'The best thing that could happen to the country is if no oil is found' | Business | The Guardian

'The best thing that could happen to the country is if no oil is found' | Business | The Guardian This is a really disconcerting piece showing what happens when poor countries begin to believe in the promise of undreamt-of oil wealth. It tells a story we don't hear enough about. Which may tell us a lot about our mass media myopia.

On-site admin device a hit with UK builders - Irish, Business - Independent.ie

On-site admin device a hit with UK builders - Irish, Business - Independent.ie The Green Capitalist is in favour of technology which saves energy and resources. So much the better if the tech also saves lives, as well as saving companies cash. Every year many lives are lost on construction sites, and every one is a tragedy with outwardly expanding ripples, and which leaves people bereaved. And apart entirely from the human cost there is always a cost in insurance too, to be considered. There may even be criminal charges for the building firm involved. This Irish company INSERO sells a product which was developed at Dublin City University, and which sells into the building industry. And although the construction industry may be taking a hammering here in Ireland and in the UK, it still goes on. We continue to need new roads and houses. This is the sort of new company and product we should look to see more of; a knowledge-based application invented at a university. I do not suggest that universities should prostitute themselves to the market; not all research should be expected to have immediately obvious commmercial benefit, and I wouldn't support any who argue with research for the sake of knowledge. But it is great to see it work. So this is one to keep an eye on, and I'll watch for their going public.

River use banned after French uranium leak | Environment | The Guardian

River use banned after French uranium leak | Environment | The Guardian More proof of just how safe Nuclear Power really is. Losing 75 kg of Uranium is the lowest level of accident? Really?

Scientist Warns Plasma And LCD Televisions Could Be Destroying Our Environment

Scientist Warns Plasma And LCD Televisions Could Be Destroying Our Environment We tend to think our technology must be more efficient than the old; after all, when we are all aware that even the most despised energy company is running ads to show how green it is, it seems a no-brainer that the newer must be more planet-friendly, right? Wrong. Our new plasma and LCD TVs not only are super-slim, sexy and desirable, taking up less space in theliving room, but they also use far more electricity than the old-fashioned cathode tube running in the corner. Funnily enough this is never mentioned by the ads or the keen salesmen. I had to ask twice before finally insisting on being shown that useful little plate on the back. So when I saw the headline of this article from Tom's Hardware I was expecting some scientist to simply confirm what I already knew. And I was wrong,again. I was quite stunned to read this report which claims that a gas used in the production of our new toys,nitrogen trifluoride,(NF3), is 17000 times more damaging than our current big baddie, CO2 The Green Capitalist reckons his 2002 Philips will live a while longer in the corner of my living room. Not only for environmental reasons either. Having paid £600 for the TV changing it now would mean it cost me £100 per annum, and admittedly,if I sell it on eBay I might get some cash back. Ploughing the proceeds back into buying a flash new thin telly guaranteed to push my electricity bill even higher before my CRT snuffs it doesn't seem to make sense. Besides, I have a 20" LCD screen on my PC. This news may well slow the advance in market share of the LCD and Plasma TV. I doubt for long, though, because I'm sure the producers will rapidly find a less harmful production method. So what has this to do with Green investing? It all depends on how rigid you are as an investor. Some of you may wish to avoid the makers for a while, others not.

Wave power

Wave power This is a useful look at renewables from a Norwegian perspective. Although it seems to date back to 2006, their explanations also bring up the names of companies which don't get much coverage, and which well merit a look. Certainly some of the names are well-known, and shipping company Fred Olsen is well known. Norway has stewarded its oil resources well, and has ensured a high quality of life for future citizens. Yes, it has high taxes,but that has long been the Scandinavian model. But with a certain farsightedness which shows just how other other countries have frittered away oil bonanzas by comparison, the Norwegians decided to set a significant part of their oil revenues aside,as a hedge against the inevitable end of black gold.If any country has demonstrated that popular buzzword 'Prudence', then this one is arguably it. The Norwegians may even have a claim on having created the first national sovereign fund. Here in Ireland there are several companies which are actively testing full-size prototypes, but nome seem yet ready for an IPO. In the current climate,when IPOs are as thin on the ground as happy bankers that is hardly a surprise. But one day soon some of these technologies will come to the market for funds. When they do, The Green Capitalist will alert readers,and urge them to fill their boots.

Ulster Bank: Press Releases - 25th February 2008

Ulster Bank: Press Releases - 25th February 2008 I came across this when doing some research into photovoltaic finance. Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland offer special terms and mortgages to encourage home-owners to install PV Panels. Now,it would be interesting to know if the offer still exists, given the current credit squeeze. So an email has been sent to the bank, and watch this space!

BBC NEWS | Business | 'Green' energy spending on rise

BBC NEWS | Business | 'Green' energy spending on rise Reading this excellent piece from the Beeb I felt a strong sense of deja vu, or of an echo of something familiar. I imagine this is shared by readers who know me. About 1995 their eyes started to glaze over when I banged on about this ecological stuff. And how much potential it had. The Market has a lot of money sloshing around at the moment, as irrational behaviour of panicked investors, the coming home to roost of really dodgy behaviour by their oh-so-clever acned geniuses who have slashed stockholder value in their banks (and who remain employed), and the stock market slide has made people fearful of equity investing. Property too no longer seems a safe haven. Gold, Commodities and most other areas still have potential downsides,and folk who have just seen the value of their pension pretty much halved are wary,if not quite leery about putting their cash down. And let's not forget that institutional investors need to invest in something.