December 21, 2011
I was just talking to a client regarding our dependence on oil. He mentioned a FORBES ARTICLEregarding fuel convoys. "Fuel convoys are easy targets for roadside bombs, which have accounted for nearly half of American deaths in Iraq and almost 40% of deaths in Afghanistan." No matter what your view on drilling is, the government is going to look for ways to use alternative fuels to keep our soldiers safe.
October 19, 2011
NEWSWEEK just released their list of the greenest companies in the world.
September 29, 2011
Recently read a FORBES ARTICLE talking about CalPERS, the largest pension plan in the country. They are integrating Environmental, Social and Governance issues into their investment decisions. While always an innovator in investment policies, they looked at 36 studies regarding ESG issues and found that investing this way was either neutral or positive 86% of the time.
September 15, 2011
Just got to an LA TIMES ARTICLE from a couple of weeks ago that clearly talks about some of the pros and cons of investing in specifically green technology. As in any emerging technology there are risks, but potential for some rewards for taking those risks.
August 21, 2011
A Harvard Business School professor recently published an article in the HARVARD BUSINESS JOURNALabout shared value. He argues that companies can profit more by doing good and helping form positive social change.
July 14, 2011
Look no farther than your own front yard to look at the leaders in the green movement. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES just reported that nearly 320,000 people in the state work in green jobs with a little less tahn one-third in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.
June 15, 2011
Read an interesting PIECE about the general national security interest of the US in the second half of the 20th Century was containment (mostly of communism). In order for us to succeed in the 21st Century, we need to move to a mission of sustainability. This view is shared from researchers to
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen.
June 10, 2011
The New York Times had and ARTICLE yesterday about most developed countries getting on the substainable bandwagon, but the U.S. is behind since many in congress are not ready to act on climate change. Investing in green could mean more international exposure in a portfolio.
June 6, 2011
On the opposite side of the scale, the Los Angeles Times this weekend had an ARTICLE about Wal-Mart going green at one of its stores. Not only were some of the green changes good for the environment, they were good for the store's bottom line. Sometimes putting a little capital up front can greatly increase the long-term bottom line.
June 2, 2011
Marketplace on NPR had an interesting story on ENVIRONMENTALISTS FIGHTING ENVIRONMENTALISTS. Much of Lanai is uninhabitted by humans and could easily support a wind farm to supply local and renewable energy to Hawaii. But those who want green energy are fighting against other environmentalists who do not want the local environment disturbed. Like going green, picking the right investments is a careful study of the plusses and minuses of the various alternatives to find the right personal balance of the risks and rewards.
May 20, 2011
Investing by definition is for the long-term. Based on some RECENT STUDIES more and more companies are more and more concerned about quarterly earnings to boost short-term stock prices. Companies that invest in long-term substainability might not always hit these benchmarks and might look poor in the short-term. But, the investment now can create long-term profit (and therefore long-term better potential valuations).
May 17, 2011
Clients often ask if socially responsible or green investing hurt their overall return. Based on analysis of dozens of studies, "The general consensus is that on average, responsible investment methods perform on par with conventional techniques, neither outperforming nor underperforming them on a regular and reliable basis." 1
May 6, 2011
Clean-tech venture capital jumps 54% in first quarter 2011 according to the LA TIMES. More big money is going this way.
May 4, 2011
Think your money is green? Well, the printed version isn't. Visited the Los Angeles office of the Fed today, the second largest in the nation. They shred paper money after it has been overused. But the shredded money all ends up in a land fill. Because of all the safety strips and other pieces to make sure it isn't counterfitted paper money can't be recycled.
May 1, 2011
President Clinton has shared his TOP 10 GREEN IDEAS. To take it to an investment level, think about which companies make the products that help you go green.
April 27, 2011
Went to the SANTA MONICA SUBSTAINABLE QUALITY AWARDS today. The award winners were everything from an alternative medicine center to a school to a car dealership. While the car dealership obviously has a bigger carbon footprint than the other winners, they have the potential to create the biggest change.
April 25, 2011
I have been thinking about a discussion I had with a client last week about green investing and the two main reasons to do it. The first is you believe that this is where the growth in the economy will be in the years to come and it is a place to make some money. Or some invest to feel good that their money is invested in companies that have the same ethos that they do.
Neither is right or wrong, but there are risks in both. Investing for growth can be profitable, but as technology and times change green investing can change too. One needs to look at the valuations to see if there is room for long term growth and see if donating a small amount to a passionate cause might have more of an effect than investing a large amount as a relatively small shareholder.
- 2011 GovernanceMetrics International, Inc. report entitled Ten Things to Know about Responsible Investment & Performance