It wasn't that long ago that when education architects and administrators raised the notion of green construction or sustainable-design strategies, they were met with head scratches and raised eyebrows. But in 2009, the energy-saving, water-conserving, environmentally friendly philosophies championed by those in the vanguard of the green schools movement have become not just widely accepted, but openly coveted by school systems, higher-education institutions, and the communities they serve. A key reason for this transformation of attitudes in the education field is that the early adopters of sustainable approaches delivered on their promises: facilities that offer more healthful learning environments, use less energy, consume less water, waste fewer resources and help students improve their performance. This article discusses how early proponents of sustainable-design strategies provided facilities that are fulfilling their promise to save energy and improve education. The author describes the Third Creek Elementary School in Statesville, North Carolina, which opened in 2002, as the first K-12 school facility to earn a gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The author discusses how the sustainable strategies included in the Third Creek design have proven successful.