Green Building Council Iceland. Green Building Council Iceland, established in 2010, is a cooperative forum promoting sustainable building and development.
“Íslandsbanki places strong emphasis on being a force for good in the community and offering products that both meet customers’ needs and make a positive impact on society and the environment. Our green mortgage loans on favourable terms, which the Bank introduced last month, are part of this journey, in line with our desire to promote investment in eco-certified housing. As yet, there are relatively few eco-certified buildings in Iceland as compared with neighbouring countries, but demand for them can be expected to keep growing. Green Building Council Iceland’s role in education and research in the field of sustainable housing development is an important element in the maturing of this market, and we are proud to support their work.”
Birna Einarsdóttir, Íslandsbanki Chief Executive Officer
“Enormous investment has been made in real estate worldwide, and about half of all resource utilisation can be traced to the construction industry. Within the European Union, the construction industry’s carbon footprint accounts for some 35% of total emissions. Íslandsbanki’s membership of Green Building Council Iceland is a sign of increased awareness of the power that investors and the financial sector have to promote more sustainable construction and operation of buildings. Green Building Council Iceland is delighted that a company as strong as Íslandsbanki should be the first financial market entity to join its ranks. Íslandsbanki’s membership of Green Building Council Iceland marks a milestone for the organisation, whose members now span the entire construction industry value chain. At Green Building Council Iceland, we have great hopes for this collaboration, as consultation and cooperation among stakeholders is the most effective way to move towards genuine changes and a more sustainable built community.”
Þórhildur Fjóla Kristjánsdóttir, Chief Executive Officer, Green Building Council Iceland