Giving Back

Awareness and understanding are essential to creating a more environmentally sound and socially just society. GreenStep's commitment to leveraging education as an agent for creating positive change extends beyond the realm of green building.

On a local level, Alex Spilger has worked with Bay-Area Habitat for Humanity chapters to explore the cost benefits of using different green building design strategies on their projects. He has also partnered with organizations such as the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights & Waldorf Schools to prepare & submit grant applications requesting funding for environmental educational programs at YES Youth Empowerment School in Oakland, CA and San Francisco Waldorf High School in San Francisco, CA. GreenStep is committed to ensuring that the wave of new green opportunities lifts up all communities, especially our youth.

On a global scale, Alex and his wife Amelia spent all of 2005 teaching English and Environmental Awareness at underprivileged elementary schools in rural mountain villages of Costa Rica as volunteers with WorldTeach, a non-profit based out of Harvard University's Center for International Development. They return to their respective villages every few years to bring supplies and support to the students, schools and communities.

In addition to the above volunteer work, Alex Spilger is a founding board member of GreenLaces.org, a non-profit dedicated to leveraging the visibility and influence of athletes to create positive change for the planet.

GreenStep is proud to be a member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that donate at least 1% of their annual net revenues to environmental organizations worldwide.