Five years into the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program, many ask, "Are green buildings really better places to live and work, and are they truly saving money and the environment?"

"A handful of national, regional and local post-occupancy studies indicate a qualified yes — energy savings are typically 30 percent better than other new construction and 50 percent better than existing buildings. Water savings, occupant satisfaction and productivity are all up, and at little or no additional initial cost. "