Environment group Greenrock has called for lower duty rates on eco items in order to cut Bermuda's soaring energy consumption. Greenrock president Andrew Vaucrosson said tariff breaks should include items that:

¦ use less energy

¦ create less waste

¦ are made of materials that are recycled and biodegradeable,

¦ are made with less energy

¦ are not fossil fuel-based or dependent.

And the group backed new Energy Minister Terry Lister's bid to push for higher taxes on power guzzling gizmos.

Mr. Lister is looking to reverse Bermuda's addiction for fossil fuels with Belco now reporting energy use goes up 1.5 percent every year.

Greenrock want duty increased on items that consume more energy, are harder dispose of and require large amounts of energy and waste to produce and are fossil fuel dependent.

Mr. Vaucrosson said the drive should go further with an energy consumption guideline established for all commercial or condominium properties with an acceptable level of power usage.

"For anyone exceeding this level, BELCO is given the right to charge a surcharge."

He called for an advisory group to help guide consumers and customs on suitable items to cut energy consumption.

Recently Mr. Lister threw his weight behind solar power but questioned whether Bermuda wanted "windmills in the yards of 30,000 homes".

But Mr. Vaucrosson said there are new forms of wind-turbines which don't use fan blades but are tube-like in shape with a very low profile which generates more power in lighter winds.

Greenrock also want Mr. Lister to look at electric vehicles as he works on a Green Paper about power usage. "Energy for vehicles could be harvested from commercial wind or solar energy stations at a fraction of the cost of filling up with fossil fuel."

Mr. Vaucrosson said there was a 'conflict of interest' in Government as it encouraged more hotels but tried to curb power use.

"This issue has moved beyond economics and environment, and now has become a social issue. The price of oil is causing the cost of living in Bermuda to rise. As this index rises, the social-economic division grows.

"And as anyone who has ever taken Sociology 101, social-economic lines creates social unrest, crime, and corruption since it pits the 'have's' against the 'have nots' and eventually destroys the middle class."