Green building covers the design and construction practices that reduce a building's environmental impact across its life cycle: site, water, energy, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Voluntary certification programs include LEED (US Green Building Council), Green Globes, WELL (focused on occupant health), Living Building Challenge, and Passive House. Beyond voluntary certification, many jurisdictions now require green building elements through code: stretch energy codes, EV charging readiness, solar-ready roofs, low-VOC materials.
Green building requirements add cost and complexity but also shift it. Common cost adders: high-performance glazing, additional insulation, low-flow fixtures, rooftop solar PV, EV charging infrastructure, sub-metering, commissioning. Common cost offsets: smaller HVAC equipment due to better envelope, lower utility costs over the building life, tax credits, accelerated permitting in some jurisdictions, and rent premiums on certified space. Verify which certification level the project targets before bidding so the spec compliance and documentation cost can be priced.