The newest environmental move from the provincial government will help homeowners fight greenhouse gas emissions by shopping!

Beginning July 20, 2007 and running until July 19, 2008, energy efficient light bulbs, decorative light strings, refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers, freezers, dehumidifiers and room air conditioners will be exempt from provincial sales tax.

The province is throwing $150 million at the project. The province seems to be throwing a lot of money around lately.

The 8% sales tax savings is part of a package of initiatives to help the province meet its environmental targets.

The other projects include:
-A "Home Energy Retrofit Program" that will provide up to $5,000 for energy efficient home improvements like Energy Star qualified furnaces, new insulation and solar domestic water systems (Whatever that is...).
-A pilot project that will provide zero-interest loans for homeowners to install renewable energy systems.
-A whole task force of industry experts and market specialists to study how to achieve a goal of 100,000 installed solar systems across Ontario.

Following shortly behind announcing 17.5 billion dollars for TTC improvement, it's a wonder the province has any money left.

The Government claims the money is coming out of the 2007 budget. But the original budget only alloted $125 million for environment initiatives.

The federal government will be shouldering some of the cost, but eventually it all gets covered by the tax payer. Toronto councillors have just volunteered us all to pay a little extra to help out. Aren't we swell? "The pay-as-you-throw" garbage-removal system was passed yesterday. Councillor Doug Holyday (Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre), was quoted in the Toronto Star saying that the move was equivalent to a 4 per cent tax increase.

I'm personally no good at math, but I assume I won't be buying enough energy efficient appliances at 8% off to make up for the extra cost of having my garbage removed.

Photo: "modern" by blogTO Flickr pooler on'tol'o'gy