B&Q has today announced the launch of a petition as part of its campaign to get the Government to cut VAT on greener products.
Customers and colleagues will be able to sign up in store by dropping their details into giant green piggy banks. These 'forest-friendly' cardboard piggies will be in B&Q's largest stores this week. Postcards will also be sent to MPs.

The DIY retailer has said, based on its own research, that 95% of customers would be encouraged to buy energy-efficient products if the VAT was reduced. And, the chain is already putting its money where its mouth is with the announcement that the company has cut VAT on energy monitors to 5% - saving customers 12.5% on the price.

As the current law stands, VAT is charged at a reduced rate on certain energy-saving goods, such as solar panels and insulation, but only if they are professionally installed by a third party. B&Q parent Kingfisher has been lobbying the Government and the European Commission for more than five years to reduce the rate of VAT on similar products that are bought and installed directly by the consumer.