Investment management company has created an index to follow the top 40 companies likely to win from the surge in interest in energy efficiency and CO emission reduction. The

The Merrill Lynch Energy Efficiency Index is divided into four components; integrated companies in the capital goods sector; fuel efficiency in the automotive industry; building insulation; and energy-efficient products.

The group estimates that the global manufacturing industry could improve its energy efficiency by between 18% to 26% overall while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions by 19-32%. Energy efficiency often results in savings that pay for the additional investment within one to three years. You can bet that Merrill Lynch has fully analyzed the cost/benefit analysis here. And even non-believers in the importance of reducing emissions should take note and make a buck by tracking the index and investing wisely.