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Green Investing: A Growing TrendContact: Judy Pino 202-564-7338 / pino.judy@epa.gov (Washington, D.C. - March 26, 2004) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that three socially responsible investment (SRI) organizations are using the EPA National Environmental Performance Track (PT) program as a criterion in developing their investment ratings. The Calvert Group, Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, and KLD Research & Analytics use Performance Track data as positive indicators when evaluating corporate environmental management. EPA has provided PT data publicly since 2001. Ratings are used by investors to help make informed investment decisions. Positive results can be crucial for publicly traded companies- - increasing investor confindence, strengthening brand awareness and recognition, and boosting stock indexes and company competitiveness. "Investment advisors have discovered that environmental performance can be an excellent indicator of stock market potential, "notes Chuck Kent, EPA Director for the Office of Community and Business Innovation, "and Performance Track members represent many of the top environmental performers in the United States today." The decision to use Performance Track membership as a screening criterion is symbolic of a growing trend toward socially responsible investing. Socially responsible investing incorporates economic, environmental and social data to provide a more complete understanding of overall corporate performance. Calvert now monitors Performance Track membership to identify potential companies to include in its socially responsible mutual funds. KLD uses Performance Track data to assess how well companies prevent pollution and eliminate wasteful byproducts. Performance Track facilities voluntarily exceed regulatory requirements, implement environmental management systems (EMS), work closely with their communities and make three-year goals to protect the environment and public health. EPA is willing to cooperate with other investment firms to encourage the development of programs that promote environmental protection. Please note that U.S. EPA cannot endorse the purchase or sale of products or services of any specific investment firm. The Agency urges the public to carefully read the prospectus and other relevant materials before investing. For additional information on Performance Track, visit: http://www.epa.gov/performancetrack. R056 ### Release date:03/26/2004 Receive our News Releases Automatically by Email
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