Being good to the earth is a critical part of what we aim to achieve through a sustainable mission. So we look forward to greeting Earth Day – an annual reminder for us all to take an extra step, by improving our habits and finding new ways to make the future a little greener.

The official Earth Day – today, April 22 – marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” and these initiatives for the first Earth Day evolved into the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts.

Since then, networks of supporters have helped to build awareness of our environmental issues and what we can all do to make a difference. In the spirit of celebrating and promoting the Earth Day message, GreenChoice Bank has pledged its support as title sponsor of the “GreenChoice Bank 5k for Earth Day” event, Saturday, April 27, in Humboldt Park. With the backing of city councilmen Joe Moreno of the 1st Ward and Roberto Maldonado of the 26th Ward, the event is an integral part of the community's green initiatives and features a solar powered stage, an ambitious recycling program and composting of the event’s waste.

The festivities kick off at 9 a.m. with a family-friendly 5k run/walk and will culminate at the Humboldt Park Boathouse Pavilion, 1301 N. Humboldt Blvd., with a free Green Market featuring local farmers with organic produce, organizations offering opportunities for health and environmental education, great music and family fun.

Here are a few ways event attendees can join the “green” initiative:

Ride share – create a free PickupPal account and ride share to the race. PickupPal members can complete a profile, upload a photo or use Facebook to drive or arrange rides with other members. PickupPal can also help members track the number of rides they have given or received, the number of miles they have traveled through ride sharing and their reduced emissions.

Donate clothes – since the start time can be chilly, race participants are encouraged to bring "sheddable" layers they'd like to offer for donation as they warm up at the race’s step off.

Donate shoes – if you have a gently-used pair or two of running shoes, consider depositing them in the race receptacles – they’ll find a great new home through Ecology Shoes and Nike USA.

We hope you’ll make this an eventful, green Earth Day with your friends and family! Enter the coupon code “GCB” to save $5 off your race registration. Runners and walkers will be invited to pick up their chip, bib race number and reusable tote bag at GreenChoice Bank’s Green Exchange branch on Thursday, April 25 and Friday April, 26 from 4 to 8 p.m.

If you won’t be available to run, walk or celebrate with us, consider contributing your time through a clean-up of one of your local parks or check out http://act.earthday.org/ and see how your greener actions measure up with their carbon calculator.

Have other thoughts on how we can all do good by doing green? Share your suggestions on our blog and on Facebook and together, we can all do great work for the earth!

Did you know Chicagoland homeowners are beating the chill and reducing their bills through the turnkey Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) program? EI2 paves the way for homeowners to make affordable, energy-efficient upgrades – starting with an energy audit and ending with a pre-screened contractor doing quality work at a significantly reduced out-of-pocket cost. The program reimburses up to 70 percent of a homeowner's expenses on the improvements they make, with rebates of up to $1,750 paid directly to an EI2-approved contractor.

We’ve seen many GreenChoice Bank clients (and our bankers, too!) successfully green up their homes through this comprehensive program. By implementing energy efficient measures such as installing whole house insulation or improving the efficiency of their HVAC systems, homeowners will benefit from an average payback period of three to five years.

The EI2 program is simple and streamlined -- providing a custom assessment of each home’s energy weaknesses, evaluating what cost-sensible improvements can be made and hooking up homeowners with quality, program-approved contractors that will get the job done right.

1. The first step is a low-cost, yet thorough, energy audit of your home, so you’ll learn more about where it’s efficient and where it’s not. Skilled environmental contractors use the latest technology to measure baseline air leakage, find solutions and audit the safety and efficiency of your appliances.
2. At the end of the audit, you’ll receive findings and recommendations, which include suggested improvements, costs, applicable rebates and projected energy use reduction.
3. Energy Impact Illinois will pay for 70 percent, with a total of up to $1,750, of the up-front cost of air sealing and insulation. EI2 will guide the homeowner through the process, help with additional applicable rebates, loan applications and tax credits, and ensure the work is completed.to the program’s high standards.

For costs not covered by the EI2 rebate and for a number of other energy-efficient upgrades, financing is available to qualified applicants through GreenChoice Bank. Our financing options include unsecured loans from as low as $1,000 to as high as $10,000, as well as secured loans for amounts greater than $10,000. GreenChoice Bank's EI2 loans can cover up to 90 percent of the cost of installing high-efficiency furnaces and completing other home improvements that reduce energy use when using qualified EI2 contractors. To borrowers, EI2 will also provide a rebate approximately equal to the amount of interest the borrower would pay during their first year of the loan.

With a streamlined application process, a reduced interest rate and the ability to repay the EI2 loan over a period of as long as seven years, energy savings can help quickly offset a borrower’s loan payments. The loan application process is quick and easy, with decisions often made within one day.

GreenChoice Bank's EI2 loan program is a fantastic way for area homeowners (and those with one- to four-unit properties) to make much needed energy improvements while leveraging the expertise of qualified, pre-screened contractors, EI2 rebates and a streamlined lending program. Visit our EI2 page for an application form. In addition to a homeowner's savings, EI2 is a great option to consider during the purchase or sale of a home that is in need of energy improvements. Visit the Energy Impact Illinois website for more info about the program.

To learn more, attend a free EI2 Home Energy Workshop on Saturday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. at 2 Point Perspective in the Green Exchange building. We’ll have representatives from the EI2 program available to help answer your questions and get you started down a greener path!

With the turn of the New Year in our rear-view mirrors, and the holidays becoming a distant memory, we might lose sight of our resolutions for giving back to the community and those in need. As a registered benefit corporation, GreenChoice Bank knows that living, working and growing in one's community and for one's community year-round is what makes us all stronger and allows us to thrive.

This past December, heroic kids showed us this spirit of community as they participated in our Holiday Heroes initiative, bringing new and gently used, unwrapped toys and thoughtful essays to our branches in Cicero, Lockport and Chicago. Kids received a Holiday Heroes deposit slip from a GreenChoice Bank associate to help track their deposits, and the hero with the best essay and the hero with most toys donated were recognized in the media and invited to a GreenChoice Bank branch for special acknowledgement.

Our hero with the winning essay, Ariana Rodriguez, age 10, of Joliet, wrote, “It’s important to give to kids and people that are less fortunate because you are not only helping them but you are letting them know that someone cares for them.” Pictured above with Green Exchange branch manager, George Caraballo, the Heydenburgs from Buffalo Grove – Riley, 8, Dylan, 9 and Colin, 5 – were recognized for their toy donations. Riley also shared thoughts in her essay, “It makes me feel happy to give something to people who need some help. If everyone helps out, our world would be a better place.” While many children were making wish lists this season, these heroes were thinking of kids whose lists might not have been fulfilled. The toys collected by GreenChoice Bank’s three branches were donated to kids at holiday parties held by Logan Square's Boys and Girls Clubs, Lockport’s Toys for Tots and Cicero’s Mary Queen of Heaven School.

How can we follow these heroes’ examples throughout the year? As you may have read in our Jan. 14, 2013 blog post on benefit corporations, GreenChoice Bank is pledging to use our resources and abilities for public benefit. You can do your part by looking for opportunities to improve the situation of someone or something in your community, even in a small way. Benefit corps believe that our efforts can inspire people and give them the tools to change the world. We can all contribute to this movement if we just remember the wise words Ariana (pictured right) wrote, “We should think of people who are in need all the time and … maybe next year they will be able to help someone else so the gift of giving can on keep going.”

GreenChoice Bank had an exciting first official day of business in 2013, becoming the first bank in the U.S. to register as a benefit corporation (pictured from left, GreenChoice Bank president and CEO, Harold Sherman, and me registering our corporate status at the Illinois Secretary of State's office.) On Jan. 2, GreenChoice Bank was among the first in Illinois to elect the benefit corporation structure – a new type of corporate entity designed to help create high-quality jobs and a more sustainable and inclusive economy. At least thirteen other Illinois companies also have registered or signaled their plan to register.

A benefit corporation is legally required to: 1) have a corporate purpose to create a material positive impact on society and the environment; 2) expand fiduciary duty to require consideration of the interests of workers, community and the environment; and 3) publicly report annually on its overall social and environmental performance using a comprehensive, credible, independent and transparent third-party standard.

Illinois is one of 11 states that have passed a benefit corporation law, which allows businesses to enjoy legal protection to create value for society, not just shareholders, while meeting higher standards of accountability and transparency. Other types of corporations are typically required to prioritize the short-term financial interests of shareholders over the interests of workers, communities and the environment. Similar legislation has passed in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Hawaii, Vermont, Maryland, California and New York with strong bipartisan support. Fifteen other states are moving forward for 2013.

GreenChoice Bank believes that by creating valuable social and environmental impacts, while returning value to our shareholders, we are demonstrating that businesses serve a higher purpose and can create a sustainable economy that we are all proud of – an economy that serves the entire community and not just a select, privileged few. By realizing the greater benefit of our choices, we can contribute to an exciting new movement – benefit corps – and by doing this, show that what’s best for the world is also best for business.

Please share your ideas on how to support businesses that are dedicated to the greater good here or on our Facebook page. For a comparison between Certified B Corps and benefit corporations, see our Aug. 30 blog post, “B Corps, Benefit Corps, Better Corps” and for additional background on benefit corporations, including national and local legislative updates, see www.benefitcorp.net. Thanks for your support!

The holiday season can be a time of joy and togetherness for many families, but for those less fortunate, it can be a time of sadness and stress. We’re happy to be able to help with our second annual new and gently-used toy drive. We’re collecting again this year for Logan Square's Boys and Girls Clubs, Lockport’s Toys for Tots and Cicero’s Mary Queen of Heaven School. Last year’s drive made a difference for many area families and we’re hoping this year’s drive will help even more!

This year, we’re taking the holiday drive one step further by asking kids to take the lead as Holiday Heroes. Through Dec. 14, kids are invited to stop into any GreenChoice Bank branch with new or gently used, unwrapped toys and/or an essay they’ve written of up to 100 words, on why it’s important to give, help and share during the holidays and every day. When a Holiday Hero brings toys or an essay to a branch associate, they’ll fill out a Holiday Heroes deposit slip – we’ll be hanging and sharing our Heroes’ essays and tallying each Hero’s toy totals. The Hero with a special essay chosen by our staff and the Hero with the most toys donated will be celebrated in GreenChoice Bank's coverage of the Holiday Heroes promotion! We’ll also contact our Extraordinary Participants and invite them to a GreenChoice Bank branch for a special acknowledgement.

 All kids who deposit toys and essays will be winners, receiving a smart savers’ worksheet, a treat and the satisfaction of knowing they’re spreading the holiday spirit. Of course, we welcome Heroes of all ages to bring in toy donations and help us spread the word! Please take a minute to encourage your favorite Heroes to participate by sharing a link to this blog post on your Facebook page or circulating the attached flyer: GCB_HolidayHeroLgFlyerPRESS.pdf (747.74 kb)

We are grateful to all our friends, customers and Heroes for helping us wish others a happier holiday.

An inspirational customer and neighbor, 2 Point Perspective, is paving the way for sustainable construction throughout Chicagoland. From its offices at Green Exchange, they’re providing uniquely green-minded architectural and interior design services that lead, and sometimes LEED, to elegant, forward-thinking buildings. We spent a few minutes with Lisa Elkins, the firm’s founding architect and LEED AP, who filled us in on some of the exciting new developments in her industry.

What is 2 Point Perspective? How did you come up with the name?
“We’re an eco-focused architecture firm that works on projects targeted to yield less waste, a longer life and healthier living. Since so much of Chicago is already built up, a lot of the work we do requires creative and deep thinking, to figure out how to modify and improve existing spaces. This involves mapping out changes to walls, plumbing, electrical and roofing, to offer the detailed plans a contractor will follow to meet our client’s needs more sustainably. The 2 Point Perspective name reflects that – both sides of every project must come together to make sense –inside and outside, efficient, yet attractive and healthy, yet affordable.”

How does green design and construction differ from traditional methods?
“Our approach examines energy efficiency and materials re-use and recycling, but also goes one step further. With our design team and the project’s contractors working together – we can ensure there's a lot less waste. If we design a room with a 12-foot dimension as opposed to one that’s 12 feet six inches, we can use the industry standard 12-foot carpet roll’s width instead of ruining an additional roll for that extra six-inch strip. We do the same with lumber sizes for studs, where as much as a third of materials are cut on site and thrown away. A study of a California commercial facility showed that the improved lighting and air quality offered by green construction reduced employee absenteeism by 47 percent and increased employee productivity by five to seven percent!”

What are the biggest challenges 2 Point faces?
“When our residential or commercial projects are pursuing LEED Platinum, it can be a bit of a juggling act to figure out how to make all components work together to achieve certification. We had one recent project for a dental office that was striving for LEED Silver, but the systems performed so efficiently, they reached LEED Gold.”

How has the recent economy factored into your business decisions?
“As a sustainably-minded firm, we have the unique ability to keep our clients' budgets in check by reducing waste and building for the longer term. But we have run into situations where people wanted to build, yet had a hard time getting loans. GreenChoice Bank is a really good resource to speak with because they understand the value of supporting sustainable projects – two members of the bank’s management team are LEED APs – and we like that GreenChoice is dedicated to investing back into our community.”

What are some steps 2 Point Perspective takes to be a sustainably-minded business?
“In addition to standard recycling, we have a program in our office where employees bring in batteries and wine corks to be recycled. I’ve made it a point of practicing what we preach on our own home, using it as a laboratory for new ideas and energy savings. We recently completed an attic insulation project through the EI2 loan program, which gave us a 24-percent increase in our home’s energy efficiency.”

We “like” to meet and work with our customers who are passionate about creating a greener future. If your group or organization is interested in taking a tour of 2 Point Perspective’s amazing space, or one of the three branches they created for us, such as the Green Exchange branch pictured here, please leave a comment on our blog and we’ll contact you to set a date!

With Gov. Pat Quinn’s Aug. 2 signing of the Benefit Corporation Act, Bill SB2897, there has been a lot of talk about its value and the difference between a benefit corp and a Certified B Corp. I’d love to hear your thoughts about these options and how they might be a fit for your business.

The concept of the Benefit Corporation was introduced and supported by B Lab and the community of Certified B Corporations to create a new corporate form. According to a white paper on the topic, “a benefit corporation is the corporate structure that best meets the needs of the growing number of entrepreneurs and investors who seek to use business as a tool to solve social and environmental problems.” Illinois is now the 10th state to join the benefit corporation movement.

How are benefit corporations different from traditional corporations?

A business that is a benefit corporation is required to have:

1. Purpose – to create a material, positive impact on society and the environment
2. Accountability – expanding its fiduciary duty to require consideration of the interests of workers, community and the environment
3. Transparency – by publicly reporting annually on its social and environmental performance against a comprehensive, credible, independent and transparent third party standard

How are benefit corporations different from B Corporations?

Both are sometimes referred to as B Corps – they have much in common but do have a few important differences. Certified B Corporation is a certification conferred by the nonprofit B Lab. Benefit corporation is a legal status administered by the state. Benefit corporations do not need to be certified. Certified B Corporations have been certified as having met a high standard of overall social and environmental performance, and as a result have access to a portfolio of services and support from B Lab that benefit corporations don’t. Benefit corporation laws have now been enacted in eleven states and the legislation is voluntary with no cost to the state.

GreenChoice Bank is proud to be a Certified B Corp and the great news is, whether a business is a B Corp or a benefit corp, it’s all for better business. What is your business doing for the better and which type of corp. might it be?

At GreenChoice Bank, we’re honored to have connections and conversations that can help us all become more socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible. One inspirational opportunity for our bank will be as a proud supporter of the Bioneers conference, at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Student Center East, Nov. 2 through Nov. 4.

The Bioneers organization is a uniquely rich trove of “ideas lying around.” Since 1990, Bioneers has served as a think-tank for leading social and scientific innovators, providing opportunities for people to connect and inspire one another through global, national and local conferences. Bioneers’ also has an award-winning WFMT radio series and provides curricula materials to schools. Now in its 23rd year, Bioneers’ conferences are held in various cities annually in October and November. Content focuses on a wide range of social and environmental topics, through progressive presentations, workshops and performances focused on social and environmental issues.

Great Lakes Bioneers Chicago (GLBC) – a new affiliate of the national Bioneers movement – will be guiding Chicago’s very first Bioneers conference in November. This thought-provoking event is themed “The Living City” and will explore solutions to some of Chicago’s most pressing challenges and showcase some of Chicago’s most forward-thinking projects. Music, performance art, poetry and a continuous run of TED-style talks will inspire attendees to interact, learn and infuse new ideas into their lives and professions.

Chicago will become the largest city in the U.S. to host a Bioneers gathering, with more than 1,000 innovators and visionaries expected to participate. Just a few of the more than 50 dynamic speakers scheduled for the Chicago conference include:

• Vandana Shiva, internationally-recognized environmental activist, scientist and author
• John Edel, Chicago-area “Eco-Preneur” and creator of the world’s first vertical farm
• Nina Simons, co-founder of National Bioneers, Starhawk. activist and author on earth spirituality
• Jerry Wilhelm, writer and nationally-recognized botanist and ecologist
• Mark Lakeman, co-founder of the City Repair Project in Portland, Oregon
• Richard Heinberg, author and senior fellow at the Post Carbon Institute

We hope to share ideas with you at the conference, here in this blog and on GreenChoice Bank’s Facebook page. Together, we can generate impactful solutions that benefit our people and our planet!

Starting and growing a business can be challenging, especially in our current economic environment. For businesses and organizations who could use a fresh and highly experienced perspective to help them meet their goals, there’s terrific talent to tap at Compass^(x) Strategy. We’re always inspired when talking with its energetic founder and chief strategist, Nancy Goldstein (pictured below) , who recently shared with us how Compass^(x)Strategy’s passions are fueled by its clients’ successes.

What is Compass^(x) Strategy?
“We’re a firm dedicated to creating sustainable growth for passionate companies. We can help a business differentiate itself in a meaningful way, find the best opportunities for growth or develop an actionable marketing plan.”

Who are your firm’s clients?
“We’ve worked with a wide range of businesses and organizations such as Beyond Green, Climate Cycle, I-GO, Corridor Architecture and Aspire CoffeeWorks. The one thing they all have in common is their desire to thrive by putting something good, useful and powerful into the world. Their green or social mission produces greater meaning than just the products they sell or the services they provide.”

How do you go about pinpointing for your clients what they need to do to be successful?
“We first start by identifying a client’s passion and their target for success – ‘what’s their (x)’ – so we can help them achieve it. We conduct interviews and research to develop a firm understanding of the client’s market position and cull down to a handful of opportunities that would help them meet their goals. Then, we partner with our client to guide them through the possibilities and create a roadmap to help them get there.”

Why did you decide to become a Certified B Corporation?
“We strongly believe that businesses should be a force for good and in this way, they can create a more resilient and sustainable economy. This belief that we can build a better business also guides our interactions with each other, our clients and the community. As a B Corporation, we’re able to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems to improve the world we live in.”

What are some of the ways Compass^(x) Strategy works to be a better kind of business?
“We use carbon offsets and sustainable renewable energy credits and offer ‘best friends discounts’ to nonprofits. For clients who pay our standard rate, we offer a 2 percent ‘for the community’ rebate which we supply in the form of a tisbest.org gift card. Our client can choose how to distribute the gift to charity and take another step in making business a force for good.”

What’s most satisfying about the work you do?
“It’s a great joy to work with passionate, greater good companies that are trying to be successful. We meet so many fascinating and dedicated people and it’s hugely rewarding to be able to help someone who can make the world a better place.”

Thanks to Nancy and Compass^(x) Strategy for helping passionate businesses get off the ground and grow. What are your favorite sustainable businesses? Share them with us here and help them grow, too!

Although it’s best to bike, walk or take public transportation when we can, we sometimes need to rely on a car to get us there. So, we were thrilled to hear about Green Wheels – an eco-friendly, Chicago-based company that sells electric and hybrid vehicles, and features Chicago’s premier “Green Garage” which services all auto makes and models in a more environmentally-responsible way.

Green Wheels' location at 1540 N. Western in Chicago

Green Wheels is an authorized selling representative for Think Electric Vehicles with a range of approximately 100 miles per charge, and the BYD e6 – an all-electric luxury SUV with an impressive rating of 186 miles per charge. Both vehicles qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit and the $4,000 State of Illinois rebate. If you need an EV charge for these vehicles, remember to keep GreenChoice Bank’s Cicero and Lockport branches on your route! Green Wheels also sells high-efficiency pre-owned automobiles such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and other “fuel stingy” vehicles.

Green Wheels’ Auto Care Program offers a multi-point safety and efficiency assessment with every service. A Green Oil Change consists of re-refined oil, which is 79 percent more efficient to produce and reduces our dependency on foreign oil, and a high quality oil filter, which will extend the time between oil changes. Re-refined oil is now being used by NASCAR as a viable alternative to oil manufactured from crude. New and improved engine cleaning systems and products are used to provide cleaner emissions, better fuel economy and other sustainable benefits. Green Wheels has nitrogen available for tire inflation which helps reduce tire wear and promotes fuel efficiency, another NASCAR standard. Nitrogen has a diffusion rate that is 25 to 30 percent lower than oxygen, so it significantly reduces tire pressure loss. A loss of three psi could mean a reduction in fuel economy of as much as 10 percent!

While their vehicles are in for service, customers can use one of Green Wheels’ innovative electric bicycles as a loaner. Shop supplies are no-VOC or low-VOC when possible. All paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, rubber and chemicals are recycled or disposed of responsibly and Green Wheels also provides paperless billing.

We're proud to be doing business with Green Wheels and we thank them for offering us all a ride to the greener side! How do you ride greener?