Investing in Green Bonds and Environmentally Friendly Stocks

If you want to join the trend toward sustainability and Earth-friendly investments, here are some things to look for in mutual funds, bonds, and corporate stocks:

• Green Bonds: These are hot now - read below for more information!
• Planned Growth & New Construction: Check to see if a corporation is installing a new plant in an area known for supporting the environment.
• Local Tax Advantages for Green Businesses: Check which industries are housed in areas that place a high priority on environmental awareness.

Characteristics of Corporations Capitalizing on Green Trends:

• Sustainability: Do they manufacture goods from sustainable materials? Do they use sustainable products and materials in their own factories, plants, offices or other locations? Does their packaging create needless waste?
• Environmental Awareness: Do they address local and global environmental concerns in locating their sites and in their business practices?
• Green Certification: Have they pursued and attained any of the Green certifications available locally, nationally or internationally?
• Energy-Efficient Manufacturing and Products: Has the company adopted engineering and technology to produce products through manufacturing practices that save energy? Does the company manufacture products that are energy efficient?
• Shipping and Transportation: How conscious are they of pollution, natural resources and conservation in their shipping practices? Do they use hybrid vehicles or other equipment that supports clean air through lower emissions?
• Respect for Eco-sensitive Areas: Do their global operations avoid needlessly destroying ecosystems in other countries? Do they work to avoid polluting local areas through runoff or improper sewage disposal?
• Social Awareness: How conscious is the company about fair practices in employment, work conditions and underage or disadvantaged workers in the global business arena?
• Use of Local Materials and Goods: Does the company "buy local" when it procures materials, supplies or other goods and services in order to save on the fuel and energy consumption long-distance shipping would generate.

While it might be great to find investment opportunities that score high on all the above factors, if you find a company that suits your financial planning goals and it has at least one or two (or more) major value listed here, you may have a good fit for your personal investing philosophy. You may have additional Green standards or issues you want to add to the criteria when evaluating a company.

Green Bonds are an investment option some may not know of just yet.

These bonds generally help fund environmentally friendly enterprises, such as green building, sustainable energy plants and other activities in the environmental field.

Although some consider green energy to be too costly (users may pay more for electricity from sustainable sources such as solar or wind plants), concerns about dwindling resources continue to create an interest in these sources of energy.

Green building is a smart move for industries trying to reduce their environmental footprint and at the same time get tax local or federal tax advantages.

Check with your broker about current offers on Green Bonds. This may prove to be a comfortable and profitable investing niche for you.

Researching a company's Green status doesn't have to take months, and it won't require a graduate degree in economics or environmental studies. Here are some ways to find out whether a particular company is environmentally conscious:

• News Releases: Every company that does anything 'Green' will promote it in through news releases. You can do searches for the types of industries you'd like to invest in (medical, high-tech, clothing, etc.) and check for news stories on their products or advances in that area. You can find recent news releases on corporate sites, usually the links will say "News Room" or "Media."
• Green Certification: Check to see if the company is LEED Certified at any level or recognized by a local Green Certification program. This not only shows intent, but it documents how well they have met stringent standards in energy efficient design and engineering.
• Website Information: In addition to news releases, corporations will generally promote their Green image on their websites in some manner. Increasingly, industries are justifiably proud of the steps they've made to protect the environment and conserve our resources. They know it attracts customers and investors, and it often results in lower operating costs and tax benefits.

In addition to investing with companies that maintain high standards in energy conservation and environmental protection, you may want to consider companies that manufacture and produce alternative energy sources or otherwise create ways to protect the environment. Here are some possible industries:

• Hybrid and Natural Gas Vehicles: The automotive industry is increasingly coming on board with engineering designs and technology to reduce gasoline consumption (which also reduces pollution). Gasoline engines aren't going away anytime soon, but you can show your support for the forward movement by investing in firms that embrace newer technologies.
• Wind Energy: Wind farms are increasingly appearing across rural lands, and wind energy is growing as an industry and alternative source for power. Many areas with reliable wind patterns and acreage available to help harvest the energy are installing wind farms to offset petroleum and other non-renewable energy consumption.
• Solar Power: Firms that design, create and install solar panels are growing in all parts of the world. This source of energy is especially popular in sunbelt areas, and many industrial sites are now built with rooftop solar cells to capture the energy and reduce the load on local power sources.

Other Options:

• Industries that Focus on Natural and Organic Products: Firms that produce non-chemical cleaning alternatives and those that use or produce renewable and sustainable fibers and building materials are just a few of these industries.
• Environmental Clean-up: Some firms specialize in cleaning up oil spills, hazardous waste and other harmful contaminates. You can invest money with them and be part of the solution.

Individual Account: If you're a private investor, and if you've narrowed your search to a specific company or two, you're ahead of the game. Create an online account or go to a broker and develop a plan for investing regularly. Or, you can shift your existing account to those stocks.

Managed Retirement Plans: If you participate in a 401k or other retirement savings plan at work, examine the choices available to see whether any are identified as "Green" funds. Your account management firm can answer questions about this. If there are no Green options currently, ask when they plan to offer those options for members.

Green Mutual Funds: These funds specifically target socially responsible companies for their investors. As with any mutual fund, you will need to research the performance, the overall fund profile and the history and age of the fund. Because Green Mutual Funds have grown in popularity, there are often new players in the game; check management track record in several funds before you make your choices.

Start-up Investing: You might find an opportunity to help fund a small firm at its inception. These are, by nature, risky ventures. But some do pay off (and many don't).

If you're choosing a Mutual Fund as your Green Investment option, and if you're investing as an individual rather than through your retirement plan at work, take time to learn about the fees and overhead costs that fund management can charge. These can be (and often are) good investment vehicles, but you'll be a smarter investor if you learn what expenses funds are allowed to charge and do some background work.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has information on the types of expenses, fees and other charges that fund managers can charge to investors who hold shares. A wide range of fees can be charged, but there are regulations covering the nature of the fees.