Published: October 03, 2008 04:20 pm            

Sales Tax holiday — Region gets second chance at energy savings

Area residents who didn’t get a chance to take advantage of the Mountain State’s first Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday are getting a second chance at energy savings thanks to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia’s second annual energy sales tax holiday on energy efficient products will take place Friday, October 10, and continue through Monday, Oct. 13. During the tax free holiday, residents who purchase high-efficiency products with the Energy Star or WaterSense certification will be exempt from paying the sales tax. The 2008 tax-free holiday in Virginia follows national Energy Conservation Awareness Week, which begins Monday and continues through next Friday.

West Virginia completed its first Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday last month.

During Virginia’s second energy sales tax holiday, residents of the Commonwealth — and those citizens in southern West Virginia who choose to cross the state line to participate in the sales tax holiday — will be exempt from paying the sales tax on Energy Star or WaterSense qualified products that cost $2,500 or less.

According to Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, these energy efficient products that will be tax free include compact fluorescent light bulbs, ceiling fans, clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators and room air conditioners, and water efficient products such as certain toilets and faucets.

“Virginians are finding simple ways to reduce their energy consumption and use energy more efficiently,” Kaine said. “The first goal of the Virginia Energy Plan is to expand conservation and efficiency in Virginia, and I am pleased to give consumers another opportunity to save money and conserve resources through the purchase of Energy Star and WaterSense high-efficiency products.”

Kaine said residents of Virginia saved an estimated $166,000 during the first energy sales tax holiday in 2007. In addition to savings at the point of purchase, Kaine said residents with Energy Star and WaterSense products will realize long term savings through reduced utility costs.

Energy conservation is a practice that all citizens should follow. By working together, we can all help to combat global warming and wasteful energy consumption.

We can also help the local economy, and area businesses, by purchasing such energy saving products tax free between Monday and Friday.

Those who missed the first energy sales tax holiday in West Virginia would be wise to consider Virginia’s second energy sales tax holiday.

        

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