Green Building Liability: Considering the Applicable Standards of Care and Strategies for Establishing A Different Level by Agreement

Many in the construction industry have begun adopting green building practices, leading owners to demand specialists in this area to meet sustainable building goals. In taking on these projects, the parties may overlook the standard of care for disputes concerning green building liability. No case law has definitively resolved the appropriate standard of care for such projects, but through analysis of existing common law and approved strategies for creating contractual relationships, a likely standard for court treatment begins to emerge. The article recommends particular strategies that parties to green building contracts should undertake to avoid future disputes and set an appropriate standard of care amenable to all parties involved in the rapidly growing green building industry