Investing in sustainable projects: the possibilities

The fact that money in the savings account no longer pays is old news. But what is the alternative? Investing in sustainable projects is a good choice for those who want to combine an attractive return with an eye for a livable future. What are the possibilities?

Sustainable investing through a bank
An investment can have different purposes. Money, personal growth, but also CO2 reduction or a healthier planet for future generations. When all these goals appeal to the imagination, it can be interesting to invest in sustainable projects. A relatively easy way to do this is through a bank. Many banks have special sustainable investor funds. The Fair Bank Guide shows which banks pay a lot of attention to issues such as sustainability, and which banks are less involved in this.
Sustainable investment is of course also possible without the intervention of a bank. For example, through government-approved green funds - although there are also disadvantages to this.

Sustainable investing through crowdfunding
Another way to invest in sustainable projects is through crowdfunding. Investors decide for themselves which initiative they support, without the intervention of a bank or other financial intermediary. Almost all crowdfunding platforms offer sustainable projects, some platforms even specialize in sustainable projects.
Crowdfunding has some drawbacks. For example, financing is only finalized when the intended total amount has been collected. There is therefore no certainty whether the sustainable project will get off the ground at all. There is also a chance that a company will no longer be able to meet its financial obligations. This is especially present among start-up entrepreneurs.

Invest in your own home
Not all sustainable projects take place far from home. More and more people are choosing to invest in making their own home more sustainable. With the aim of reducing energy bills and ecological footprint and increasing living comfort and value.
Making indoors more sustainable can be done in various ways. Think of insulating walls or roofs, fitting (triple) double glazing or installing solar panels or a heat pump.
The disadvantage of investing in your own home is that the options are financially limited. The low-hanging fruit is quickly picked, after which it becomes difficult to get an attractive return from the investment. Verbeterjehuis.nl provides information about the (subsidy) options.

Investing in wind energy
Investing in wind energy is an attractive alternative for a sustainable investment with more financial security than crowdfunding and wider options than in-house sustainability. WindShareFund offers financial security by investing in German wind farms: the German wind energy market provides a stable investment climate thanks to fixed purchase prices guaranteed by the government. Moreover, investors do not run the risk that the construction of the parks will be halted due to objections from local residents – after all, the wind farms have been running for years.

The extensive financial options are also an advantage. It is possible to invest sustainably from as little as €1,000, via ClimateBonds. WindShareFund excludes risks as much as possible, so that investments can be made in this sustainable project with little concern.