Kontio log houses don’t just look good, they’re good for your health, too. Kontio is an expert in healthy wood houses and our R&D team works on research projects with leading specialists to develop innovations for well-being and healthy living. With our Kontio Healthy Living™ program, we’re building on 45 years of know-how with healthy buildings.
Antibacterial Kontio Arctic Pine™
Kontio uses genuine arctic pine as a raw material. Kontio Arctic Pine™ wood is strong, beautiful, and long-lasting, and it grows in the clean natural forests in Northern Finland far from cities and industry. It also has other properties which make it a superior choice of construction material. Kontio Arctic Pine™ contains many natural antibacterial substances, which give it resistance against moisture, mold, and other harmful things. This makes Kontio wooden houses durable and healthy, even in demanding rainy and moist conditions.
These properties are valued by our customers, and, for example, Kontio has been chosen as a supplier for schools and public buildings specifically because we could provide buildings with good indoor air quality.
Most Ecological
Wood is an excellent choice of building material because it is 100% renewable. And using wood instead of non-renewable materials means that the carbon footprint and environmental impact of a building are greatly reduced. By weight, wood mainly consists of water and carbon (in the form of cellulose). A growing tree binds about one ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per cubic meter of wood through photosynthesis while simultaneously releasing oxygen into the air.
Many tons of carbon dioxide are stored in every Kontio log and structure. Each long-life Kontio log house is a “carbon sink” and a real eco-statement in the battle against climate change. Growing new forests continues this positive carbon dioxide binding cycle.
Excellent acoustics
In addition to being relaxing and beautiful to look at, Kontio Log Houses also provide an excellent acoustic space with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Musicians throughout the years have often chosen to play in log houses due to their superior acoustics. Massive log walls diffuse sound, while also maintaining an even balance of tones without echo or distortion.
Our customers also value these acoustic properties, and, for example, a kindergarten in Finland appreciated their Kontio Log House for its excellent acoustics.
Good For Your Heart
Studies have shown that massive wood structures can have positive health effects, especially in school environments. In an Austrian study, the effect of different building materials on the heart rate of the students was studied. The results showed that the use of solid wood in classrooms could lower the heart rate and reduce stress levels.
Children in massive wooden classrooms had, on average, 8,600 heartbeats fewer per day than children in a painted plasterboard classroom. The stress peak which is common in the morning hours also decreased soon after the students arrived at school and did not return.
Respecting Nature
Wood for Kontio houses comes from sustainably managed and PEFC certified forests. For every tree cut, more than four trees are planted to replace it and renew the forest in these forests. Finland is Europe’s most forest-covered country with almost 80% of the total land area covered in forest. Annual forest growth clearly exceeds harvest in Finland, and active growing forests bind more carbon dioxide than old forests. Finland also has Europe’s largest old conservation forests accounting for 12% of the forest area. By taking care of old forests, nurturing new forests, and using wood for ecological log houses, together we can help tackle climate change in a sustainable way.
The PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) is an independent, non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management according to internationally accepted standards.
Fighting Asthma and Allergies
People spend as much as 90% of their time indoors, which makes indoor air quality especially important. And according to research, Kontio log homes have exceptionally good indoor air.
Reduces Stress
Wooden structures are also a way of connecting with nature. Enjoying nature increases our energy levels and reduces stress. A good connection to nature is also a source of creativity and inspiration. You can enjoy nature in various ways, for example by walking outdoors, by looking at scenery, or by being in a garden and around green plants. You can also enjoy nature and natural materials inside a Kontio log house.
