New Mexico to Lead the Nation in Energy Conservation Building Codes for New Homes

Full Savings for Commercial Buildings Still in Question

Albuquerque, NM – July 30. Today, the New Mexico Construction Industries Commission (CIC) acted to save consumers money by adopting the 2009 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code (2009 NMECC) for new home construction. The new residential code will achieve 20 percent increase in energy efficiency on new homes beginning in 2011 via sound building science and technically proven measures. The codes will take effect on January 1, 2011 with a six month phase-in period to provide time for a statewide code training process to be completed.

“We are very pleased that the Commissioners made the wise choice to adopt these codes. The new residential codes are great for New Mexicans who purchase new homes. Starting in 2011, all new homes are required to be approximately 20% more efficient, thereby reducing homeowners’ monthly utility bills, decreasing their energy consumption, increasing comfort and reducing their carbon footprint. From the very first day of ownership, the average homeowner will benefit from almost $14 per month in net savings because of these codes,” stated Tammy Fieblekorn with Southwest Energy Efficiency Project.

“Albuquerque and Santa Fe have had in effect for months a set of highly energy-efficient building codes,” said Shrayas Jatkar with the Sierra Club in New Mexico. “Today’s vote was a big step forward in decreasing energy use and reliance on dirty, fossil fuel sources of energy statewide said. This will mean less air pollution, decreased water use, fewer emissions that contribute to climate change, and a more sustainable future for all New Mexicans.”

Energy conservation through building codes will result in a decrease of a number of pollutants including carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas), nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury and other pollutants. This will reduce the public health impacts related to emissions of particulate matter and mercury, and also reduce our contribution to global climate change.

“New Mexicans support energy efficiency. The CIC received overwhelming support for the new codes, with 65 comments out of 87 in favor of adoption, indicating that New Mexicans are ready for our state to become a national leader in energy efficiency,” said Sanders Moore with Environment New Mexico.

Unfortunately, commercial building owners and tenants will have to wait to see if they will see similar benefits. Portions of the proposed Commercial Energy Conservation Code were approved by the CIC today, but two key components were amended and therefore must go through another round of public comments. We are hopeful that these sections will be approved by the CIC at their next meeting in September so the commercial sector will enjoy benefits similar to those afforded to the residential sector today.

CONTACTS:
Tammy Fiebelkorn, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), 505-410-3884
Shrayas Jatkar, Sierra Club – NM Field Office, 505-459-2718
Sanders Moore, Environment New Mexico, 505-254-4819