{"id":7661,"date":"2012-12-27T15:09:08","date_gmt":"2012-12-27T23:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ietransfer.wpengine.com\/?p=7661"},"modified":"2012-12-27T15:09:08","modified_gmt":"2012-12-27T23:09:08","slug":"options-for-investing-in-sustainability-and-the-clean-tech-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspiredeconomist.com\/articles\/options-for-investing-in-sustainability-and-the-clean-tech-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Options for investing in sustainability and the clean tech economy"},"content":{"rendered":"
While working in the green economy is an option for many people nowadays, there are many folks who, for one reason or another, do not, but would still like to support the growth of sustainability and clean tech. Good news–there are many ways that you can invest your money to help make a better world…and get a return on investment to boot.<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: we are not investment advisors…this article is for entertainment purposes only. Seriously, our lawyers make us say stuff like this.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n The field of impact investing<\/a> has revolutionized the concept of investing for more than just profits. There are good trends. Private sector investment<\/a> in green technology and other eco-friendly businesses is booming. So…you’re not alone, and the growth in these markets means that more money will continue to flow in, and, as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all ships.<\/p>\n If you’re interested in long term investment with traditional investment vehicles like Individual Retirement Accounts, there are investment advisors who focus on socially responsible investments (SRI). Through SRI, you can provide filters for your advisor (i.e., you can say, “Don’t invest in petrochemicals”). SRI advisors also use proxy votes to help pressure publicly traded companies to further their corporate social responsibility efforts. Here’s a cool video of an SRI advisor<\/a> talking about regenerative capitalism. SRI is quite different than impact investing. Think of it more like avoiding certain things (tobacco, military contractors, and guns are all common “screens”) and gently pressuring giant corporations, rather than putting money into the hands of small, innovative, potentially game-changing companies and technologies.<\/p>\n If you are more of a do-it-yourselfer and have a daytrading account, you might want to follow some green stocks. These may include everything from energy services companies that help other companies and municipalities cut energy use to efficient HVAC companies to biofuels companies and wind turbine manufacturers. The good folks at Sustainable Business<\/a> have been following sustainable stocks for a while and you can follow their research and stock picks.<\/p>\n If you like to get right down into it, you can also invest directly in smaller companies. If you’re serious and make good money, you might want to join a network of angel investors who specifically look at green companies. Check out Investors Circle<\/a>, for instance. Joining a group of like minded and savvy professionals like this might be a great bet to help guide you through the murky and choppy waters you’re dipping your toes into.<\/p>\n The Green Investment Network<\/a> aims to connect entrepreneurs working in sustainability with investors looking to fund them. The site claims to have $166 billion available for entrepreneurs with great ideas. There are, of course, all sorts of rules for investors…like I said in the disclaimer above, we are not investment advisors and don’t claim to know the rules and won’t even try, but we will say there are rules, and you should fully understand them all before getting going with this kind of thing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n