Clean Money: Picking Winners in the Green Tech Boom [Hardcover]

John Rubino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 3, 2008

In Clean Money, John Rubino, Editor of GreenStockInvesting.com, introduces you to the world of clean tech (also known as green tech) and its wealth creation potential. Throughout the book, he explores a variety of clean energy sources–from solar power to biofuels–and shows how these renewable resources will spawn successful companies and rising share prices. Page by page, you'll discover the technologies that will drive this boom and become familiar with the state of their markets, their growth prospects, and the companies that are best positioned to become tomorrow's success stories.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Clean Money

"A breezy, easy read that delivers a useful introduction to the emerging concept of making money in clean and green stocks. I recommend it!"
–Dr. Rob Wilder, CEO and Manager, WilderHill Clean Energy Index (ECO)

"The urgency of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and polluting technologies is giving rise to fantastic investment opportunities. Rubino’s Clean Money is a cleverly-written and insightful roadmap to green investing, the new financial frontier, and provides the essentials of each new technology with an eye on making a killing in the years ahead."
–Shayne McGuire, Director of Global Research, Teacher Retirement System of Texas

"Clean Money captures the ongoing shift to a green economy. External environmental costs are going to be internalized, producing the most significant change in the global economy since the industrial revolution and transforming the way everyone does business. This book answers many of the questions we get every time we sit down with new investors."
–Matthew Patsky, Portfolio Manager, Winslow Green Mutual Funds

"Clean Money provides a comprehensive overview of what promises to be one of the best global investment themes of the coming decade. Whether you are an individual investor or a professional advisor, this book deserves a prominent place in your investment library."
–Peter Schiff, President, Euro Pacific Capital and author of Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Economic Collapse

"An entertaining, crystal clear guide for anyone who is thinking about investing in the environmental technology sector. John Rubino mixes fascinating case studies with astute, well researched analysis on the pros and cons of each of the sectors currently contributing to the runaway train that is the new energy revolution. A great read."
–Louise O'Halloran, Executive Director, Responsible Investment Association Australasia

"John Rubino's Clean Money finds the signal of truth in the noise of hype in the green investing market, zeros in on the most relevant and promising companies and technologies, and navigates the treacherous macro-economic waters that may cause investors to jump into the alternative energy market either too early or too late. Essential reading for investors seeking to profit from the coming boom in clean energy." 
–Eric Janszen, founder and President of iTulip, and author of the forthcoming The New New Deal

From the Inside Flap

Today, we face unprecedented environmental and energy challenges. But for astute investors, this might actually be good news, because big, complex problems create vast opportunities. Solutions for global warming or Peak Oil will be worth literally trillions of dollars, and capital, as a result, is pouring into "clean" technologies like solar power and desalination. Understand this transition—and avoid its many pitfalls—and you have a chance to profit from one of tomorrow's great bull markets.

With Clean Money, John Rubino, Editor of GreenStockInvesting.com, introduces you to the world of clean tech (also known as green tech) and its wealth creation potential. His two previous books were right on target, correctly predicting the recent housing bust and credit crisis, and helping many readers achieve financial independence. Now, with Clean Money, Rubino skillfully explains:

• Why green tech will be the investment opportunity of a lifetime

• How to build a clean-tech portfolio that fits your temperament and circumstances

• Why the hottest green sectors are also the most complex and risky

• How to approach this market wisely by separating reality from hype

This accessible guide introduces a variety of clean energy sources—from solar power and wind to geothermal and biofuels—and shows how these renewable resources will spawn successful companies and rising share prices. Clean Money also clearly explains newer concepts like emissions trading and desalination that will play major roles in the transition to sustainable abundance. Page by page, you'll discover the technologies that will drive this boom and become familiar with the state of their markets, their growth prospects, and the companies that are best positioned to become tomorrow's success stories.

After putting the clean-tech boom in perspective, Clean Money presents a series of investment strategies for building your own portfolio of clean-tech stocks, while helping to minimize the risks that always accompany markets with extraordinary upside potential.

A growing number of outlets offer investors a general sense of clean tech's potential, but very few explain exactly how to safely navigate this complex market. Clean Money fills that void by presenting a wide range of strategies based on common sense, the history of previous booms, and the ideas of money managers at the forefront of this fast-moving field. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to picking winners in this dynamic arena, there are strategies that will both feel right and increase your odds of success—and this book will show you what they are.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 274 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470283564
• ISBN-13: 978-0470283561
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #696,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great summary of numerous clean technologies, December 15, 2008

By 

Reinhard Seiser (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clean Money: Picking Winners in the Green Tech Boom (Hardcover)

This book is a great summary of numerous clean technologies, spanning the range of power production (solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, fuel cells), energy storage, energy conservation, food, water, vehicles, houses, materials, and more. John Rubino and his team must have spent an incredible amount of time digging into all the areas of clean tech, detailing their pros and cons, and surveying individual companies in each sector.

(I was able to get a sneak preview and comment on the book before its publication. But when the official version came out, I immediately re-read it, because there were so many pieces of valuable information that I had already forgotten.)

While I am a veteran in the field of alternative energy, I was surprised how many technologies are out there that I didn't fully know about. It can sometimes be overwhelming, or even uncomfortable, to hear about all these different technologies. But I am so glad that I now read about all these potential future developments. As an investor myself, it never hurts to have as much information as possible, and I don't even want to imagine what I would miss if I hadn't read the book.

John Rubino also blends the book with great macro-economics sections and investor advice. He is one of the few people right on the money, as he had predicted the real estate bust in his 2003 book, and he was consistently recommending to avoid or short homebuilders and investment banks, as in his regular interviews on Howestreet.com. He has certainly helped me and my investor group to stay clear of some of the collapses on Wall Street this year.

The current book is by no means just a promotion of all new clean technologies. On the contrary, it contains ample warnings about what can happen to overhyped technologies, what to look for, and how to avoid possible traps. It is an objective book for those interested in new technologies and investing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Primer, January 14, 2009

By 

D. B. Collum (Ithaca, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clean Money: Picking Winners in the Green Tech Boom (Hardcover)

Following several economic disaster books (which, I hasten to add, proved to be prescient), John appears to be climbing out of his bunker and looking at the bright side of coming energy crises. This book is niche play. The book does not profess to aim at techies nor does it offer high-powered investors specific alternative energy investments. (Some companies are mentioned emblematically, but these are not prominent.) What the book provides is an excellent point for those starting to think about this topic. There were some funny parts that underscore the limitations of writing a book about a fast-moving area. The mention of $140-per-barrel oil seems quaint (painfully so to energy investors), and certainly the mention of Iceland's booming economy based on energy brought out a chuckle given the recent collapse of their entire banking system, but you cannot blame John for these.

Overall, as in any technological revolution, progress will be explosive, focused and somewhat difficult to predict. Alternative energy companies may go through bubble territory at some point and transition to a legitimate, central part of our economy, provided the numbnut bankers haven't completely screwed up the the economy. Serious investors should start thinking about these topics; Clean Money is a good starting point.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Green and Clean is big business and this book is a great review., January 12, 2009

By 

Paul A. Renaud "Asia investor expert" (Switzerland & Thailand.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clean Money: Picking Winners in the Green Tech Boom (Hardcover)

Here is a great book very well written and researched right on the green money by being highly informative besides unbiased. Hats off to the author. The book has no biases or agenda and with easy reading informs us on all aspects of this huge industry in the making now*.

As one example, did you know that China's meet consumption doubles every 10 years and India consumes twice as much poultry currently then it did at the turn of the century, just 8 years ago. While global population is growing in the very low single digits, meat consumption is likely to grow far faster or by 25%, by year 2020. Producing meat is a huge user/abuser of water and so clean water will likely be a huge business -and problem- in the future.

There are many such real examples across the whole spectrum on why the green tech boom will present enormous opportunities, not just challenges. At the end of each chapter the author lists some companies which are part of the industry/tropic he reviewed.

One thing which was incomplete is the section on investing in international stocks, this was the only feeble part. As many of the most interesting green companies reside outside the US and so besides offer the investor geographical, national as well as currency diversification.

Investing in non-US country shares, in the US, is always more expensive commission wise. And its very important to get all the dividends and rights offerings, i.e. the shareholder benefits. In the past, regardless of what they say to you, US foreign specialist brokers on this have been less then good. And all are more expensive to deal with. Also, repatriation of funds and gains/dividends is rarely an issue of concern. The section on how to trade foreign stocks could/should be expanded on.

There should be a good follow-up on that, as many US residents/citizens want to get going internationally but are understandably naive on this and should not rely on US brokers for trade executions besides research on which companies to consider for investment.

What the author should state, as one example, is that true believers in foreign markets, (which lets face it more USA savers should be now, post US crisis/fallback), should consider opening a brokerage account directly in that country...even visit that country if they want, as it would be US tax deductible. That way they will save much on regular brokerage commissions which is a continued expense for the life of the investment. Depending on how much they plan investing, they can tax deduct a trip/holiday, and besides then get the local broker company research...and perhaps find an independent objective local source of information.


Paul A. Renaud.
www.thaistocks.com

* "There will be hundreds of billions of dollars worth of alternative energy investments made around the world over the next two decades, creating millions of new jobs." Change For America A progressive blueprint for the 44th President. Edited by Mark Green and Michele Jolin Just Published, 2009.