Dive Brief:

• Sustainable building is good for the earth, but it can bring some special mental and financial strains for the contractors who practice it, from higher up-front costs to murky legal issues.
• For example, because fewer companies make the materials needed to build sustainably, there is a greater chance of unexpected supply interruptions during a project than are likely to happen to a builder who does not have to source lumber as carefully.
• Because sustainable construction uses techniques that aren't always as proven or trustworthy as conventional methods, builders may face post-project problems like a green roof developing leaks, and the law is less clear on what meets the goal, so customers may be more inclined to argue in court about how things went.

Dive Insight:

All the uncertainties built into sustainable building make insurers less ready to cover contractors, but there is a lot of protection in knowing what problems could arise and then either planning for them or taking time to manage and document expectations and understanding before the job begins.