Green Economy

Recognizing the potential for a green economy to also mean stronger, healthier communities, Delta Institute is working to develop the Great Lakes Region into a global leader in green technology, green jobs and green innovation. Read more about Delta Institute...

Launched in 2006, the Blue Green Alliance is led by the United Steelworkers and Sierra Club along with other "blue" (blue collar/labor) and "green" (environmental) partners. Read more about Blue Green Alliance...

Founded in 1954, the American Solar Energy Society now has more than 10,000 members across the nation that work together to help create a sustainable energy economy. The association has regional chapters in 40 states and forms the U.S. section of the International Solar Energy Society. Read more about American Solar Energy Society...

Formed in 1980 by leading researchers in the energy efficiency field, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy has grown to have programs addressing many major sectors of the U.S. economy, including national and state energy policy, buildings and equipment, utilities, industry and agriculture, and transportation. Over its long history, the organization has helped spearhead state and federal adoption of efficiency standards for more than two-dozen products and has assisted many states and utilities in designing energy efficiency programs. Read more about American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy...

Striving to increase citizen participation in our democratic institutions, protect the environment, and create and preserve family-wage jobs for low-income people, the Institute for Washington's Future promotes rural enterprises, believing rural communities possess the opportunities for creating a more sustainable national economy. Recent projects have focused on biomass energy production, sustainable farming, and increasing opportunities for low-income people to earn a livelihood in agriculture. Read more about Institute for Washington's Future...

Construction Junction works to support and promote conservation through the reuse of building materials, striving to keep usable building materials out of the landfills and provide them to the community at very low cost.  In addition to employing 29 people, the nonprofit supports Goodwill training programs in its warehouse, providing training to people with barriers to employment.  In 2011, Construction Junction launched its CJ ReGives program, which provides free building material and furniture to local social service, environmental, and arts -focused nonprofits.  In 2014, the program made donations to over 35 local organizations.

Founded in 1993, the Green Building Alliance (GBA) was the first U.S. Green Building Council affiliate, of which there are now nearly 80 nationwide.  The nonprofit works to inspire the creation of healthy, high-performance places by providing leadership that connects knowledge, transformative ideas, and collaborative action.  GBA conducts over 200 events each year and provides a range of in-person and on-line resources, all aimed at building the region’s green building capacity.  Its efforts are credited with the development of over 100 LEED-certified buildings in the region, ranking the city 14th in the nation.

Yellow Springs Instruments Company (now YSI Inc.) began operations as a four-person company in 1948 that produced sensors and related medical instruments. In 1983, the company was converted to employee ownership. Today, the company has roughly 250 employee-owners and its primary business involves the manufacture of water quality and environmental monitoring applications. YSI actively pursues a “triple bottom line” of business, social, and environmental performance and tracks its progress with an annual sustainability report. Read more about YSI Inc....

Founded in June 2004, the Sustainable Food Lab (SFL) is a consortium of 70 businesses and organizations across three continents that is committed to moving sustainable food from niche to mainstream. Utilizing a methodology that encourages cross sector dialogues, an openness to new ideas, and even admitting that one does not have all the answers, SFL is committed to developing a food system that consumes natural resources at the same rate of recovery. Read more about Sustainable Food Lab...