Green Investing. What is it? Green investments is the phrase used to describe investments in companies that are making steps towards protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions. This is not to be confused with “ethical” and “socially responsible” companies, however, often times a number of these attributes, if not all overlap with many different companies.

For example, here is a list of the top 10 solar power energy stocks which many invest in currently.

• First Solar Inc. (FSLR)
• SunPower Corporation (SPWRA/B)
• Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (STP)
• Yingli Green Energy (YGE)
• LDK Solar (LDK)
• Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL)
• JA Solar Holdings Co. (JASO)
• Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ)
• Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER)
• ReneSola (SOL)

Beside solar power companies, there are also many others that are available for investment. Many of these companies focus on renewable energy as it is the leading possibility for overcoming dependency on fossil fuels.

These companies are not only promising in their numbers but also their mission. As they become more successful, they also help the planet, as well as you as an investor. These renewable energy companies should and will soon be the first priority in an investor’s mind. These companies also have somewhat of an advantage as they continue to excel with the help of private capital as well as various governmental support schemes. There are also other areas that are good green investing branches such as: waste management, industrial processes, agriculture, green building, energy efficiency technology, carbon emissions market, forestry, and of course recycling.

These areas are all good avenues for investors to consider moving their capital into in a more eco friendly and efficient way. This investing in the future is a sound and safe approach to investing while also contributing towards the planet with the use of a little money. Make some green and be green? Sounds like a win-win situation to us.

All of us California drivers are known, and often guilty of one thing: the “California Stop”. Some of us, even have been given tickets for our slowing rather than stopping. We would assume that the argument of the additional carbon emissions, fuel, and lost time created by unnecessary stops at empty intersections may not get you out of a ticket, but nonetheless, is a valid point and may be provoking a change in signs of the future.

Gary Lauder, the mastermind behind a new kind of sign was one of those “California Stoppers” and after getting a nasty ticket in college, cruising through a dark and empty intersection in the night with only the company of a hiding police car waiting to pull over Lauder over for his unstoppable ways, Gary came up with an idea. The new sign is simple, yet may create a huge change. It simply reads “Take Turns”.

It may not seem like a big change to you, but consider this: it has been estimated that one conventional stop sign on a particular road costs $112,000 a year in fuel and lost time.

The focus on this new sign is mostly on traffic flow. A constant, and smooth traffic flow increases efficiency, and ironically enough (contrary to what you might think), flowing traffic is less likely to produce crashes. Take for an example, a roundabout versus a stoplight intersection. The roundabout is around forty percent less likely to result in a collision between cars.

We’re not entirely sure as to when Lauder’s simple sign will be appearing on roads near you, but TED, a non profit organization focusing on ideas worth sharing, is helping Gary Lauder spread his message and concern.

Regardless of whether we’ll be seeing this sign on the roads soon, it is apparent that roads have as much of an impact on environmental pollution and carbon emissions as the car you’re driving has. Who would’ve thought that pesky stop sign was hurting more than just our driving records.