Construction activities have a significant impact on the environment, green cooperation is an important way to promote the green performance of construction projects. Based on a Stackelberg model between the leader and members, green effort decision is analyzed in two fairness reference situations, one is the absolute fairness situation, taking the leader's profit as reference point, the other is the relative fairness situation, taking the Nash bargaining solution as reference point. Research findings are as follows: fairness preference will affect green effort decisions of construction project participants, but the effect is related to the fairness reference point and profit distribution. Green effort decisions in different fairness reference situations are related with the critical point of income distribution, therefore, the fairness reference point and critical point of income distribution should be taken into account when designing income distribution plan, for the purpose of effective induction of green efforts.