Green construction requires the erection of a building or a structure in a manner that does least harm to the environment and to the workers, while maximising the resources used.

Construction is normally viewed as a messy activity: construction sites are notorious for the amount of waste normally found, and for dusty/wet conditions. This need not be so: construction work that is planned to fit into the environment will require the minimum of bulk earthwork excavation and removal. Green construction will also consider the needs of construction workers, especially their occupational health and safety. A building cannot be green if it has abused workers rights in the process of constructing the building.

In order to minimise waste and harmful and/or dangerous working practices, many contractors are adopting lean manufacturing practices, coupled to offsite construction methods where as much of the building is manufactured under factory conditions and taken to site for installation.

- Llewellyn van Wyk