Every year the American Institute of Architects' Committee on the Environment select what they feel are the ten greenest buildings of the year, over a wide range of building-types. Some of this year's winners reduce peak demand for electricity by 65% and water use by 50%; one generates 69% of its own energy and got 57% materials from within 500 miles of the site; one even prevented 97% of its construction waste from becoming landfill; a couple of 'em are LEED Platinum. Besides their efficiency, most of the big buildings involved have New Urbanism social design as well (retail on bottom floor, interior cafe, etc.)

No new design solutions or technologies as far as I can see, but things like occupancy sensors daylight sensors, integrated PV panels, water-reuse systems, and such are now fairly commonplace in the leading buildings.

The winners are:

20 River Terrace, The Solaire, New York City (Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects)

Environmental Services Building, Pierce County, Wash. (The Miller/Hull Partnership)

Factor 10 House, Chicago (EHDD Architecture)

Genzyme Center, Cambridge, Mass. (Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner Inc.)

Greyston Bakery, Yonkers, N.Y. (Cybul & Cybul Architects)

Herman Miller, Zeeland, Mich. (Krueck & Sexton Architects)

Lake View Terrace Branch Library, Los Angeles, Calif. (Fields Devereaux Architects & Engineers/GreenWorks)

The Plaza at PPL Center, Allentown, Pa. (Robert A.M. Stern Architects)

City of White Rock Operations Center, White Rock, British Columbia (Busby + Associates Architects)

Woods Hole Research Center Gilman Ordway Campus, Woods Hole, Mass. (William McDonough + Partners)