If one of your goals for the new year is to start socking away a few more of your hard earned dollars and you want to invest in companies that share your values, these ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) may be a good place to start. ETFs are generally funds comprised of many companies and track one of the large indexes.

The four ETFs listed in the story follow the same basic framework as traditional ETFs, but include only those companies deemed socially responsible. Of course, each person has their own definition of responsible, so be sure to take a look at the holdings if you choose to invest.

Complete story from Forbes.

Between the office and home, it seems that people are almost always on the lookout for their next computer. If you are in the market, but worried about e-waste, you may want to consider going with a refurbished machine, or at least checking out the latest in “green” computing technology.

Refurbished is often associated with obsolete dinosaur technology, but this perception couldn’t be further from the truth. As this article from the New York Times points out, you can get a up-to-date PC at a fraction of the cost of a new one. By going the refurb route, you are rescuing a PC from the recycling bin.

If a refurbished machine isn’t going to work for you, be sure to check out the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool at www.epeat.net. EPEAT is an online tool to help evaluate the environmental attributes of electronics.

Of course, when you get that new machine, don’t forget to properly dispose of the old one.

Arterra is slated to be the first LEED certified highrise community in San Franciso and features an impressive list of features to differentiate it from the average condo development. As with all real estate in San Francisco, this space does not come cheap. One bedrooms start at $520,000 and two bedrooms will set you back at least $780,000.

In addition to beautiful modern design, Arterra features sustainable flooring, green roofs, low energy appliances, energy efficient lighting, and extremely energy efficient insulated windows.

The first residents won’t be able to move in until March 2008, but deposits are being accepted.

Arterra web site.

Each year, enough oil contaminates North America’s waterways to cover an area the size of Texas and Florida combined! This greatly impacts local wildlife and Dawn (owned by Proctor & Gamble) has been a favorite solution for wildlife rescuers to help clean the impacted animals.

Now, Dawn has launched a web site to help bring attention to the problem and get people involved in becoming part of the solution. At the web site you will find simple tips to reduce the amount of oil in the environment and other tips to help guide your daily decisions.

Dawn “Make a Difference” Campaign.

Burgerville is a small chain in the northwest that is using the allure of sustainable food as a key differentiator to distinguish itself from the competition in the cut-throat burger business. After losing sales to the national chains in the 1990s, the CEO decided it was time to change direction and step back from the price-as-differentiator model that often determines where patrons eat.

Burgerville now sources all products from local farmers, relies on wind energy, picks up 95% of the health insurance tab for hourly employees, and turns left over oil into biodiesel. All of this goodness comes at a cost, as margins are estimated to be 10%, compared to the 15% that McDonald’s enjoys.

Complete story from Forbes.

The Goldman Sachs Center for Environmental Markets has awarded $2.3 million in research grants to organizations working to find market-based solutions to environmental challenges. The funding range in time from one to three years and cover a range of issues.

• Resources for the Future: Working with a wide spectrum of companies to develop a report to help shape future government policy.
• World Resources Institute: Analyzing the various technology options for the reduction of greenhouses gases, both domestically and internationally.
• Woods Hole Research Center: Working on a model to value forest ecosystems and alternatives to cutting down rainforests.

Press release from Goldman Sachs.

In a comprehensive study of 30 airports around the country, the NRDC has found that millions of dollars are being thrown away each year by not instituting responsible recycling programs. The recycling rate for the airline industry is just 20 percent, one third less than the U.S. as a whole.

While there is certainly a great deal of room for improvement, several airports are ahead of the curve with their proactive approach to recycling. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport implemented a new recycling program in 2001 and has seen substantial cost savings through the composting of coffee grounds, sending used cooking oil to be turned into fuel, and increasing the amount of material that gets recycled instead of placed in landfills.

Press release and report from the NRDC.

American Apparel has seen a significant slowdown in growth this year, but evidently not enough to scare off small private equity firm, Endeavor. The firm has agreed to acquire American Apparel for $382.5 million (10x earnings) according to a story published today in the New York Times.

American Apparel has experienced incredible growth since being founded by Dov Charney in 1997. AA currently operates 145 stores and views international store openings as the key catalyst for future sales growth. Dov will stay on to lead the company.

Complete story from the New York Times.

In an article in the USA Today, British scientists predict that air travel will become the leading contributor to global warming by the year 2050. The growing middle class is increasingly relying on air travel and the number of airline passengers will double by 2025. China alone has plans to build an additional 40 airports to accommodate the increase.

This robust growth has many scientists concerned, though Europeans are leading the way in researching ways to reduce the impact from jet emissions. Ideas include instituting strict controls on aircraft emissions, developing more efficient air traffic patterns, developing high-speed rail lines to replace short haul flights, and allowing travelers to purchase credits to offset emissions from their travel.

Complete story from the USA Today.

Evidently the big box retailers aren’t the only ones to draw the ire of local communities. The Rancho neighborhood of Burbank, CA was recently the site of a show down between a real estate developer who wanted to build a Whole Foods and the local community. Rancho is an equestrian enclave in a metro area overwhelmed by cars and big houses. This tight-knit community is concerned that the addition of Whole Foods will add to traffic congestion and bring about safety issues for those who still ride horses in this unique pocket of L.A.

The developer will go to city hall to fight the decision handed down by the city council.

Complete story from The New York Times.