What Green Compass does

Green Compass is a Washington, DC-based climate solutions company that retrofits commercial and multi-family buildings with integrated green infrastructure to lower operating costs, meet regulatory requirements, and reduce emissions. Founded in 2014 and led by CEO Nicole Whalen, the firm serves property owners and operators in DC with a primary focus on underserved communities in Wards 5, 7, and 8 of the Anacostia watershed. Its offering spans four core practices: green stormwater infrastructure (rain gardens, bioretention systems, infiltration trenches, tree plantings) that generates tradeable Stormwater Retention Credits; renewable energy systems built around onsite solar and Power Purchase Agreements; EV charging infrastructure; and building efficiency measures, including DC-mandated benchmarking and LED retrofits. Sales-led go-to-market uses a "toolkit approach" with Green Compass acting as a single point of contact that consolidates qualified service providers around each building's needs.

The company's distinguishing technical premise is that energy and water systems are interdependent and should be optimized jointly rather than in silos — embodied in nature-based stormwater solutions that generate SRC revenue while reducing load on treatment and pumping infrastructure. Delivery is executed through an established partner network rather than proprietary software; the main analytical integration point is the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, used to benchmark and report under DC's Building Energy Performance Standards. Green Compass has been independently documented in case studies by the Earth Economics, Duke University Nicholas Institute, the Urban Land Institute, and The Nature Conservancy, which have validated aggregate impact metrics including over 10 million gallons of stormwater captured annually and $1.3 million in annual community benefits.

Revenue is generated through a mix of project-based green infrastructure installations, transaction-linked economics from SRC sales and PPA-structured solar, a $650 annual benchmarking subscription package, and EV charging installation partnerships. Pricing is deliberately structured to eliminate upfront client cost where possible by stacking local incentives, grants, PPAs, and shared-savings agreements. External capital to date is modest and non-traditional: a 2019 SRC Aggregator Startup Grant from the DC Department of Energy and Environment, a 2020 TD Green Space Grant, a $650,000 revolving loan facility from DC Green Bank in September 2021, and a small late-2024 funding event of approximately $160,600 — supplemented by crowdfunding via Honeycomb Credit Climate Impact Notes. The company is founder-led, privately held, and operates exclusively in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Name

Green Compass

Legal name

Green Compass

Website

https://greencompass.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Green Compass retrofits commercial and multi-family buildings in Washington, DC with green stormwater infrastructure, solar, EV charging, and energy efficiency solutions, with a focus on underserved communities through no-cost and savings-as-a-service arrangements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Building Retrofitting and Climate Solutions Services

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Roof-Mounted Systems Integration (PV, Green Roofs, Roof Gardens, Snow Guards) (IMAFAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Repowering, Retrofit & Life-Extension (Inverter Replacements, Tracker Upgrades, Controls) (EUACAGAJ), Energy Efficiency & Green Retrofit Financing (FSALAHAK)

Keywords

• Green stormwater infrastructure
• Building energy retrofits
• Commercial solar PPAs
• EV charging installation
• Building benchmarking compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Green Infrastructure Project Revenue: Design, build, and maintain green stormwater infrastructure projects that generate Stormwater Retention Credits (SRCs) which can be sold or traded. Projects are often installed at no cost to clients using local incentives and power purchase agreements.
2. Renewable Energy Systems: Help buildings transition to renewable energy with onsite solar systems and offsite supply contracts through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Revenue generated through energy savings passed to clients and SRCs from solar installations.
3. Building Benchmarking Services: Annual benchmarking package including site visits for data collection, report preparation, and timely submission to regulatory bodies. Third-party verification services available every three years.
4. EV Charging Infrastructure: Expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Revenue model involves installation partnerships and potentially revenue sharing from charging stations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Green Compass retrofits commercial and multi-family buildings in Washington, DC with integrated green infrastructure solutions, including green stormwater infrastructure that generates tradeable Stormwater Retention Credits, on-site solar and off-site renewable supply through Power Purchase Agreements, EV charging infrastructure, and building efficiency measures such as benchmarking, LED retrofits, and electrification. The company consolidates these services as a single point of contact for property owners and uses DC incentives, PPAs, and shared-savings contracts to deliver many projects at no upfront cost.

Product overview

Green Compass is a climate solutions company that retrofit commercial and multi-family buildings with green infrastructure. Their integrated offering combines five core services: Green Stormwater Infrastructure (nature-based stormwater management and SRC generation), Renewable Energy Systems (onsite solar and PPA contracts), EV Charging Infrastructure, Building Efficiency Measures (benchmarking and retrofits), and LED Lighting Retrofits. They also offer Community Solar and Commercial Solar PPA sub-products. The company uses a toolkit approach with one point of contact, utilizing local incentives and power purchase agreements to eliminate upfront costs for clients. Services are delivered primarily in Washington, DC with a focus on underserved communities in the Anacostia Watershed.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Stormwater Infrastructure Designs, builds, and operates nature-based solutions (rain gardens, bioretention systems, infiltration trenches, tree plantings) that manage stormwater runoff, reduce air and water pollution, and generate tradeable Stormwater Retention Credits (SRCs). Offered to commercial, multi-family, and community property owners in Washington, DC.
• Renewable Energy Systems Provides solutions to help commercial and multi-family buildings transition away from fossil fuels, including on-site solar installations and off-site renewable energy supply contracts executed through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Delivered via partnerships with installers such as New Columbia Solar and PPA managers like Honeydew Energy Advisors.
• EV Charging Infrastructure Expands electric vehicle charging infrastructure at commercial and multi-family properties to promote zero-emission transportation and serve as energy storage for the grid. Revenue model involves installation partnerships and potentially revenue sharing from charging stations.
• Building Efficiency Measures Measures energy and water usage using EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, provides benchmarking services, and proposes retrofit projects including electrification and efficiency improvements to bring buildings into compliance with DC's Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS). Delivered to commercial and multi-family property owners.
• LED Lighting Retrofits Energy audit consulting and LED retrofit project delivery for commercial buildings, reducing scope 2 emissions and generating utility savings through rebates. Evidenced by a $38,000 annual utility savings outcome and 7% scope 2 reduction at the Organization of American States.
• Community Solar (DC Solar for All) Facilitates roof repair and rooftop solar installations for multi-family buildings through the District of Columbia's Solar for All program, enabling income-qualified residents to receive reduced electricity bills.
• Commercial Solar (PPA) Manages competitive bids for solar Power Purchase Agreements so commercial properties can install renewable-energy systems with no upfront investment, reducing carbon footprints and utility costs.
• Annual Benchmarking Package Annual subscription package that delivers an on-site visit for energy and water data collection, benchmarking report preparation using EPA ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and timely submission to DC DOEE for compliance with DC benchmarking regulations, with optional third-party verification every three years. Sold to property owners and operators needing recurring compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Capture over 10 million gallons of stormwater annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Casey TreescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for expert tree selection and coordination of volunteer tree planting events. Casey Trees is an urban forestry nonprofit that has planted over 25,000 trees across DC and provides trees at no or low cost.
• Arbor Day FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for tree planting events and projects. Partnership helps fund native tree installations in underserved neighborhoods.
• New Columbia SolarcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInstallation partner for commercial solar projects. Completed 214.4 kW solar installation for Organization of American States.
• Honeydew Energy AdvisorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated to manage competitive bid for solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for Organization of American States project.
• TCG Property CareminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal Ward 7 landscape contractor hired for required maintenance of green infrastructure projects to keep investments in the community.
• GroundswellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization working with Green Compass on green infrastructure projects in underserved neighborhoods.
• Beloved Community IncubatorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Green Compass investments in Ward 7 neighborhoods for green stormwater infrastructure projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DSD Renewables: National commercial solar, storage, and EV charging developer offering integrated clean energy infrastructure for commercial and multifamily properties - directly overlapping with Green Compass's renewable energy, EV, and efficiency offerings.
• Catalyze: Commercial and community solar developer delivering onsite and offsite renewable energy through PPAs and structured financing, comparable in deploying no-upfront-cost solar on commercial and multifamily rooftops.
• Clean Energy Works: Provider of building decarbonization retrofits for affordable housing and small commercial properties, using financing to remove upfront cost barriers - very comparable mission and customer profile.
• BlocPower: Building decarbonization and energy efficiency retrofit firm focused on underserved urban buildings, using financing structures to deliver no-upfront-cost retrofits. Closest comparable to Green Compass in business model, target customer, and integrated approach.

Others

• Casey Trees: DC-based urban forestry nonprofit that supplies trees and supports planting events alongside Green Compass's green stormwater projects; relevant ecosystem partner in the same community-based greening space.
• DC Green Bank: DC's green financing institution that provided Green Compass's $650,000 revolving loan facility; comparable as a capital partner enabling green infrastructure in underserved DC communities.
• New Columbia Solar: DC-region commercial solar installer that has partnered with Green Compass (e.g., Organization of American States installation); relevant as an installation partner rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• PosiGen: Solar and energy efficiency provider focused on low-to-moderate income households, combining PPAs with weatherization. Overlaps with Green Compass's underserved-community focus and no-cost delivery model.
• BrightPower: Energy benchmarking, analytics, and retrofit consulting firm assisting property owners with ENERGY STAR compliance and efficiency upgrades - directly comparable to Green Compass's benchmarking and efficiency service line.
• Lumen Energy Solutions: Commercial solar and battery storage developer working with building owners on PPA-financed projects; comparable in offering no-upfront-cost solar to commercial properties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/greencompassdc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-compass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green Compass