Clients want more 'green' mutual funds

Clients are demanding mutual fund families and financial professionals who offer clean energy and "green technology" investment vehicles to investors. A new survey of the 500-member Social Investment Forum shows several of such new investment vehicles will be made available by the end of 2009.

One hundred percent of respondents say "clean energy/tech investing" demand is up among clients. Furthermore, 17 mutual funds or other investment opportunities offered by respondents now focus "exclusively" on clean energy/tech investing, and the assets of these are in excess of $250 million.

"As energy prices continue to fluctuate and the need to address climate change becomes ever more urgent, many investors want to blaze a trail for clean energy solutions that meet demand and respond to the impacts of climate change," says Lisa Woll, chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based SIF. "Our new survey confirms that Social Investment Forum members are at the forefront of 'green technology' and clean energy investing, which is rapidly becoming a major element of the mainstream American investment marketplace."