If you eat fruits and vegetables, nuts, drink wine, coffee, tea, or anything that is from a plant, there is an extremely high likelihood that you have consumed compounds called phytochemicals. The truth is that there have been thousands of studies linking phytochemicals and antioxidants to improved health and disease resistance.
A few years ago it was only organizations like Vancity and other community foundations that were making aggressive investments in funds we now call impact investments. On January 24, 2012 RBC announced a $20M commitment to new impact investments sending a powerful message to the investment community: Investors want to make a social and environmental difference with their dollars, while also collecting modest profits.
Global lighting giant Philips reported in early 2012 that LED lighting makes up 18% of their total lighting sales. Since Q4 of 2010, the company reports that their sales in the LED-based lighting sector have increased by 37%, and they predict that this sector will continue to grow. Profits from this increasingly competitive sector however are slowing, forcing Phillips and other lighting companies to look into ways to differentiate the technology. Light-Based Technologies provides control technology for LED lighting, making the lights smarter and more desirable.
In the quest for more energy efficient and comfortable working and living spaces, dPoint Technologies has developed innovative solutions to conventional problems, playing a key role in redefining the HVAC industry (such as the recent project with Tridel). As building envelopes tighten, adequate ventilation continues to grow as one of the most pressing issues. Since the 1980’s, the phenomena of sick building syndrome has led to greater recognition of the need for proper airflow, both in quantity and quality. However, increased ventilation in buildings has a greater energy demand, and mitigating that cost is the purpose of ERV’s and HRV’s.
Thomas Kineshanko, CEO and Founder of Habitat Enterprises, is passionately committed to curbing climate change and has devoted his career to creating software that will help do just that. When he is not trying to save the world, Thomas has been busy achieving other, lofty, goals. Thomas is not only a successful entrepreneur but also earned the title of Academic All-American and Athletic All-American in Track & Field. Not bad for the youngest GAE investee CEO.
In a recently released McKinsey Global Institutes report entitled Resource Revolution: Meeting the world’s energy, materials, food, and water needs, the minds at McKinsey took a deep look into the state of the planet and have provided insights into how society can adjust to meet the needs of the growing population. This article discusses the McKinsey findings and features the GAE investee companies that are in line with this research.
Lately it seems as though “sustainability” is everywhere in business. While in the past we used to think of sustainability simply as economic sustainability, the ability to remain a going concern, today it has a very different connotation. Now when we talk about sustainability it’s about much more than just being competitive. Sustainability is about a firm’s ability to function as a business while being aware of its impact on society and the environment, simultaneously focusing on key business functions.
Bruce Schmidt, CFO and Board Member at GAE, is a seasoned venture capitalist, a life sciences specialist, an entrepreneur, and a winery owner. As a Director at GAE Bruce has roles that are not limited to the financial side. His experience launching and running companies, and his role as an investor are just partly why Bruce’s involvement in GAE was sought-after.
In our last post on Venture Capital Corporations (VCC) entitled: VCC Mini-Series – What is a VCC, we discussed what exactly a VCC is, the history of a VCC, and who can invest in what type of VCC. Now we will discuss the tax benefits to investing in a VCC, likely the most attractive component to the investment. The idea behind the tax credit is that the tax income to the government, generated by the investee company (through PST, GST and corporate tax) and its employees (income tax), outweighs the tax credits to investors.
As either a retail or institutional investor, investment in GreenAngel Energy (TSX.V: GAE) can provide investors with attractive benefits that reach beyond a financial return. In a recent blog post on ethical investing we highlighted some of the pros and cons of investing in “ethical” or “socially responsible” investments like GAE. Below we will discuss further the financial implications of investing in a fund like GAE and bring to your attention some unique considerations to address when deciding whether investment in GAE is right for you and your investment needs at this time.
