Oil prices are soaring. Returns on energy stocks have been robust. The 30 largest oil companies account for some 6% of the entire global equities market. In building wealth to pay for your kids’ college or your own retirement, ignoring energy stocks can be costly. If you’re a mutual-fund investor, you probably already own a chunk of Big Oil, even if you don’t realize it.

Fast Company asked the sustainability experts at HIP Investor Inc. and the Social Venture Technology Group for help. These firms have together developed an exclusive methodology they called HIP — Human Impact + Profit — for measuring the environmental and social impacts of business. HIP and SVT founders R. Paul Herman and Sara Olsen argue that, over the long term, companies’ willingness to grapple with environmental and social issues translates into higher net income, through new products and lower costs, and stronger stock returns. We asked the HIP/SVT team to analyze the world’s 10 largest oil companies.

THE ARTICLE: An in-depth look at the HIP factor of BIG OIL

PODCAST: Check out HIP + SVT’s take on how investors can and are sustainability to judge the viability of investing in oil.

HIP GUIDE TO BIG OIL:   A concise look at HIP Investor’s   assessment of the 10 largest oil companies.

SLIDESHOW: Can Big Oil become green?   The following slides provide some innovative ideas for sustainable, profitable growth.

AND MORE!!!!