Adobe headquarters

When the maker of Photoshop pursued green-building credentials for its San Jose, Calif., headquarters, it sought to do more than airbrush its corporate image. Adobe Systems estimates that cutting waste and energy usage has translated into $1 million in savings annually, not including utilities rebates. The company's investment was $1.2 million.

In December, Adobe's three towers became the first existing commercial offices to get the highest rating--platinum--under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. Adobe's "greening" project began in 2001. In recent months, both Boston and Washington, D.C., started requiring large, newly built offices to achieve LEED certification. San Francisco city officials are expected to follow suit.

The nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council runs LEED, the most popular yardstick of sustainable building design. Several buildings on Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., campus meet LEED certification.