Decision-making in Green vs. Traditional Construction: Identifying Critical Factors for the Application of Choosing by Advantages

Project selection is of great importance for effective project management, aligning organizational goals that drive opportunities in the construction industry. Green building projects have gained significant momentum over the years as the construction industry seeks sustainable solutions to address environmental challenges. The choice between green and traditional projects impacts not only contractors’ financial performance and market competitiveness but also their environmental footprint, regulatory compliance, and alignment with broader societal goals. This decision requires careful consideration of both short and long-term benefits to support sustainable development. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to identify critical factors influencing the selection of green over traditional building projects using the Choosing by Advantages (CBA) method. By doing so, it aims to address a gap in the literature by examining project selection factors through the lens of the CBA method. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify these factors, with a focus on comparative studies of green and traditional building projects. The review identified 14 key factors categorized into four groups: (i) operational, (ii) financial, (iii) environmental, and (iv) legal. Among these, environmental factors emerged as the most critical, with “energy consumption” and “environmental protection degree of building materials” identified as the most significant sub-factors. This study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners, offering critical factors for implementing the CBA method in project selection. It also establishes a basis for developing green project selection criteria in the construction industry, ultimately supporting more sustainable project choices.