Construction activities generate a myriad of negative effects onthe environment. ISO 14000, the series of environmental managementstandards released by the International Organizationfor Standardization in 1996, has been introduced as a tool thatcan aid in reducing these impacts. The implementation of thesestandards is focused on the establishment of an environmentalmanagement system (EMS) that can guide an organization towardachieving its own environmental goals. Certification forthe ISO 14001 standard has been successfully implemented atan international level, mostly in Europe and Asia. Differenttypes of companies have achieved ISO 14000 certification, includingthose performing construction work. However, up until2002, only one construction group has received certification forits subsidiaries. Benefits such as minimization of environmentalimpacts, marketing opportunities, and cost savings have beenidentified. Some parties, however, argue about the standardsapplicability in the US construction industry, stating that ISO14000 is not economically feasible and that significant orproven environmental benefits cannot be associated with thestandards usage. Therefore, the main goal of this article is toanalyze ISO 14000 standards and their current status in the USconstruction industry, identifying advantages and setbacks ofthe application of this EMS in the organizational structures ofUS construction firms. The information is based on a literaturesearch and a case study of a construction contracting firm certi-fied for the standards. The article concludes that the positive aspectsof certification outweigh the negative aspects and recommendsadded government support and the combined use of ISO14000 with other environmental systems and matrices.