Finance & Politics
Choose eco-friendly mutual funds
Ariel Appreciation (CAAPX)
With an emphasis on mid-cap stocks, this fund screens on issues such as environment, tobacco, weapons, nuclear energy, and diversity.Calvert Funds
Claiming to have the widest range of socially responsible mutual funds, Calvert has been operating for over 30 years. They boast the largest number of socially responsible funds in the nation, including the Global Alternative Energy Fund.Domini Social Investments
Domini an investment firm specializing exclusively in socially responsible investing. Among the focuses of their funds are global climate change, eliminating sweatshop labor, and product safety.Green Century Funds Funds
Green Century—founded and owned by nonprofit environmental advocacy organizations—offers no-load mutual funds focused primarily on environmentally responsible investing. Green Century invests in companies they perceive as leaders in a greener future, avoids companies that do not meet strict environmental criteria, and uses shareholder advocacy to influence corporate behavior.Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy Fund (GAAEX)
A new alternative energy fund that’s a little riskier than others because its a non-diversified sector fund, GAAEX invests in the equity securities of domestic and international alternative energy and energy technology companies. Alternative energy includes solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal wave, geothermal, biomass, or biofuels. Energy technology includes technologies that enable the use, storage, transportation, and development of alternative energy.Legg Mason Partners Social Awareness (A) (SSIAX)
A front-loaded fund that invests in a mix of equity and fixed-income securities with an awareness of the social impacts of their business.Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Inv (NBSRX)
This fund seeks long-term capital growth stocks and screens companies on based on their record on environmental, diversity, workplace, and community issues and avoids those that support tobacco, gambling, alcohol, weapons, and nuclear.New Alternatives Fund
A fund that buys foreign and domestic alternative energy stocks, especially those of solar-panel companies. New Alternatives Fund distinguishes itself from other green mutual funds by investing only in companies with a positive environmental impact, rather than just avoiding companies that have a negative impact.Pax World Mutual Funds
The first to establish a socially responsible mutual fund (1971), Pax World puts companies through a rigorous screening process before selecting them. Pax World offers a variety of mutual funds, such as balanced funds and high yield bond funds.Portfolio 21 Investments
Mutual fund founded in 1999 which invests only in companies that are integrating environmental sustainability into their overall business strategies.Sierra Club Stock Fund
The Sierra Club uses 20 separate environmental and social screens to evaluate companies, choosing companies for both their financial performance and environmental and social records, based on the guidelines of the Sierra Club.Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fd (VFTSX)
This fund includes large- and mid-cap stocks with social and environmental responsibility in mind.Winslow Green Mutual Funds
Winslow has over 20 years experience investing in small- and medium-sized “green and clean” companies, and offers two green no-load mutual funds. The Winslow Green Solutions Fund invests both domestically and internationally in green market sector companies, such as those companies focusing on clean energy, natural products, and recycling.
Use a green realtor
Earth Advantage Green Home Buying Resources
Earth Advantage offers STAR (Sustainability Training for Accredited Real Estate Professionals) certification for real estate agents as well as LEED for Homes and Earth Advantage green home certification. The company’s website offers a list of real estate agents, and lists of green home builders and remodelers in the Northwest United States.EcoBroker International EcoBroker Search
EcoBroker offers education on green home building and certification to real estate agents who want to serve buyers looking for green homes. The website includes a searchable database for agents who have successfully completed their course.Low Impact Living Green Home Buying Resources
Search by zip code or state for green real estate agents, home builders, and architects. The site also offers databases for other eco-friendly services and products. Visitors can click on the Impact Calculator Tab and discover their environmental impact.Vivavi's Modern Green Living
Modern Green Living enables consumers to find newly built green residences and green home professionals throughout the US and Canada. Find green architects, builders, remodeling experts, interior designers, realtors, and building consultants by state or zip code.
Buy a certified green home
EcoBroker International Property Search
Ecobroker.com listings include some green properties. Not all are certified but you can search for specific green features, including "ENERGY STAR Certified Home", with the site’s comprehensive search engine. EcoBroker provides education and certification for real estate agents who want to specialize in green properties.ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes
ENERGY STAR homes are at least 15 percent more energy efficient. The ENERGY STAR website offers listings to find home builders, lenders that offer energy-efficient mortgages, utilities that offer special incentives to buyers, and home energy raters that can verify the energy efficiency of a home.Green Communities Building Program for Affordable Housing
Green Communities is a green building program that encourages builders to create affordable green housing. The organization offers grants, loans, tax-credit equity, training, and technical assistance.GreenHomesForSale.com Property Search
This site lists homes by state and country, as well as by attributes such as small homes, natural homes, and solar homes. The site also includes lists of green realtors, builders and architects.ListedGreen Property Search
Billed as the Green MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for homes and eco-friendly developments, this company reviews each listing in an effort to eliminate false green claims. Home buyers can search for homes by city, state, or country.Residential Energy Services Network Directory
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) does not list green homes for sale. Instead, it certifies home energy raters, who are trained to inspect and verify the green features and performance of a home you are considering.US Green Building Council LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the construction of high-performance green homes. LEED homes undergo inspection and performance reviews by independent inspectors. The USGBC's website offers a list of certified homes.Vivavi's Modern Green Living
Modern Green Living enables consumers to find newly built green residences and green home professionals throughout the US and Canada. Find green architects, builders, remodeling experts, interior designers, realtors, and building consultants by state or zip code.
Get a green mortgage
ENERGY STAR Lenders
ENERGY STAR maintains a list of lenders who offer Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) for new homes, such as ENERGY STAR-qualified homes. The list of ENERGY STAR lender partners offers basic information about each lender's green mortgage program, as well as contact information.Residential Energy Services Network Energy Raters Directory
Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) certifies home energy raters, who are trained to inspect and verify the energy-efficient features and performance of a home. If you’re shopping for a green mortgage, you’ll need a report from an energy rater.The Department of Housing and Urban Development FHA Energy Efficient Mortgages
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers a list of FHA-approved lenders. Any FHA-approved lending institution can make loans covered by EEM insurance.US Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Program
The Veterans Affairs (VA) offers Energy Efficient Mortgages to qualified military personnel, reservists, and veterans. The loans are for energy improvements when purchasing an existing home. Borrowers should ask their lender about a VA EEM at the beginning of the lending process.
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