Companies are Climate Change Believers (even when politicians are not)

Without question, some companies stand to be harmed by climate change. Yet there are many firms who could benefit and are already seizing new opportunities.

Others worry of being impacted by a raft of regulatory changes that seem increasingly likely -- and are lobbying furiously to delay or derail these efforts.

While the impacts will surely vary, no company will be untouched by this issue that sustainable investors increasingly study...

US Buildings need $280bn investment in energy efficiency -- for a $1 trillion return

Buildings account for nearly half of US energy consumption, consume 3/4 of the electricity and, excluding residential, are responsible for more than 45 percent of carbon emissions. The EPA suggests that some 30% of this energy is wasted. 

New research from the Rockefeller Foundation and Deutsche Bank reveals that such inefficiency creates a mammoth investment opportunity --  $279bn investment is needed, and the payback in energy efficiency could yield more than $1 trillion in cost savings over the next decade.  Such a surge of activity stands to employ millions of workers, substantially reduce carbon emissions and provide investors with a handsome return on investment.

Intel Takes Green Mindedness to the Bank

One never knows where they will find evidence of good corporate citizenship, operational excellence and environmental stewardship.  This time, it's the lawyers...

Law.com/Corporate Counsel magazine recently interviewed several corporate attorneys at Intel, revealing much about the depth and breadth of the sustainability programs at the world's largest manufacturer of semiconductor chips.

Lighting Retrofits: Low Hanging Fruit

For some time now, we have been hearing a politically-charged and nonsensical debate in Washington over new standards for light bulb efficiency.  These standards while new, completely follow past precident to advance the industry and improve efficiency while giving manufacturers clarity from which to make investment decisions.

Less interesting to many, but more impactful to companies and to society, are the efficiency gains that are being realized every day through lighting retrofits.  The cost savings are often staggering.

15 Companies Tell Congress To Renew Key Wind Power Tax Credit

In a recent letter to Congress, fifteen of the country's largest consumers of alternative energy, including Starbucks, Yahoo! and Campbell's Soup, voiced their support for renewing the Production Tax Credit, (PTC) set to expire in December 2012.

The letter states that the "PTC has enabled the industry to slash wind energy costs by some 90% since 1980..." 

Vanguard's John Bogle -- At It Again... "A Tax Break for Gambling?"

John Bogle, the esteemed founder of the Vanguard Group, has probably done more to save investors money than any individual on the planet.  So when he advocates raising taxes, folks tend to notice.

His core philosophy has always been at odds with the investment management industry -- identifying that most active managers fail to beat their benchmarks, net of fees. His relentless pressure on the industry to lower fees has not made him many friends, so his most recent remarks should come as no surprise.

Apple Takes It Up a Notch

Investor and consumer pressure can move mountains. Finally, Apple has agreed to take a hard look at the working conditions in its factories around the world.

Apple Inc., now the world's largest company by market value, has dazzled consumers by essentially reinventing how we buy music, how we use our phones and how we access the web.  The company has similarly dazzled investors with a share price that seems impervious to global economic challenges and bear markets.

For responsible investors, Apple has been a conundrum:  Environmentally conscious but practically devoid of philanthropic activity.  Meticulously managed by a visionary leader but with a supply chain notorious for poor working conditions. The company didn't even disclose who its suppliers were.