Sustainability is now one of the key debates shaping cities. It has been suggested that 'sustainable architecture isn't a prescription. It's an approach, an attitude. It shouldn't really even have a label. It should just be architecture!' But what does it mean to describe a building as 'green'? How can we make sense of the bewildering array of contrasting styles of sustainable architecture? Based on original research by a sociologist and architect, the book draws upon a range of perspectives and theories that illuminate both the contested nature of green design and the socially constructive nature of sustainable architectural practice. Written in a straightforward style and illustrated throughout with well-known international examples of green building, this book will appeal to students, practitioners and academics alike.