Socially conscious investors may want to grab a copy of this week's (April 2, 2007) edition of FORTUNE magazine, which is all about the greening of corporate America. No longer can companies merely not pollute: The double bottom line of both economic profitability and social responsibility demands that companies re-engineer themselves and their products to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Companies that are ahead of the game will prosper. Companies that lag behind in environmentalism will be punished by investors as well as the media. The article "Green is Good" summarizes the green activities of 10 well known companies that stand to reap rewards for their environmentally sensitive manufacturing and operational practices. Companies taking the lead towards a low-carbon economy are:

1. Honda Motor (NYSE: HMC), for its work in gas-electric hybrid transportation, as well as clean diesel and fuel-cell technology. Honda has already reduced carbon emissions by 5%, and is targeting another 5% reduction by 2010.

2. Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL), which has been working with Boeing to engineer more fuel-efficient aircraft

3. Canadian mining company Suncor Energy (NYSE: SU), which was a surprise. Suncor has instituted very successful greenhouse-gas management processes, and is working to develop carbon-capture technology.

4. British company Tesco uses biodiesel delivery trucks, powers its stores with wind-power, and has a comprehensive recycling program. It also provides customers with the "carbon cost" of items to help consumers become more environmentally aware in their purchasing decisions.

5. Canadian aluminum company Alcan Inc. (NYSE: AL), which has both lowered emissions at the same time as improved energy efficiency in its smelting processes

6. PG&E Corp. (NYSE: PCG), which generates over half of its retail electricity sales from non-greenhouse-gas emitting sources. PG&E currently is testing a pilot project to generate electricity using cow poop.

7. S.C. Johnson, which has a detailed program to measure the environmental impact of all materials and processes used in manufacturing its products. The company recently built its own power plant to generate electricity using methane gas from a nearby landfill.

8. Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS), which one does not normally associate with environmental concerns, but the company has invested in pilot projects in ethanol, wind and solar power, and uses its finance expertise to advise other companies on environmental issues.

9. Swiss RE, the giant re-insurance company, advises its clients about environmental risk factors, and supported the Chicago Climate Exchange where derivatives linked to carbon emissions are traded.

10. Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) manufactures computers that are 100% recyclable. The company currently recycles 4 million pounds of digital detritus each month and is looking to expand its recycling programs.