It’s Tuesday again, which means we are going green. Just a reminder that this series has been inspired by David Bach’s latest book, Go Green, Live Rich. And you can enter to win this book by leaving a comment on Green Living days.

This is the last installment of Green Living. I will be announcing the winner of the book next Monday. So make sure you get all your comments in before then.

In 1862, Secretary of Treasury Salmon P. Chase decided to make our money green. While he probably wasn’t trying to give us stock tips, it might not be a bad idea it take it as a sign. Socially responsible investing (or SRI for short) is growing ever more popular these days. According to David Bach, there is currently $2.3 trillion invested in SRI stocks.

If you are interested in greening up your portfolio there are several ways to go about it. Calvert Funds offers both index based and actively managed SRI funds. David Bach specifically mentions Calvert Large Cap Growth Fund (CLAGX) which he states has beat the S&P 500 over the past 5 years. He also suggests Winslow Green Growth (WGG) stating that it is the best performing green mutual fund over five years.

The KLD Select Social Index contains stocks that are socially and environmentally conscious while providing a risk and return similar to the S&P 500. It’s important to note that some green funds take an index or similar fund and “screen out” companies such as tobacco companies, this “greens up” a fund by taking away the stocks that negatively affect society. Other funds “screen in” green companies and only allow companies that make a positive impact to the environment or society.

David Bach mentions many mutual funds and I want to mention them here in case you are looking to green up your portfolio. There is the Winslow Green Growth (WGGFX) and states it is the best performing green fund for the past 5 years. It is a small growth fund that invests in domestic companies. There is also the Green Century Equity Fund (GCEQX) and the Green Century Balanced Fund (GCLBX). The first tries to mimic the Domini 400 Social Index and the second invests in green companies of various sizes.

If you are interested specifically in renewable or cleaner energy David Bach lists plenty of options, such as The New Alternatives Fund (NALFX) it invests in alternative energy and companies that are involved in clean air and water. There is also PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (PBW) which is the largest renewable energy fund. WilderHill Progressive Energy Portfolio (PUW) invests in companies that are involved in improving our current use of fossil fuels.

So how do you feel about green stocks? Are you currently invested in a green fund? Do you think green investing is for crazy people? Leave a comment for a chance to win the book! ***Contest has ended***

Other posts in this series:

Bottled Water

Drive Smart

Solar Power

Energy Smart

Shop Smart

Green Baby

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