The idea of a nationwide chain of green building material outlets has been dreamed about by many eco-minded business people and investors. But it’s never gotten past the one-off stage, where successful green retailers push past their local markets with a successful model that can work in multiple cities across the country. Until now. 


The merger of Ecohaus and Green Depot, announced on Feb. 7, is a West-meets-East event that unites three of the pioneers in the green-building movement. Four, if you count Greenmaker in Chicago, which Green Depot purchased in 2008.