A Guide To Green Investing

Green investing has grown well beyond niche status, as the number of mutual funds and ETFs has increased enormously in recent years. Such funds vary widely in size, but generally fall into several groups. Some funds are more focused than others, whether it is alternative energy in general or a particular sub-sector, such as water or solar. Some are more environmental-focused or even technology-driven. Some, of course, are more environmentally oriented than energy driven, focusing on companies that are concerned about their carbon footprints.

Here's a list of funds covered by Morningstar. The company does not have a so-called green category but classifies funds that include green companies in these ways:

Open-Ended Mutual Funds

Natural Resources
(Invests in energy, commodities, water and other related fields)

Allianz RCM Global EcoTrends A (AECOX)

Allianz RCM Global Water A (AWTAX)

Calvert Global Alternative Energy A (CGAEX)

Firsthand Alternative Energy (ALTEX)

Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy (GAAEX)

Robeco SAM Sustainable Climate Instl (SSCIX)

Robeco SAM Sustainable Water Instlitutional (SMWIX)

World Stock
(Invests in comapnies around the world with 20-60 percent in US equities.)

New Alternatives (NALFX)

Northern Global Sustainability Index (NSRIX)

Pax World Global Green Institutional (PGINX)

DWS Climate Change A (WRMAX)

Portfolio 21 (PORTX)

Growth
(Invests in companies that are growth-oriented but size varies from large to mid-cap to small)

Alger Green A—Large (SPEGX)

Neuberger Berman Climate Change A—Large (NBCAX)

PFW Water C—Mid-Cap (PFWCX)

Winslow Green Growth—Small (WGGFX)
US OE Small Growth

Winslow Green Solutions—Mid-Cap (WGSLX)

Other

Green Century Balanced (GCBLX)

Green Century Equity (GCEQX)

Exchange Traded Funds

Natural Resources

Claymore S&P Global Water (CGW)

Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy (TAN)

First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN)

First Trust ISE Water (FIW)

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy (QCLN)

Mkt Vectors Glb Alternative Energy ETF (GEX)

PowerShares Global Clean Energy (PBD)

PowerShares Global Water (PIO)

PowerShares Global Wind Energy (PWND)

PowerShares Water Resources (PHO)

PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy (PBW)

Other

Mkt Vectors Environmental Services ETF (EVX)

PowerShares Cleantech (PZD)