Archive for category Green Investing

Offshore Oil, Mythical Creatures, Tax Credits, and More



There’s so much going on today in environmental news it was hard to pick which stories to highlight. Well here you go…

Democrats Reluctantly Embrace Offshore Drilling
“For decades, opposition to new offshore oil drilling has been a core principle of Congressional Democrats, ranking in the party pantheon somewhere just below protecting Social Security and increasing the minimum wage.”~ NY Times

‘Mythical’ animal finally poses for camera
“Rare images of an African animal so elusive that it was once believed to be mythical have been released. The okapi is a shy animal related to the giraffe, with zebra-like stripes on its rear. It is native to the tropical rainforests of Africa but is now known to live only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” ~ CNN

Wind, solar tax credits back on the table
“Sens. Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley on Thursday unveiled bipartisan measures to reduce tax breaks for large oil and gas companies and extend credits for wind and solar power, amid a flurry of attention around offshore drilling and energy.” ~ Market Watch

Organic growth
“Increasingly health-conscious consumers are purchasing natural personal-care products, and investors are eager to buy into the trend. Despite a softer U.S. economy, the Natural Products Association estimates the industry is growing five times faster than the conventional personal-care-product sector.” ~ Seattle Times

North American Freshwater Fishes Fading Into Extinction
“Fishes that once were abundant in North American streams, rivers and lakes are now disappearing, with nearly 40 percent of all species in jeopardy, according to the most detailed assessment of the conservation status of freshwater fishes in the last 20 years.” ~ ENS

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Green Business Grants



Green Business Grants

Green Business Grants

When it comes to green solutions, many eco-conscious people have decided that to see more environmentally-friendly businesses in their area, they will need to build them themselves! If you are in a place where you realize that there might be a good niche for an eco-friendly business that uses renewable resources, you’ll find that there has never been a better time to get started. Both in the private and the public sector, there are many different green business grants being given for business that are willing to invest in long term environmental solutions.

For instance, one source for grants includes the Community Conservation Enterprises, which has given more than 130 grants for between $500 and $2000 US. These grants are specifically given to businesses that make the promotion of sustainable communities and the protection of natural resources a priority. Although currently these grants are only available for projects going up in Mexico and Central America, it is worth noting that there is hope for expansion in the future.

On a grander scale, the U. S. Department of Agriculture has allocated an impressive $11.4 million dollars in grants that will be available for investments going into agricultural and small businesses that are willing to put a vested interest in renewable energy and energy-efficient improvements in terms of their practices and products. An addition to this, loan guarantees are also available, which can take a lot of the stress out of starting an eco-friendly business.

For many people, the idea of staring an eco-friendly business was only a day dream, but as you can see, with these grants and many others on the table, it can very easily become a reality. If you have a strong view towards turning businesses more eco-friendly, you’ll find that now is the time to start. Take some time to start thinking about your area. What do you think the local economy will support? You’ll find that some businesses can operate just as well or even better on renewable energy resources, and you may surprise yourself when you think about what you might find out there.

If you are in a situation where you want to move forward not just with your household but also with your community, looking into eco-friendly and green grants might be the direction that you want to go in. Take the time to look around and make sure that your community is one that can support another business, but keep in mind that there is a bigger niche out there than you might think!

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Socially Responsible Investing


One thing that businesses will invariably listen to is their investors, and you will find that as investors start demanding new and greener methods of production and manufacturing, changes will happen. This is where green and social responsible investing come in, and though it may surprise you, this is not a new phenomenon at all!

One early example of socially responsible investing can be found with the Quakers during the 1700s, when they refused to frequent or endorse businesses that had anything to do with the slave trade. This is a form of boycott, and as can be seen with other social boycotts, it definitely got the message across. Looking back more recently, another example of socially responsible investing occurred in the 1970s, when Dow Jones, which made napalm for use during the Vietnam War was protested, and again when American investors withdrew from companies who were, openly or silently supporting Apartheid.

For a long time, socially responsible investing was thought of as a popular trend and not one that was very credible in the mainstream marketing environment. At the time, companies who took a real interest in the environment were considered too risky or simply not big enough to interest serious investors, but this perception is one that is changing and fast. Green investing broke into the mainstream world just a few decades ago, and as the world continues to move forward, this trend is only increasing.

If you are in a position to invest money, you’ll find that you can find screened lists of companies (see list of resources below) that are considered socially responsible. When looking at such lists, make sure that you ask what criteria were used that allowed these companies on the list and kept other companies off. In addition to this, you’ll find that some companies have a lower profitability than others but offer a great deal in the way results with high potential, like research towards more sustainable fuel sources.

When you are considering green and socially responsible investing, you’ll find that there is a great deal out there. Make sure that your money goes towards a world that you are interested in living in!

Resources for Socially Responsible Investing:

Wikipedia’s Page on Socially Responsible Investing

SocialInvestments.com

Social Investment Forum

SocialFunds.com

Green Money Journal

Calvert Online

Michael Bluejay’s Directory of Socially Responsible Stocks

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