1 How do we utilise geothermal energy? General lecture and sightseeing at Hellisheidi.
The geothermal power plants at Nesjavellir and Hellisheiði generate electricity and hot water for the Reykjavík capital area. Geothermal energy is used in a variety of ways, such as district heating, greenhousing, swimming pools, fish farming, snow-melting, industry and electricity generation. Geothermal harnessing is a renewable and virtually non-pollutant source of energy. Learn all about it at the visitor centre at Hellisheiði Power Plant.

2 Thermal Pools
Public health is a key priority in Reykjavík’s utilisation of thermal water. There are seven thermal pools and baths in the city, all of which are tremendously popular among the locals. While the city’s population is only 120,000, the annual number of visits to the pools is about 1,8 million. A key reason for this popularity is the positive effects thermal water has on both body and mind. The water softens stiff muscles and joints, creating ease of movement, and is ideal for senior citizens and people suffering from ailments such as arthritis, heart conditions, asthma and allergies. After a session at a thermal pool and a bath, you feel re-energised – and, as they say, when the body is happy, so is the soul.

3 Ylströnd (thermal beach)
In the summer of 2000, a splendid thermal beach – the Ylströnd – was opened to the public in Reykjavík. Large breakwaters were constructed and yellow beach sand was pumped into the enclosed area. Within the breakwater, there is a lovely lagoon where cold seawater and hot thermal waters mix. Under the most advantageous conditions, the lagoon’s water temperature is 18–20°C. The thermal beach has become a multifunctional recreational area with a myriad of outdoor activities, sunbathing, sea-bathing (during summer and winter) and sailing. It has a service centre with changing rooms and showers for guests. The Ylströnd has been awarded the International Blue Flag status for its high standards of cleanliness, water quality, safety, facilities, education for guests and environmental protection.

4 Heated streets and pavements
The City of Reykjavík uses thermal water to heat city streets and pavements – an environmentally friendly method of preventing icy roads and thus improving driving and walking conditions. This reduces the risk of accidents. With its abundant geothermal resources, Iceland uses natural hot water for heating. When the water has passed through the heating system and cooled down, it is piped out of the building but remains hot enough to be used for underground heating. Snow-melting systems are installed in streets and pavements during road renewal in the city centre, in new districts and concentrated areas.

Local Agenda 21: Developing Reykjavík. A project in accordance with the ideology of Local Agenda 21 on sustainable society with the extensive participation of interested parties and residents. Residents were invited to submit their own ideas on how city authorities should go about creating a sustainable society. The ideas were used to formulate the city’s policy on environmental matters and sustainable development. The residents’ consultation was carried out on the Internet and was a great success. Environmental indicators measure the city’s success rate toward developing a sustainable society. Reykjavík has used these indicators in recent years to assist in the analysis of urgent issues and policy formulation in environmental matters.

Nature is near at hand in Reykjavík, and one does not have to go far to be a part of it. The Ellidaárdalur valley runs through the city and is one of the most popular areas for outdoor recreation in Reykjavík – not many cities can boast of a salmon river running through their centre! It is the policy of the City of Reykjavík to maintain the natural diversity of the city’s ecosystem. These include ice-age remnants, glacier-scraped boulders and a bird sanctuary practically in the city centre.
The City of Reykjavík operates a botanical garden (Grasagardurinn), although it is unusual for municipalities to be responsible for such operation. Its role is the collection, maintenance and registration of Icelandic and foreign flora. The majority of those interested in gardening are keen visitors to the Grasagardur, which is open year-round, and admittance is free of charge. During the summer, the garden hosts educational and cultural events for the public and a coffee shop is run by private party.

The City of Reykjavík, in partnership with municipalities in the area, operates a waste management firm which is responsible for the receipt and treatment of waste materials from residents and companies. The firm (SORPA) has, since its establishment, endeavoured to find new and environmentally friendly ways to utilise waste products.

One of SORPA’s most interesting environmental projects is the collection of landfill gas which forms where waste material is buried. The landfill gas which forms is used in two ways, on theone hand to produce electricity, and on the other, for use as vehicle fuel. In this way, the city saves considerably on imported fossil fuel, which again leads to decreased emissions of greenhouse gasses. As of March 2006, there are approximately 50 vehicles in the Reykjavík metropolitan area running on methane. The majority of these vehicles have bi-fuel engines which can run on both methane and petrol. The newest additions are two buses in the Reykjavík metropolitan area, a waste truck and a container truck. “Biogas” is used in many places for electricity and
heat production and as vehicle fuel. However, the SORPA project is unique, as it uses landfill gas for vehicles and there are no known examples of such use in Europe.

Learn more about "Shaping Reykjavik" Reykjavík Local Agenda 21: policy formation towards a sustainable community in Reykjavik to 2015 by clicking here.

The City of Reykjavík runs an ambitious educational policy for pre-schools and compulsory schools (grade 1 to 10) and has formulated a 10-year vision for the schools in tune with global trends.Educational authorities in Reykjavík emphasise individualised and co-operative learning.The foundation for this ideology can be found in legislation on pre-schools and compulsory schools. Individualised education departs from traditional classroom teaching and places the student in
focus. According to Icelandic legislation, the pre-school is the first level of schooling, and individual plans are increasingly made for each child. An assessment tool has been prepared, in co-operation with compulsory school headmasters, to evaluate the schools' progress to individualised learning and support further plans. The most recently built compulsory school in Reykjavík was designed and organised according to ideas about individualised learning.

The policy of inclusion has caught substantial international attention. An effort is made to ensure that children with special needs have access to schooling within the general pre-school and compulsory school system. These efforts include increased consultation and in-service training for teachers, a new approach to learning, increased funds for special education and employing para-professionals in schools. One aspect in the implementation of this policy was the integration of deaf and hearing children in one of the city’s compulsory schools. This development project has gained substantial interest internationally and is known as the “Icelandic method”.

The Internet learning environment facilitates adapting plans to individuals and enables the teacher to create a study unit for student groups. Infomentor is a Web-based Management Information System, designed to serve the School Community. It eases the adminstrative work of headmasters and teachers, promotes quality teaching and simplifies reporting and information flow both within the school and to students and parents. Infomentor offers a unique pedagogic approach, with tools that promote individual learning (such as individual curriculum planning) and individual evaluation (such as portfolio). In the past few years, a distance education language centre has been operated for advanced students in foreign languages. Students are distributed among schools in the city and around the country and work on projects at their own speed. Experiments have also been made in the teaching of optional subjects for adolescents in many of the city’s schools. At the close of a normal school day, there are various social and recreational activities, which have educational value, available to children. Emphasis is placed on active participation, learning while doing, democracy and equality. Particular attention is paid to encouraging the participation of individuals who are at a disadvantage due to disability or social circumstances and ensuring that they
have equal opportunities. The social activities with young people are intended to strengthen social development and a healthy lifestyle, and emphasis is placed on preventive measures for negative behaviour such as bullying and teasing.

 Learn more about pre-schools and compulsory schools in Reykjavík

Lectures and sightseeing

Traditionally, children in Iceland have always had very long summer holidays, or almost three months. As a result, there is a considerable need for diverse and vocational activities for children and young people.

The Reykjavík Municipal Work School provides all young people in the final 3 levels of primary school in Reykjavík with the opportunity of a varied summer job in different work areas, both in and outside Reykjavík. Approximately 70% of these students enrol in the Work School. The
youngsters receive training in practical work, the use of common tools and instruments and instruction in numerous areas affecting their daily environment and future. The Work School also operates important prevention programmes.

School gardens are operated from the beginning of June until the middle of August. There are 8 school gardens in Reykjavík. 600 children use the school gardens every year. Each child is allotted an 18m² garden provided with seeds, seedlings, vegetable plants and flowers. The work involves at least 2 hours a day. The age group is 8- to 12-year-old children. Elderly citizens may also be allotted a garden. Primary schools have shown increased interest in school gardens, and even whole classes have tended gardens and brought what they have learned back into the school work in the spring and autumn.

There are a large number of recreational options during the summer, when summer courses for 6- to 12-year-old children are offered. Each course lasts a week, with varied course programmes. The programmes are constructed so that participants are engaged in creative, enjoyable and developing work, both indoors and out. Then there are sailing courses for 9- to 15-yearolds in an adventure centre by the sea, where cheerful and daring children can find an outlet for their energy and adventurousness. Reykjavík has a long tradition of operating so-called carpentry workshops for children aged 8–12 years, where they can build their own timber huts and smaller items. Finally, mention may be made of the fact that Reykjavík operates an entertainment bus which does the rounds in Reykjavík during the summer. The bus is equipped with recreational
equipment, a type of mini-funfair, which children can play in free of charge.

The main goal of the Icelandic Child Protection Act is to ensure that children who live under insufficient conditions or endanger their own health or development are provided with the help they need. An effort is made to strengthen families in their up-bringing role and to take action to protect the child when necessary. The City of Reykjavík puts emphasis on focusing on children in all support work with families, the importance of talking to children, listening to their needs
and giving them the opportunity to express themselves without a mediator.

Hitt húsid is a cultural and information centre where young people (16–25 years) are given diverse assistance and advice on e.g. bringing their ideas to fruition. There is also an information centre which is open to anyone requesting assistance and facilities to stage all sorts of events.

The service centres located in various city neighbourhoods place a great deal of emphasis on activating the collective strength of the residents of the neighbourhood in question, i.e. social wealth. We believe that preventive measures and social wealth are closely linked projects and we choose to speak of strengthening social wealth for prevention purposes. Several new and
exciting projects relating to various types of group activities, conciliation mediation in neighbour disputes, conciliation mediation between peers in schools and continuity in recreational workhave already been initiated, and others based on this ideology will soon be embarked on.

Of all the capital cities in the Nordic countries, Reykjavík is the youngest. It also the city whose growth is the most rapid. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Reykjavík was approximately 6,000; by the middle of the century, it was around 50,000, and it is currently close to 115,000. Thus the population today, in the beginning of the 21st century, is 20 times greater than it was in the beginning of the 20th century. The energy evidenced in the development of the city has been without parallel, and guests ask how this can have happened. Where is the manpower to organise and manage all these projects and where does the money come from? Many neighbourhoods are undergoing re-planning, new neighbourhoods are being developed and competitions are held for ideas on the further development of these areas. Some 800 apartments
and around 100 thousand sq. metres of commercial property are built annually. A visit to the Reykjavík Planning and Building Department reveals how a young and highly active Divisionis addressing the formation and growth of the city, and how the city’s administration, participation by financers, consultation and co-operation with interested parties and the operation of the
Division make this possible.

The development of the city centre of Reykjavík has been one of the priority projects of city
authorities over the past few years. Many large projects have been initiated, of which may be mentioned the construction of The National Concert and Conference Hall by the old harbour. Numerous other projects of extensive scope are undergoing preliminary planning. Among the “tools” the city uses to encourage development is the Planning Fund, a fund the city uses to
purchase outright property in the city centre in cases where it is necessary to pave the way for
the advancement of planning proposals.

Learn more about The Icelandic National Concert and Conference Centre by clicking here and view photos and videos here

The City of Reykjavík wants to increase its awareness of citizens’ needs. By increased knowledge of the needs of citizens, the policy makers in the welfare sector are better equipped to enhance quality of life for the benefit of all Reykjavík citizens. Active participation in welfare debate and various development projects, followed up with research and surveys, is an important part ininnovation and development.

 Many methods are used in Reykjavík to ensure that all city citizens can make the most of their abilities. Positive behaviour support, or PBS, is a comprehensive procedure which consists of
simple and systematic methods which increase the likelihood of desirable behaviour. At the same time, efforts are made to fight tendencies to focus on undesirable behaviour and punishment.

A solution-based approach is an influential, effective and a tried and tested way to encourage positive changes in individuals and groups. By using this approach, the often-unsuccessful
search for the root of problems is abandoned and the course set directly toward the solution. Research has shown that this approach provides people with a better life and increases confidence and the belief in personal influence sooner than other methods. Social activities for the elderly are in constant development, and the aim is to prevent and decrease the social isolation of many elderly citizens in Reykjavík, to create an environment where most people can find an appropriate forum and to encourage the initiative of participants in social activities and independent actions.

 Over the past few years, The City of Reykjavík has emphasised the importance of integrated services for the elderly who are assisted to live in their own homes for as long as possible. Integration of home-help and home-nursing, provided by the state on the one hand and the municipality
on the other, is an important milestone on the road to building a coherent and integrated service for the elderly, tailored to individual needs.

For approximately a decade, the City of Reykjavík has systematically promoted gender equality in the city’s operating units, in Reykjavík society and in the arena of political policy formulation and decision making. During this time, the city has ensured gender equality among officials and in top management positions, has decreased wage discrimination by half in the years 1995–2001 and, since 2002, has introduced non-gender-specific job evaluation in order to attain the goals of the Act on the Equal Rights of Men and Women, i.e. to pay women and men equal wages for equally valuable work in all fields of the municipal system. A large number of co-operative projects, in the field of gender equality, with trade unions, gender equality authorities, employer associations and the university community have been brought into existence owing to the initiative
of the city, such as issues relating to paternity leave, the co-ordination of work and private life and the mainstreaming of gender and equality perspectives.

The city’s success in the field of gender equality has resulted in the city’s desire to utilise its
ability for innovation, and the experience it has gained in other fields relating to human rights, to strengthen the position of immigrants, fight discrimination due to race or religion and strengthen the participation of the disabled in all spheres of society, to name but a few issues. The City of Reykjavík intends to accomplish this through the formulation of a human rights policy which addresses all these issues and by creating strong and clear channels for implementation.

Children of foreign origin in the pre-schools and compulsory schools of the city have steadily increased in number over the past few years. This is a trend which reflects the multicultural society forming in Iceland. The main curriculum for pre-schools and compulsory schools states
that the schools are for all children, irrespective of nationality, mental or physical ability, religion or culture. This places obligations on schools, and an effort is made to fulfil them by accepting each child on his or her own terms and developing an understanding of different circumstances and respect for the child’s origin. Emphasis is placed on co-operation with parents. Specially designed enrolment plans are used when children of foreign origin begin their schooling. Employees of the schools are provided with consulting services that focus on integration and well being of the children.