Investing comes with risk. This article is a general discussion of the merits and risks associated with these ETFs, not a specific recommendation. Speak to an investment professional and make sure your portfolio is diversified. Tim Nash owns shares of PZD and EVX. Tim does not own shares of the other ETFs or companies mentioned in this article.

For Canadians who made the RRSP deadline this year, the question now becomes "How should I invest my rebate?"

Here are 3 smart strategies that are both RRSP and TFSA eligible to enhance your portfolio and invest in companies that are good for the environment:

Originally published at http://canadiancouchpotato.com/2013/05/13/can-couch-potatoes-be-socially-responsible/

In my latest MoneySense column (see the June issue, not available online), I explored whether socially responsible investing is compatible with the Couch Potato strategy. If you’re not familiar with SRI, it’s about finding investments compatible with your ethics, which often means avoiding so-called sin stocks and companies with poor environmental records. It may also involve selecting investments that have a positive social impact.

My main source for that column was Timothy Nash, president of Strategic Sustainable Investments, a company that helps institutions and individuals create portfolios aligned with their values. Tim also has a blog called The Sustainable Economist and recently wrote a post called The Organic Couch Potato, where he shared his ETF suggestions.

Tim is a thoughtful, articulate advocate for SRI and I thought readers would like to hear more from him, so here’s an excerpt from our interview. I’ll run another in a few days, and next week I’ll go into more detail about specific investment products that combine passive investing with SRI principles.

Investing comes with risk. This article is a general discussion of the merits and risks associated with these ETFs, not a specific recommendation. Speak to an investment professional and make sure your portfolio is diversified. Tim Nash owns shares of PZD. Tim does not own shares of the other ETF mentioned in this article.

An article in today’s Globe & Mail describes the recent woes of oil sands investors.  High labour costs, regional markets, and pipeline protests are all spelling trouble for companies that have been expanding at rates that are hardly sustainable (by any definition of the word). And the article doesn’t even mention China’s new carbon tax that could change the geopolitical game on climate change.

Original SocialFinance.ca link: http://socialfinance.ca/blog/post/canadian-impact-investment-matrix

As foundations, endowments, and pensions seek out alternative investment strategies to diversify and strengthen their portfolio, many are beginning to align their portfolio with their core values.  Unfortunately, many investors don’t know where to start.  With over one hundred investment vehicles available to Canadian investors, the following Matrix is an attempt to map out the landscape of investments that achieve both a financial return anda positive social or environmental impact.  The Matrix was built by Strategic Sustainable Investments for Community Foundations of Canada in advance of CFC’s day-long workshop with the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network and Philanthropic Foundations Canada on May 11th.