Edited by Cassie Walker & Nora O’Donnell

For the third year in a row, we canvassed the Chicago area in search of earth-minded innovators. With help from your nominations, we found them in a South Side garden, a suburban synagogue, a Loop office building, a West Side boutique, and a Lawndale apiary. These six Chicagoans have more in common than a desire to make our planet greener: They aim to make it better.

ALSO: Cosponsored by the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the 2009 Green Awards will be presented in April at the Shedd. A full version of Galvanized, a companion documentary by Daniel Zox, will screen at the event.

Film by Daniel Zox