Another one from the ‘OH REALLY!’ file ... news on how wonderful our BC NDP government is

From Prince George this morning, our BC NDP government had the audacity to tell us they are 'leading by example' as .... many government buildings will become smarter and more energy efficient in an effort to tackle climate change, thanks to the Province's new CleanBC Government Buildings Program.

"The B.C. government is leading by example and walking the talk when it comes to building a better future for British Columbians," Jinny Sims, Minister of Citizens' Services, was heard to say.

"The new CleanBC Government Buildings Program will help government facilities consume less energy, reduce emissions, create local jobs and save British Columbians money."

Well that's easy for her to say and do, and easy for John Horgan’s government -- they're using OUR tax dollars to do it, and that’s definitely easy.  They just go in to the piggy-bank called general revenues, which they continue to fill by increasingly our money away from us.

But wait a minute -- shouldn’t the BC government be using more of the money, from the Carbon Tax grab which was imposed on us 11 years ago, to provide more help to BC homeowners?

On February 19, 2008, the Government of British Columbia announced its intention to implement a carbon tax of C$10 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions (2.41 cents per litre on gasoline) beginning July 1, 2008, making BC the first North American jurisdiction to implement such a tax ~~ Wikipedia

And now that Carbon Tax is $40 / tonne ... FOUR TIMES what it started out at!

As we are all well aware, the Carbon Tax was to be revenue neutral. IT IS NOT and has simply become another revenue stream for the government as they continue to syphon more and more of our family’s financial resources away from us.

According to our NDP government, energy retrofits generally result in a minimum of 25 percent energy savings ... and major energy retrofits, which also include building envelope improvements, could deliver savings of more than 40 percent.

Here’s what would actually be easy for Jenny Simms and John Horgan.  Take the excess Carbon Tax revenue you are stealing from us, and increase the fund for homeowners to retro-fit homes to make them more energy efficient – that’s what will really ‘... save British Columbians money’.

The NDP’s current budget, overseen by Finance Minister Carole James, projects an increase from the Carbon Tax of $2 billion dollars over three years.

Right now, the BC government is providing homeowners upgrading their windows and doors, to more energy efficient models, and the same with natural gas furnaces, of up to a combined $2,700.

According to HomeGuide.com the average cost to replace windows in a three-bedroom home would run between $4,500 to $9,600. I’m going to guess the low end is economy and the top end is highest rated.  The plan is to be more energy efficient so ... $9,600 it is.

And a good to better door, installed, will likely run $750 to $1,000 or more – so a front and back door ... $1,500+.

Then we come to the average cost to install a high-efficiency furnace in Canada; $3,000 to $5,500 based on installation requirements, size, and model. Again, the plan is to increase energy efficiency so it’s $5,500 I’m using.

Windows ... $9,600

Doors ... $1,500

High-efficiency furnace ... $5,500

That means the APPROXIMATE cost to retro-fit would be $16,600 (that’s simply my guesstimate) ... and the retro-fit incentive from the BC government is .... (drum roll please) ... $2,700.

So, here’s a suggestion Premier Horgan – take that extra $2 billion dollars and add it to the current $2,700 incentive.

That’s ... leading by example to build a better future for British Columbians.

That’s ... doing what IS NEEDED to help British Columbians save money.

That’s ... ensuring that the revenue taken from us, in the form of a carbon tax, remain revenue neutral.

It’s tough finding accurate numbers, but it seems that the cost to heat the average BC home, with a 92% high-efficiency furnace, is +/- $1,000 per year.

That means the estimated energy retro-fit 25% savings could put an average of $250 a year back in our pocket ... and at the top end an estimated savings of 40% per year would mean $400. And that’s not even considering what the increased retro fit incentive would save consumers

I think I’d rather have those energy savings back in my pocket, than going into general revenues.   

Which would you rather see?