10 Countries for Green Investments

CleanTech, renewable energy and environmentally oriented companies, are reshaping the global economy. While purely resource focused economies may decline, countries that are focused on sustainability are likely to emerge as the new generation of economic leaders. According to researchwhitepaper.com here are ten countries that green investor should consider:

Canada

Canada is doing more than relying on it richness in natural resources. Canada is very smart in terms of capitalizing on the opportunities this richness affords and it is converting these resources into alternative energy. It also has some of the world’s best practices in place for waste management, soil remediation. Canada also has growing green-financial sectors such as various mutual funds dedicated to sustainable companies and green economy.

United States

The US is both a major economy for the old and new energy. The US is set to benefit significantly from the green economy and it will be a dominant player in the global market for 2 reasons: Government incentives supporting the developing the green economy, and a very large number of institutions investing in related industries. There are more CleanTech / Environmental Venture Capital funds in the US than anywhere else in the world. The green economy is on track to create millions of new jobs in the US.

China

China may be one of the world’s major polluters, but China is now emerging as one of the world’s largest economies for the CleanTech and Environmental sectors. The growth of China's green sectors is attributable to growing health concerns due to the pollution, and increasing natural disasters such as landslides. To address these concerns the Chinese Government has announced various policies and initiatives supporting the renewable energy and environmental sectors. Key focuses are Wind, Solar, Water Management and Soil Management.

Australia

Australia is now one of the most pro-green economies in the world despite of the fact that more than 40% of its export comes from mining and resources related commodities. Australia has a long term policy that does not to rely on commodities. It has been developing alternative energy especially solar and geothermal. The country is also a pioneer in water management and soil management.

Japan

Japan is the world’s Hi-Tech hub, and this includes environmental management. It is the leading nation in the world in terms of developing waste conversion technologies, including things like gasification and developing garbage eating bacteria. The Japanese Government is also the leader in waste management policies and recycling plants.

Germany

Germany is a global leader in terms of engineering, and this includes CleanTech. Utilizing its expertise in engineering and its focus in R&D, Germany is already the global leader in terms of developing generators for wind turbines, construction of fuel-efficient transportation technologies, energy conserving technologies and solar power.

Sweden

Sweden has a long-term policy in place the supports a sustainable economy. Many of its towns are operating entirely on green energy. Because of its geographical location, it has access to geothermal energy. It is also a leader in carbon sequestration.

Israel

Israel is one of the emerging nations set to benefit significantly from the rise of CleanTech and other environmentally oriented industries. Similar to aviation and ICT industries, Israel has a vision for future economic trends. It has been developing and investing in CleanTech for over 20 years, particularly in the areas of water management and waste management. It is also a leading CleanTech investor in India and China.

Singapore

Singapore is a global leader in water management technologies including water treatment, and it is one of a handful nations that have potable water in place. Water Treatment / Management is a key industry highlighted by the Government of Singapore, and a major exporting industry. It now has a dominant position in SE Asia, China, and the Middle East. Singapore has been rolling out thier water treatment plants and filtration technologies in these markets.

United Kingdom

The UK is a major economy in the world, and also a major energy consumption market. It has been developing alternative strategies dating back to 1960s during the first energy crisis. The UK is a global leader in wind energy because of its long windy coastal lines. The UK is also an European leader when comes to waste management because of its relatively large population, as well as water management – both in terms of technologies and policies.

Other Markets of Interest

Other markets worthy of consideration include the Middle East, South America and other Asian economies.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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10 Best Eco-Inventions of 2010

Green inventions are being driven by market demand for products that enhance efficiency and reduce pollution. As the world recovers from a devastating recession, these inventions are helping to power the growth of national economies. In the UK, an expedited patent process has been introduced to fast track green inventions. Around the world people are innovating sustainable processes and creating green inventions. Here is a summary of some of the best green inventions of 2010.

1. Carbon Absorbent Foam is the winner of the 2010 Earth Awards. This foam can grab carbon out of the air and lock it away as a sugar. It is ideally suited to be placed in smokestacks to remove carbon before it is emitted into the atmosphere.

2. eCoupled Wireless Tesla Charger is a new system capable of charging Tesla's electric vehicles without wires or plugs. This system will recharge Tesla's electric vehicles via an induction pad at distances up to 4".

3. nPower PEG is a kinetic energy charger. It is the world's first handheld charger that captures and stores an individual's kinetic energy. This tiny power charger capture kinetic energy from daily activities and transforms it into electricity that can power mobile gadgets.

4. Solar Charger that Runs Devices Directly. Developed by Suntactics, this new portable solar charger is powerful enough to charge your phone and other mobile gadets using nothing but solar energy.

5. IDAPT Universal Gadget Charger is made from recycled materials and is able to power almost all wireless devices.

6. Solar Power Parking Meters: In LA, new solar-powered, wireless-connected, single-space parking meters take coins or cards.

7. Biodegradable Motor Oil Although it was developed a few years ago by Green Earth Technologies, in 2010 they began running their first TV ads. The biodegradable motor oil is made out of a mixture of beef tallow and plant ingredients.

8. Polli Bricks – a low-carbon form of cladding made from recycled plastic bottles that can be wrapped around buildings to insulate them. They come studded with solar-power LED lights and cost around ten times less than conventional cladding.

9. The Sustainable Shell, a biodegradable home that can be built from the soil on which it sits. These design principles can help anyone build a strong, sustainable shelter.

10. A Malaysian designer has created a range of "KAYU" sunglasses which are hand-crafted from bamboo – a fast-growing, biodegradable and low-carbon alternative to plastic. For every pair of sunglasses bought, Lim donates $20 towards surgery that restores sight in the developing world.

Green inventions are growing and it is getting easier to bring green inventions to market. Although there are numerous sites designed to connect VC Investors with great ideas, a site known as OnGreen is looking to become the world’s largest database specializing in green inventions. This site creates funding opportunities for green inventors.


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Newsweek's 10 Greenest Companies in 2010

Late last year, Newsweek released it's list of the best environmentally-focused companies in the US, and the globe. IT companies were the clear leaders in the rankings, with Dell, HP and IBM taking the first three spots. However, the IT industry also has an enormous footprint.

Companies are devising solutions that save energy and reduce waste and this is driving innovation and creating an environment where being green is a competitive necesity. According Michael Mendenhall, HP's chief marketing officer. "A lot of the innovation in this space is coming out of business pressure." Here are the top 10 companies from NEWSWEEK's list.

1. Dell is an industry leader in both company functions and product impact. In Newsweek's list, Dell earned a perfect score of 100% for its strong environmental policies, including free recycling of products worldwide and a ban on the export of e-waste to developing countries. Perhaps most importantly for consumers, Dell manufactures some of the greenest electronics available on the market. Its desktops and laptops consume 25 percent less energy than systems produced in 2008, saving more than $5 billion in energy costs over the past few years.

2. Hewlett Packard (HP) has been an industry leader in environmental issues, its current IT systems use 66 percent less energy than those designed in 2005. The company's belief that technology can improve society has led to programs that have reduced greenhouse-gas emissions and increased usage of renewable energy. In 2008. HP was the first major tech company to began reporting greenhouse gases associated with its supply chain. Compared to 2005 models, consumers could save more than $10.4 billion in energy costs and eliminate more than 40 million metric tons of CO2 in the first year. They earned a strong Environmental Impact Score of 90.60, and did very well in the Reputation Score.

3. IBM is reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions while offering products and consulting service to help clients to make their businesses greener. IBM has been reducing its own consumption of electricity and water for more than 20 years. (between 1990 and 2000 it reduced its energy use by 5.1 billion kilowatt hours). The company's sustainability Management System technology, aims to help clients operate their commercial building more efficiently. They are also helping cities manage traffic congestion challenges. NEWSWEEK ranked IBM no 3 on the US list and No.1 on the global ranking.

4. Johnson & Johnson's has created climate-change policies, with clear goals and deadlines. They they achieved a 16 percent reduction of baseline CO2 emission levels between 1990 and 2010, which is more than double their planned reduction. Between 2005 and 2009, the company also reduced nonharzardous wase by 32 percent and hazardous waste by 32 percent, exceeding its goal of 10 percent. They have also met or exceeded their goals in paper, packaging, and energy efficiency. They have even installed solar panels in their New Jersey site. They earned a score of 98.86 in NEWSWEEK's rankings.

5. Intel is committed to energy efficiency and has reduced waste and toxic materials. Where possible it is sourcing suitable alternatives to toxic materials. It also has high recycling rates for both hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The company ties a portion of its employees' compensation to reaching environmental goals. The corporation has been the Environmental Protection Agency's largest green power purchaser among Fortune 500 companies for the past three years, with almost half its US energy coming from renewable sources. NEWSWEEK's Rankings gave them an environmental impact score of 95.74.

6. Sprint Nextel is increasing energy efficiency within its networks and using renewable energy. Sprint Nextel is the first US wireless provider to announce a target for reducing its absolute greenhouse-gas emissions. It is on track to reduce emissions by 15 percent between 2007 and 2017. The company offers three environmentally friendly phones and a leading product-recycling program that aims to recycle 99 percent of products. They scored 94.98 in NEWSWEEK's rankings.

7. Adobe has focused on office building operations, waste management program, and product packaging. The company is leading in the area of green buildings, they currently have four buildings that have the highest level of the US Green Buildings Concil's LEED certification. Employees within some of these buildings practice diligent recycling and composting. Adobe also launched an environmentally sensitive redesign of its software packaging. The firm's overall Green Rankings score came in at 94.15.

8. Applied Materials is a supplier of manufacturing systems and services to the global semiconductor industry. Compared to 2006, it reduced CO2 emissions by 21 percent compared and reduced water usage by 18 percent. The company also has programs for reducing the hazardous waste it generates and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) it emits as part of its manufacturing. It has also made significant strides in reducing solid waste sent to landfills by nearly 90 percent. It achieved a NEWSWEEK rating of 92.67.

9. Yahoo encourages its 600 million worldwide users to be environmentally aware. Its Yahoo Green site is the top destination on the Internet for green lifestyle tips. Yahoo is also a leader in improving the efficiency of its data centers. Its efforts include purchasing energy from renewable sources. Its new data center in Lockport, N.Y., which monitors the Yahoo infrastructure, consumes 40 percent less energy and uses 95 percent less water than conventional data centers. The water saved is enough to provide drinking water for 200,000 people for a year. NEWSWEEK gave them a score of 92.67.

10. Nike is working efficiency and use of renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2015. It has woven environmental issues into its supply chain considerations. Company programs evaluate and improve the environmental footprint of its suppliers, including checks on chemical toxicity, water use, and carbon emissions. Nike is also investing in new teleconferencing equipment to cut down on business travel and has an excellent Reputation Survey score of 97.39. The company's overall Green Rankings score came in at 92.66.


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