Comments on: Green Mutual Funds – A Better Way to Find the Right Funds for You

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:35:34 +0000

I just returned to investing at the end of a long debt recovery and like B2′s post for its realistic take on idealism. My own approach has been to diversify between idealism and reality. I’ve made single-stock investments in an “idea” company like Tesla (TSLA) and a real company like GE. I’ve also put a separate puddle of money into ETFs like Powershares Cleantech and iShares green fund (can’t remember the symbols right now). I don’t expect my idealist green investments to make a lot of money, especially compared to other actively managed funds, but with a fair amount of research, I feel I’ve at least chosen investments that won’t lose me money for my idealism. On single companies, I tried to find a few smaller companies that were just out of the VC stages (i.e., have recently had their IPOs) and hitting the market with products. But I tempered that risk with GE and Ford, which can scale up with either the product or the technology of smaller companies – figuring that if a company like Tesla has a truly great idea, a larger company will pay handsomely to mass-produce it.

As for charity, the Sierra Club will do the lobbying to turn government policy toward green – I’m just trying to get in front with companies and investments that will benefit from both consumer demand and government’s hand.

By: Belmont Thornton

Belmont Thornton — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:14:51 +0000

I think you are right and firstly you must decide why you want to invest. Anyway, Nice post!

By: Greg McFarlane

Greg McFarlane — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:13:42 +0000

My Altria stock is riding a 52-week high or close to it right now. Altria, a company that kills thousands of its own satisfied customers every year.

It’s adorable that some people think that investing in Trina Solar or Vestas Wind Systems will somehow legitimize these companies in the eyes of fellow investors.

If you want to save the planet, plant a garden and convert a few more cubic meters of CO2 to oxygen every year. Investing in a solar power company because you want so badly for it to be the right thing to do, regardless of the entries on its financial statements, seldom is.

By: benjamin bankruptcy

benjamin bankruptcy — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:17:45 +0000

I have a different take on this. Personally I invest 3% of my net income in “ethical investments” it doens’t need to be green though many are. I do this instead of donating to charity or tithing. My logic is if an ethical business gets of the ground it will have more of an impact on the world per $ than charity will.

I treat it like charity too. I’m not expecting it to make money if it does great but I’m not planning my retirement around it.

By: Little House

Little House — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:40:53 +0000

As I’m new to investing, something I’ve had in the back of my mind is wanting to invest in solar and wind energy only because I believe that somewhere in the future, these two energies will prevail. I guess in I’m willing to stick it out for the long run, then I’ll make money. But I am learning, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. I think I just need to make sure I’m well diversified.