For several years, schools and universities have been battered by a sputtering economy that on many campuses has brought about slashed budgets, curtailed programs, shuttered facilities and terminated employees. But throughout the gloomy financial conditions, one of the bright spots for education institutions is the continued growing embrace of green design and construction strategies. Although economic downturn has slowed the pace of school construction and renovation in many communities, many institutions continue to lead the way in green facility design and construction. They have run the numbers and concluded that sustainable design and construction strategies are the best way to provide their constituents with an environmentally friendly, energy-efficient building that will last a long time.