Green Energy

This Memorial Day weekend, Texans will have an added financial incentive to invest in green energy.

State Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, announced the state's first ever Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday at Parra Furniture in downtown Brownsville. The store sells many Energy Star-certified products.

The tax exemption period will begin on Saturday, May 24 and end at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 26.

During that period, Texans may purchase energy-efficient household appliances and electronics without the additional 8.25 percent sales tax. No paperwork or other documentation will be necessary for consumers to take advantage of the offer.

Oliveira urged consumers to take heed of the warnings implicit in increasing gas prices.

"The world is going to be a very different place for our children and their children," Oliveira said. "This isn't some crazy liberal idea. The basic cost of water or fueling a home is going to continue to become more and more astronomical."

Oliveira says that the tax exemption is an investment in consumer awareness in a populace that he says tends to dismiss the importance of conservation.

"Some people still think it's silly to recycle," he said. "Buying a more efficient appliance will ultimately protect the environment and save you a lot of money."

With energy costs on the rise, investing in energy efficient products, like a front load washing machine, will ultimately save in electricity and water bills, with or without the tax break.

Even if a consumer isn't in the market for larger appliances, a simple transition from regular light bulbs to energy efficient ones will make a dramatic difference in their output of money and electricity.

This difference isn't obvious at the checkout counter. Energy Star compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs cost about $1.75 each, whereas regular incandescent bulbs are generally $1, but the efficient bulbs last eight to 10 times longer.

Although Oliveira says he is excited about this opportunity to create awareness about conservation, he did not indicate any rapid changes in the state's allocation of resources to further such interests.

"As a steward of the state's money, I'm not excited about giving tax breaks," he said. "We need that money for our schools and other institutions, but if we don't do something about this now, there may be a day not too far in the future when you turn on your faucet and no water comes out."