money
Socially Responsible Investing INVESTING FOR A CAUSE
A growing number of people are investing to achieve change in
the future of their communities, the environment and the world. Socially
responsible investing (SRI) assets
rose more than 324 percent from $639 billion in 1995 to $2.71 trillion in 2007
while total assets under professional management in the US grew less than 260
percent during the same period from $7 trillion to $25.1 trillion; thus, SRI now represents 11% of the total.*
The strategies that define SRI are:
Live Near Your Job OR Work Near Where You Live
Whether you own or rent your home it pays to move near your
workplace. The current estimate of car expenses is 58.5 cents per
mile. So for every ten miles your workplace is closer to your home you
save $58.50 per week. Assuming you average 30 to 60 miles-per-hour during
your commute you will also get an additional two to three hours of extra free
time each week.
Organic Pest Control
Mother Nature has a mind of her own...as do the insects and
animals, especially when it comes to our own backyard. In general, using a more
natural option to control pests lasts longer and only affects the targeted
insect or animal. Using stronger chemicals can often kill more than the "bad" bugs
and the insect pest population will rebound more quickly than the insect
predator population, which can cause a worse problem later on.
Green Remodeling Products... Don’t Stop There!
Green home improvement products are everywhere! These products
are helpful and fun to use for a green home remodeling project, but they are
not the solution to making your home as efficient and sustainable as possible.
For example, how sustainable is it to pay a premium for recycled wall tiles for
your new kitchen if your home is hemorrhaging heated air all winter long? We present here a strategy called The
Sequencing Strategy, a method to making your home as sustainable and green as
possible. Rather than promoting specific green products, this strategy offers
Living Simple III
Eating Green to $ave Green
As food costs soar and people become more conscious about
their food decisions, it's time to rethink the way we shop for food. Michael
Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In
Defense of Food, advises, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."
This can be applied to budget reasons as well as health reasons. ‘Eat food'-buy
real oatmeal in bulk rather than processed hot or cold cereals. ‘Not too much'-obviously
less food (conventional or organic) in your cart means a smaller bill and
Climate Change Stories
Thousands of Minnesotans are taking real, measurable actions
in their homes to lighten their carbon footprints, save money and curb global
warming.
Thanks to our Sponsors
