Welcome!

Welcome to the virtual home of the Green Exchange, the country's largest sustainable business community. Green Exchange is the hub of the green economy in the Midwest, and your resource when you're looking for information and referrals to help incorporate sustainable practices into your personal and professional lives.
  • PHOTO: Experience the 8,000 SF organic sky garden where tenants and visitors can meet, mix and mingle!
  • PHOTO: Greenhouse Loft is the country's premier sustainable event venue.
  • PHOTO: GreenChoice Bank, the first LEED Platinum community bank in the Midwest.
  • PHOTO: Experience the 8,000 SF organic sky garden where tenants and visitors can meet, mix and mingle!
  • PHOTO: Committed, an eco-friendly wedding show, at the Greenhouse loft was a huge success!

  • PHOTO: Coyote Logistics named the 2011 #1 Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune.
  • PHOTO: Green escalator that uses 30% less energy than a traditional escalator.

THE COMMUNITY
  • 2 Point Perspective specializes in modern, eco-friendly architecture as well as interior and furniture design services for residential and commercial clients.  Founders, Lisa and Ron Elkins are LEED accredited architects with more than a decade of experience in Chicago, San Francisco and London.  2 Point Perspective includes the design of Chicago’s vegan restaurant Balanced Kitchen on their resume, as well as many residential properties including a zero-net energy home in the city’s Oak Park neighborhood.  They will also count numerous offices and retail showrooms within Green Exchange as part of their portfolio.  You can view more of their work at www.2pointperspective.com.  Learn More
  • Smithereen is the leader in Integrated and Low Environmental Impact Pest Management, also referred to as Green Pest Management. Our service comprises three basic components: INSPECTION, PROBLEM SOLVING and COMMUNICATION. Smithereen offers extensive and effective Green, Low Environmental Impact programs designed to control a wide variety of structural pests. Exclusion, Behavior Modifications and Sanitary Assessments along with green formulations as natural repellents and baits are included in the program.

    Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®)
    Smithereen, “Your Partner for a Healthy Environment”, can partner with you to complete your pest control eligibility requirements for LEED® certification. Smithereen employees have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles by pursuing and receiving LEED® Professional Accreditation. Smithereen is an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council and local chapters.

    Smithereen’s Green Shield Certified Service
    Smithereen continues to lead the industry as a provider of Green Shield Certified Service. Smithereen’s Green Shield Certified Service means smarter, more effective pest control without unnecessary pesticide use. Smithereen certified professionals solve the underlying cause of pest problems, providing lasting control. For 123 years Smithereen has been serving the Chicagoland area, including portions of Wisconsin and Indiana. Smithereen also has a location serving the Kansas City area.

    To learn more, please visit www.smithereen.com
      Learn More
  • Rishi Tea offers the highest quality organic and Fair Trade Certified loose leaf teas, imported directly from gardens around the world. We travel thousands of miles each year to work hands-on in the fields with skilled artisans and their families, who have been making traditional teas and herbs for generations. Our direct, long-standing relationships allow us to produce rare and exclusive teas that offer an unmatched level of freshness, quality and authenticity.  Our trade, travels, and study are devoted to expanding the understanding of loose leaf tea and setting the standard for quality. We are proud to offer over 200 loose leaf teas and herbs, and welcome you to try our teas and share in our direct link to origin. For more info please visit www.rishi-tea.com  Learn More
  • Greenhouse Loft is the country's premier sustainable event venue. From weddings and social gatherings to meetings and corporate events, Greenhouse Loft seeks to redefine what an event venue can be.

    Greenhouse Loft is a space where guests come to share ideas and experiences in a beautiful, sustainable environment that is unlike anything in the country.

    Greenhouse Loft is the latest project from the folks behind West Loop Studio. For photos and more, visit

    www.greenhouseloft.com
      Learn More
  • NewGrange Development LLC is a Building Design, Construction, and General Contracting Company with a focus on sustainable developments. We are passionate about sustainable design, quality construction, and environmental responsibility. With our in-house team of LEED AP’s and Construction Professionals, we offer design, construction, and general contracting services for your home or building project. Our goal is maximize value for our clients and the environment through effective, efficient, and resourceful buildings.  From single family homes and multi-family buildings - to commercial construction, we’re here to retrofit existing buildings and build high performing new ones. To learn more visit us at newgrangedevelopment.com
      Learn More
  • Distant Village Packaging is the leading innovator in sustainable handmade packaging. Their expert design team develops custom branded packaging to improve product awareness. The packaging is hand made by artisans in remote communities around the world, creating employment opportunities and fair trade for talented artisans. Eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices are essential to the company’s mission while reinforcing the quality image of client’s products. Visit www.distantvillage.com for images of innovative and creative packaging designs. Distant Village Packaging will have a showroom and sales office at Green Exchange featuring an exciting range of sustainable packaging.

      Learn More
  • Purple Asparagus is a non-profit that educates children, families, and the community about eating that’s good for the body and the planet. Nutrition education programs are at the heart of our work. We offer practical and engaging programs so children and their families can learn about healthy eating.

    We encourage children to taste fruits and vegetables that they might otherwise never consider and to engage in interactive cooking lessons to spark their interest in imagining, tasting, and creating healthy meals.

    Purple Asparagus’ flagship program – Delicious, Nutritious Adventures – provides interactive and fun nutrition education classes in elementary schools. Students taste new foods and learn where they come from, how they benefit their bodies, and how to make simple and healthy meals using them. Written recipes go home to parents so families can cook these at home.

    Purple Asparagus also offers Good Eating for Families classes to help parents bring healthy foods into their diets with recipes, tastings, and cooking demonstrations. During the summer, our Family Fun at Farmers’ Markets activities engage families in hands-on cooking projects using unfamiliar but healthy foods.

    For more info, please visit www.purpleasparagus.com

      Learn More
  • WeFarm America is a social enterprise that offers customized organic residential, school and community gardens.With our Garden Installation packages, a WeFarm Specialist visits the property for a consultation and soil test, generates custom designs, and returns to install a complete garden according to the customer’s preferences and specifications. From there, the customer is free to follow the detailed instructions on sustainable gardening based on WeFarm's suggested best practices or develop their own strategy.

    We're working to convert lawns to food gardens and vacant lots to community gardens and urban farms across the city. Our residential garden work helps fund school and community garden projects in Chicago’s under-served neighborhoods.

    For more info, please visit www.senecakern.com

      Learn More
  • Rainforest is an early childhood learning center training tomorrow's global citizens.  With an environmental arts based curriculum, Rainforest focuses on the child's creative spirit using specialty materials like mosaics, ceramics, and pottery.  Its non-traditional approach to early childhood education has received notice and acclaim from some of the city's most prominent private and public elementary programs, who are now educating Rainforest graduates.  Rainforest cares for children as young as six weeks and as old as six years. It is a full day program that is open Monday thru Friday, year round.

    Green Exchange will be the second location for Rainforest, and we are excited to partner with them as they expand.  Anyone interested in seeing what Rainforest is all about is invited to visit the current location in the South Loop at 1325 S. State Street, or by contacting them at 312-913-9793 or info@greenpreschool.com

    For more information: www.rainforestlearningcenter.com or www.facebook.com/rainforestlearningcenter      Learn More
  • GreenChoice Bank will be the first "green" community bank in the Midwest when we open our doors in 2009.  Our bank was created with sustainability as the driving force behind every aspect of our organization -- from our planned LEED Platinum certification to our back office operations.  The core mission of GreenChoice Bank is to support sustainable practices within our local economy, our customer base and among our employees.  We will leverage our funds on deposit to invest in local green businesses, offer green banking incentives to our customers, including advantaged loan and deposit products, and benefits to our employees who use public transport or purchase hybrid vehicles. GreenChoice Bank is the right choice for individuals who are looking for the opportunity to make a values-based decision about their banking services.  To learn more, visit us at www.GreenChoiceBank.com


      Learn More
  • IWE is the leading provider of dual language workforce development services in Illinois. We add value to organizations by delivering results-driven, customized training services in a responsive, professional manner. IWE can help you eliminate gaps in your employee pipeline by helping to recruit and train new hires, and IWE can help you boost your bottom line by training your current employees or new hires. We provide training in all industries, including manufacturing, health care, construction, small business, service, non-profit and green technologies, and we use experienced trainers, effective training materials, and adult education methods to ensure that the training meets your business objectives.  IWE delivers training services including needs assessment, training deployment, and grant writing to underwrite the cost of training for our clients.

    Fore more information: www.iwetraining.com      Learn More
  • Coyote Logistics is the fastest-growing privately owned logistics and transportation company in the country.  Coyote Logistics was launched to bring a better experience to the transportation industry. Its unique operating model, supported by a proprietary technology platform and a growing team of energetic, highly-trained logistics experts, allows it to efficiently aggregate the capacity of an increasingly dense network of transportation partners and match that capacity with the shipping needs of its customer base. Coyote delivers the inherent cost advantages and flexibility of a non-asset based model without compromising on visibility, control, or reliability.

    In addition to striving to provide optimal service and support domestic transportation and supply chain operations throughout North America, Coyote strives for efficiency and sustainability. The company specializes in fleet backhaul, which utilizes client’s trucks to transport loads on return trips reducing the number of trucks transporting half or empty loads, to reduce emissions and overall carbon footprint. Coyote is continuously looking for Green solutions and look forward to our move to the Green Exchange in the Spring of 2011.  For more information, please visit www.coyote.com      Learn More
  • Altro is the inventor and international manufacturer of  safety flooring and walls.  For over 60 years, Altro has been producing specialized resilient floor and walls for healthcare, pharmaceutical, and hospitality markets.
     
    We have been named, for two years running, a Top 100 Company to work for in the UK.  Altro has been donned with the UK’s green manufacturing award.
     
    Altro is an ISO 14001 and 9001 company and are allied members of the AIA, IIDA, and USGBC - both National and Illinois Chapter.
     
    Altro is the inventor of the industry’s only safety floor recycling machinery and has co-developed the Recofloor reclamation program which accepts our competitors’ materials.
    Altro uses post-consumer wine bottles in the majority of our products.  We manufacture both PVC and PVC Free products and are the only resilient flooring manufacturer to proudly say that we have replaced the controversial plasticizer in PVC,  phthalates, with a bio-based material.
     
    Michael J. Blasek is the former Chairman and founding member of the Illinois chapter of the USGBC.  He has served on the Regional Heartland Council and is on many of the USGBC corresponding committees.
     
    For more info, please visit www.altrofloors.com
      Learn More
  • Pivotal Production is a full service event design and production company committed to creating exciting, edgy and innovative celebrations.  We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the opportunity to explore the unconventional and host truly awe-inspiring events.  Pivotal’s passion for unique celebrations is equaled by our respect for the planet.  We go the extra mile to ensure that all our events are absolutely eco-fabulous.  Pivotal is a women-owned enterprise and a B corporation.  For more information please visit www.pivotalproduction.com.  Learn More
  • Heather N. Schafer is an Intellectual Property and Registered Patent Attorney.  With over six years experience, Heather’s practice focuses on IP protection and counseling for entrepreneurs and startups.  Heather is an adjunct professor at Chicago Kent College of Law and regularly conducts seminars and writes articles on Intellectual Property issues for books and periodicals such as Intellectual Property Magazine.

    To learn more, please visit www.schaferiplaw.com
      Learn More
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