A Green Version of Groupon?

A new website, Green Box Top, is a San Francisco-based project that offers daily deals (a la Groupon) on the services of local eco-friendly businesses. Co-founders Lynn Roulo and Michelle Yorn were looking for online bargains to boost the business of their Financial District yoga studio.

"Michelle and I were both frustrated that only about one in ten deals were interesting to us," says Roulo. "We thought, 'What if there were a site that just offered socially and environmentally conscious deals?'"

Green Box Top, like other daily deal sites, introduces small businesses to customers via timely discounts and bargains. However, it differs from the others by only including environmentally responsible businesses, whether an organic supermarket, a yoga studio, or a sustainable restaurant. A portion of profits go to nonprofits in line with GBT's mission statement.

If you don't live in San Francsico, don't fret: Roulo and Yorn plan to expand; their eyes are set on other parts of California, as well as Colorado.

--Ronny Smith