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Green Building Bible, Fourth Edition
Green Building Bible, fourth edition (both books)
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Politics: Vat increase should help Green Deal - NOT

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorTriassic
    • CommentTimeFeb 27th 2013
     
    BRUSSELS — After two previous warnings calling on the United Kingdom to repeal reduced value-added tax (VAT) rates adopted for the supply and installation of energy-saving material, the European Commission filed a legal challenge Feb. 21 before the European Court of Justice to have the U.K. laws allowing these reduced rates overturned.

    The European Commission insisted that EU VAT law does not allow EU member states to apply reduced rates on “energy saving materials,” and therefore the U.K. law goes beyond the scope of what is permitted.

    The United Kingdom adopted the lower rates to boost energy efficiency and renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gases. In its statement announcing the decision to bring the case to the ECJ, the European Commission said it understood that the United Kingdom made the reduced rates part of its “Green Deal” and it supported the objectives of boosting energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy….

    http://www.globaltaxwatch.com/2013/02/european-commission-challenges-u-k-reduced-vat-rates-for-energy-efficiency/
    •  
      CommentAuthorjoe90
    • CommentTimeFeb 27th 2013
     
    Roll on the referendum :devil:
  3.  
    Gets my vote
    •  
      CommentAuthorSteamyTea
    • CommentTimeFeb 27th 2013
     
    If someone has a tenner to spend then they have a tenner to spend regardless of the tax rate.

    I can's see any advantage of having trade barriers in place. Anyone remember when we can currency restriction with Europe. Only allowed to take out 14 quid per person or something silly. Was in the 1960's, designed to 'protect our industry', so we dragged the death of BL and BS and the likes out for a generation. Great move that was.
  5.  
    More here:

    http://www.boilerjuice.com/news/2296/Insulation-scheme-could-land-govt-in-EU-court.html

    "Despite this, the EC approved the funding of around £600 million to help promote the Green Deal in the UK as it meets strict EU rules on state aid."

    The mind boggles.
  6.  
    Full EU statement on
    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/21/european-union-takes-uk-t_n_2735639.html

    The statement concludes "There are other, more efficient, ways of promoting energy efficient materials while remaining in line with EU law such as through direct subsidies."

    Which may well be true. The UK tax system is un-necessarily complex - fiddling with VAT rates on certain things is typical of this, likely cooked up when a minister needed a policy to announce rather than a strategic approach.
  7.  
    Does have 5% Vat on materials mean the manifacturer can charge an additonal 15% for their product ?:bigsmile:

    Seems with some subsides supplier/install can just add the benefit or grant to higher price for profit.
    • CommentAuthorwindy lamb
    • CommentTimeFeb 27th 2013
     
    Our Gov. should just smile, ignore the fine and carry on, after all that's what the French do -they still haven't paid their fine for illegally banning British Beef in the 1990s.

    jamesingram- you're right about supplier/manufacturer profit, most small wind turbine's increased hugely in price just after the Fit scheme was announced and funny how all those solar panels became much cheaper when their Fit rate was reduced.
    •  
      CommentAuthordjh
    • CommentTimeMar 1st 2013
     
    Posted By: Simon StillFull EU statement on
    http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/02/21/european-union-takes-uk-t_n_2735639.html

    That looks like the EU is spoon-feeding us the answer:

    "Energy-saving materials could be covered by this provision if the conditions are met, i.e. if they are used for social policy purposes in the construction, renovation and alteration of housing."

    So all the UK has to do is to declare that insulation products increase the social welfare of the country by enabling people to spend less money keeping their houses warmer, and we're OK, no? End of argument.

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