The promise of sustainably designed school facilities is that they will operate more efficiently and last longer than buildings constructed in more traditional ways. But that promise comes with a big if. The payoff is delivered only if the facility managers operate and maintain the buildings in ways that adhere to sustainable strategies called for in the design. Unfortunately, providing an appropriate level of maintenance is a goal that many schools and universities have failed to achieve. In this article, the author stresses that a good maintenance program will enable a sustainable design to deliver on its promises. To achieve sustainability in facilities, schools and universities must emphasize ongoing maintenance.