Green building revenue jumped in 2022 with more projects seeking third-party sustainability certifications. Federal spending and new carbon-cutting standards helped advance climate-friendly design, but Top 100 Green Design and Contracting firms say greater isn’t always greener when it comes to environmental impact.

Market indicators are “completely misaligned with the climate crisis,” says Jim Nicolow, director of sustainability at Lord Aeck Sargent, ranked No. 80 on the green design list. “Subsidized fossil fuel energy indicates that renewable energy is a premium option, as if business as usual doesn’t pose an existential risk, and climate change is somehow an external cost.” Because “unhealthy building products are often the least expensive option,” their associated health risks are an “external cost,” he says. “Adam Smith’s invisible hand of the market does not work in the best interest of the public when costs are externalized.”