April 11, 2015
Governor Susana Martinez signs to approve the SB279, the New Sustainable building Tax Credit extending the program to 2027. Go Green NM would like to congratulate those who supported the effort to push this legislation in New Mexico. The opportunity provides incentives to home builders who build green and energy efficient homes!
Go Green New Mexico provides HERS and Third Party Verification for the home builders, Contact us today for more information!
U.S. Senate Passes and Extension $2,000 Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Homes
December 18, 2014
The U.S. Senate passed the previously approved House version of a tax credit extenders bill that includes the extension of the 45L, a $2,000 tax credit for energy efficient homes. The bill originally passed by the House only retroactively extends the credit for 2014. This means that this extension expires on December 31, 2014.
Contact us to learn how you can earn the tax credit for energy efficient home.
City of Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code Applies to Remodels
May 14, 2014
City of Santa Fe amends existing residential green building code to include new chapters that define the green building requirements for residential renovation and remodel projects located within the city. Limitations of the green code may apply depending on the magnitude of the remodel. The city anticipates the new requirements will be effective August 1, 2014.
Contact us to learn how we can help you plan your green remodel project.
Santa Fe County Adopts HERS Rating for Energy Code Compliance
November 20, 2013
Santa Fe County is in the process of revising the Sustainable Growth Management Plan (SMGP). The plan consists of various changes promoting its goal to incorporate local community values, goals and strategies on how to best manage and sustainably utilize the County's limited natural, economic, and cultural resources. The guide includes the adopting of the HERS Index to show compliance with the county's energy efficiency goals for residential construction. A residential permit application recieved by the county on or after mid December will require applicants show the project has earned by design a projected HERS Rating of 70 or less. A certified HERS Rater, will use the RESNET industry standard for HERS to perform rough and final inspections during the construction process. The HERS Rater will issue a "final" HERS Score to the project that will be used by the county to show the home has been built as designed, and thus meeting the intent of its energy efficiency goal.
To learn more about HERS and the Santa Fe County SGMP and how the Home Energy Professionals at Go Green New Mexico can help you with the required HERS Rating please email planreview@gogreennm.com
State of New Mexico Announces Tax Credits for Sustainable Buildings Approaching Cap Limit For 2012
Santa Fe – The New Mexico Energy, Conservation and Management (ECMD) announced today that the Sustainable Building Tax Credit (SBTC) for residential buildings in New Mexico is approaching the annual cap of $5,000,000.
“Even with the economic downturn and slow recovery that has hampered the construction industry, this fact illustrates its popularity and the benefit New Mexico has derived from this program,” said Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary John Bemis.
The effect of reaching the annual cap will be felt by homeowners and homebuilders applying for certification in 2012. Once the cap is met, builders or homeowners who expected to claim the tax credit on their 2012 taxes will have to wait until the following year. This will then start to deplete the money available for homes constructed in 2013. This is particularly significant, because the SBTC is due to sunset on 12/31/2013, so once the annual cap for that year is met, there will be no more tax credits available.
“Energy Conservation and Management Division applauds those dedicated designers, builders, home energy raters, green inspectors, and other professionals who invested time, education, and talent to bring New Mexicans higher quality buildings,” said ECMD Director Louise Martinez. “We are pleased that the SBTC has been a reason for transforming the industry and a stimulus for keeping the industry going during difficult times.”
For further information, please contact ECMD Director Louise Martinez at 505-476-3315
June 27, 2013
For the third year in a row, Go Green NM LLC earns award for verifying new homes that protect the environment through energy efficiency throughout the state of New Mexico.
Go Green NM is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a 2013 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes the important contribution Go Green NM LLC has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by contributing to more than 115 ENERGY STAR certified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately $40,000 on utility bills and reduce 464,,400 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
State of New Mexico Adopts HERS Index Score as Compliance Option to State Energy Code
The State of New Mexico has adopted a HERS Index Score option to the prescriptive path of the New Mexico Energy Conservation Code. The New Mexico Energy Conservation Code was amended to be based on the 2009 version of the International Conservation Code (IECC). The 2009 IECC was amended to allow HERS Index Score target as a option compliance path. The revised code specifies a HERS Index Score of 83 or less for climate zone 3 (southern portion of the state) and a HERS Index Score of 89 or less in other parts of the state. The regulation requires that the HERS Index Score must be confirmed by a certified RESNET home energy rater such as Go Green NM LLC.
The other significant change that the State of New Mexico adopted was determining climate zones based on altitude and not just the DOE latitude map. So New Mexico went from having three Climate Zones (3-5) to having five (3-7)
The effort to adopt a HERS Index Score compliance was led by the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association, Build Green New Mexico and the state’s home energy raters.
The State of New Mexico's action demonstrates the growing momentum of code jurisdictions adopting the HERS Index Score as a performance based code compliance option and the growing number of local home builder associations supporting this movement.
Contact Go Green NM LLC to learn how this works and how we can help!
Courtesy of RESNET
UPDATE New Mexico Sustainable Building Tax Credit
UPDATE New Mexico Sustainable Building Tax Credit
March 14, 2013
Synopisis of Orginal Bill
The Senate Finance Committee substitute for Senate Bill 14 amends the Income Tax Act, Section 7-2-18.19 NMSA 1978, and the Corporate Income and Franchise Tax Act, Section 7-2A-21, to extend the Sustainable Building Tax Credit (SBTC) for another five years to December 31, 2018, and to make a number of changes to the tax credit program. The SFC substitute restricts the use of the SBTC to single family residential buildings by eliminating at the end of 2013 its use for commercial buildings and multifamily dwelling units. The SFC substitute eliminates the
ability to transfer, sell or exchange the tax credit to another taxpayer. It gives the taxpayers seven years to use the tax credits when the credit exceeds the taxpayer’s income tax liability for that taxable year. Read more here.....
Courtesy of the New Mexico Legislature Website 2013
May 11, 2012
The “Nation’s Housing” by Ken Harney is an award winning housing and mortgage lending column that is published by the Washington Post and syndicated to scores of leading newspapers across the nation. The May 5, 2012 column, “Buyers Should Add an Energy Audit to Pre-Purchase Inspection” explores that potential that home energy ratings can have in the housing market and introduces the concept of homebuyers adding a home energy rating contingency clause in home purchase contracts.
The column finds that home energy ratings may be the best-kept secret in home real estate”. For a couple of hundred dollars, a potential buyer thinking about writing a contract on an existing house can ask for a formal energy audit along with the standard inspection clause. That audit, in turn, can save the buyer thousands of dollars in future operating costs, and pinpoint the specific features of the house that need correction to improve efficiency.” It asks the question of shouldn’t energy audit contingency clauses in purchase contracts be as commonplace as home inspection clauses?
It quoted Leland DiMeco, a Boston real estate professional, “Shoppers loved seeing the energy audit, the upgrades and the seller’s full disclosures.” Mr. DiMeco described a case where he convinced the seller of an 87-year-old New England colonial that had significant energy leakage and efficiency problems. The seller agreed to do a HERS rating, then spent money putting spray cellulose insulation in the attic, replacing the leakiest windows, upgrading interior lighting and replacing some low-efficiency appliances. The house sold six days after listing for $50,000 more than any nearby, energy-wasting comparables. According to Mr. DiMeco, doing the HERS audit “turned out to be a great marketing benefit for the sellers.”
Mr. Harney cautioned that realty agents who primarily list houses and represent sellers say buyers seldom ask for them. Nor do sellers, who prefer to avoid giving purchasers ammunition to make lower offers during negotiations or costly demands for repairs before closing.” The column points to the growing infrastructure of certified RESNET auditors and raters along with RESNET agreements with two of the largest home inspection networks to begin offering lower-cost energy efficiency surveys and performance audits as add-ons to standard inspections. It concludes, that “Once this becomes commonplace, there may be little need for separate contract contingencies for energy. Energy efficiency will just be part of the package.”
Article courtesty of RESNET.
The U.S. multifamily housing stock is aging. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates that the average age of the nation’s multifamily housing stock is 38 years. This means that there are many opportunities for making cost effective energy upgrades to multifamily buildings. Aging multifamily housing and increasing energy costs also provides an opportunity to preserve affordable housing.
Fannie Mae is a key player in the financing of multifamily buildings. Fannie Mae reports that the size of their multifamily portfolio is nearly $193 billion. The Federal Reserve reported that Fannie Mae accounts for 21.2% of the financing of multifamily housing. The corporation has a multifamily portfolio of more than 3.8 million housing units. This makes the corporation the nation’s largest single participant in the multifamily mortgage market.
Fannie Mae’s housing mission and size of its multifamily portfolio provides a natural alignment of interests with green building principles.
Fannie Mae predicts that there will be a wave of refinancing soon resulting from maturing loans in their multifamily portfolio. It is projected that from now until 2016 there will be more than 13,000 multifamily loans with an aggregate balance of $75 billion that will mature and be eligible for loan refinancing. With today's low interest rates it can be expected that many of these loans will be refinanced. This provides a near-term activity to encourage energy improvements at the time of loan refinancing.
To take advantage of this opportunity, the secondary mortgage giant has launched the Fannie Mae Multifamily Green Initiative. The initiative’s mission is to improve energy and water efficiency, enhance the financial and environmental sustainability, and extend the useful life of all multifamily housing stock financed by Fannie Mae.
Fannie Mae has set the following goals for its initiative:
Central to the Multifamily Green Initiative is the “Property Improvement and Expense Reduction” (PIER) which focuses on the reduction of expenses through property improvements. Fannie Mae will modify the PIER to include a new element, the "Green Refinance Plus", a financing solution that provides capital for the upfront costs of implementing these investments at the time of refinance and acquisition of multifamily property. This will augment the underwriting process by adding a "green mortgage-mortgage backed security" to lenders.
The other component of the initiative is to modify the Physical Needs Assessment (PNA) and the development of a “green mortgage-backed security thereby augmenting the underwriting process. A PNA is a third party assessment of the physical condition of a property and required for underwriting multifamily mortgages. The PNA will be modified to include a new "Green PNA". The Green PNA will be an energy and water efficiency assessment of the property. The Green PNA is now required for all properties participating in the Green Refinance Plus program or any other Fannie Mae financial products. Fannie Mae recognizes Home Energy Ratings following RESNET’s standards for buildings under four stories as qualifying for the Green PNA.
Go Green NM provides certified HERS Ratings, performance testing and third party green verification for programs such as LEED for Homes(tm), Build Green NM, NAHB Green, Enterprise Green, Financial Incentives, and more!
Article Courtesy of RESNET, August 6 2012
The EPA Recognizes Go Green NM with the 2012 Leadership in Housing Award
April 18, 2012
Dear Go Green NM LLC,
Congratulations! In recognition of your commitment to providing our nation’s homebuyers with ENERGY STAR certified homes, your company has earned a 2012 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. This award recognizes your organization’s work in promoting energy efficient construction and helping to protect the environment through its partnership with ENERGY STAR.
Despite the downturn in the housing market, it is clear that both home builders and home buyers are continuing to invest in high performing homes. To date, more than 1.3 million ENERGY STAR certified homes have been built – with more than 127,000 constructed in 2011. All of this is thanks to the hard work and dedication by more than 5,400 active ENERGY STAR for New Homes partners!
Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR and partners like you, Americans saved nearly $400 million on their utility bills, and avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of more than 510,000 vehicles. We appreciate the contribution that your organization has made to help ENERGY STAR achieve this great level of success, and your continued partnership.
This year, EPA is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program. For two decades, ENERGY STAR has helped millions of Americans and thousands of businesses save energy, save money, and protect the climate. Over the past 20 years, Americans, with help from ENERGY STAR, have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Best Regards,
The ENERGY STAR for New Homes Team
NAHB Research Center Recognizes Go Green NM by Awarding a 2011 Green Partner Award, March 20, 2012
March 20, 2012
Go Green NM LLC has been recognized by the NAHB Research Center with a 2011 NAHB Research Center Green Partner Award, for their success in advancing green building within your community, and thier overall leadership and commitment to high performance Green Certified homes.
This is the first year since the Research Center began offering certification services to the National Green Building Standard that we have presented awards to our partners in the green certification program. We have always been deeply appreciative of the early adopters who supported the Standard and saw the value in an independent, third-party certification. However, after administering the program for three years, we felt compelled to recognize the significant commitment to green certification, innovation in building science, and leadership in the residential construction industry that our program partners have displayed. We are awed by what you are achieving in the field and the market transformation that you are accomplishing in what is otherwise a laggard industry. Furthermore, they are doing this with a voluntary, market-driven program – pushing the boundaries of operating efficiencies, technology, durability, and home comfort. Going forward, we expect our Partner Awards to be an annual opportunity for us to honor builders, developers, remodelers, general contractors, verifiers, and other program supporters for their role in transforming mainstream home building.
Our awards recognition was designed to be more informal than most typical awards. We did not want to impose applications and paperwork, rather we wanted to take a comprehensive look back at the previous year and recognize the innovation, leadership, and excellence that rose to the top. We also did not want to impose rigid criteria that limited our ability to recognize program partners who had made unique and meaningful contributions to the program in the past year. We believe the resulting awards program and winners will be more valuable to tell the emerging story of green certification in the residential industry. Research Center staff has deliberated on which partners we believed were most deserving of recognition for their 2011 achievements. Today we are ready to announce our selections.
In 2011, Go Green NM LLC verified over 100 certified Gold homes and 30 Silver certified homes; the most Gold certified homes to the Standard of any builder nationwide. Locally, Go Green NM LLC verified over 150 homes within the Build Green NM program.
2012 Residential Energy Efficient Tax Credit Defeated in Senate
EPA Recognizes Go Green, NM by Awarding a 2011 Leadership in Housing Award
Go Green, NM has received a 2011 ENERGY STAR Leadership in Housing Award. Each year, EPA recognizes Energy Raters that achieve specific levels of accomplishment with Leadership in Housing Awards. This award recognizes the important contribution Go Green, NM has made to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building more than 100 ENERGY STAR qualified homes last year. Collectively, these homes will save our customers approximately more than $44700 on utility bills eachyear.
City of Taos, NM Modifies City's Building Energy Code by Adopting HERS 70 or Better
In September 2009 the Taos Town Council adopted the High Performance Program as part of the community’s Vision 2020 Master Plan. The High Performance Program modified the town’s building energy code to require a HERS Index on all new homes.
When the requirement went into effect, the code required a HERS Index of 85 or better for homes that were 3,000 square feet or larger. On January 1, 2010 the code was revise to require a HERS Index of 80 or better for all homes. On January 1, 2011 the HERS Index target was moved to 75 or better. On January 1, 2012 the requirement was tightened to a HERS Index of 70 or better.
In adopting the HERS Index requirement The Taos Town Council found that “energy rating systems and high performance building standards are now in widespread use to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs”.
For more information on the Taos energy code requirement click on Taos HERS Index
Albuquerque Rolls Back Strict Energy Conservation Code, December 20, 2011
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Updated: December 20, 2011
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Albuquerque city councilors have narrowly agreed to roll back the city's strict energy code, which was intended to make the city a leader in energy conservation.
The council voted 5-4 along party lines Monday night to abandon the code in favor of the less strict —and less costly —state code. Republicans supported the rollback, saying it will make Albuquerque more builder-friendly.
Some developers and environmentalists said Tuesday the city has taken a step backward by adopting the new code, which is based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, a collection of standards that have been vetted by architects, engineers and builders from across the country.
The city's previous code was in line with what has been proposed for the 2012 international code. It included more stringent requirements for builders on things like insulation, windows and lighting than the state code and the 2009 international standards.
Supporters contend the stricter code was making city buildings 5 to 19 percent more efficient than those built under the state code.
"The rollback of the Albuquerque energy code benefits a few at the expense of residents and small business owners," said Cricket Appel, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council's New Mexico Chapter. "The impact of increased energy costs will particularly burden low and moderate income families and small businesses who are likely to occupy older housing or newer structures built at the lower standard."
The council's action comes about six months after Gov. Susana Martinez's administration rolled back stricter state building codes than had been adopted under former governor Democrat Bill Richardson and touted as some of the greenest in the country.
Supporters of the city's new code contend its strikes a balance between making buildings efficient and encouraging development.
"Adopting this new energy conservation code gives Albuquerque an updated code and permits homes, offices, stores and warehouses to be built more cost effectively and energy efficiently," Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said in a statement.
The mayor said the new code also puts Albuquerque on a level playing field with other cities and puts the city on track for adopting future standardized codes.
The city has also hired a new green building code manager who will start in January.
Councilors who voted in favor of the measure argued during Monday's meeting that the code simply sets minimum requirements and that builders and homebuyers who want to pay for more efficiency can still do so.
Supporters of the previous code said more efficient buildings and homes, while marginally more expensive to build, would lead to immediate savings for owners when it comes to heating and cooling expenses. They also argued it would reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants and other generating sources.
"The city code was developed in 2009 and at that time we were planning for and preparing for the future. That future was one in which energy efficient buildings and energy efficient building codes would be the norm," said Shrayas Jatkar of the Sierra Club. "That future is here, but the city is now taking a step backward."
Supporters of the old code said they are hoping the efficiency trend will not lose steam with the council's vote and that the retrofitting of existing buildings to be more efficient will continue to be encouraged. They said that work could even produce more work for the city's electricians, plumbers and other trades workers.
Courtesy of Associated Press 2011
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Updated: December 20, 2011 - 8:03 pm
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Albuquerque city councilors have narrowly agreed to roll back the city's strict energy code, which was intended to make the city a leader in energy conservation.
The council voted 5-4 along party lines Monday night to abandon the code in favor of the less strict —and less costly —state code. Republicans supported the rollback, saying it will make Albuquerque more builder-friendly.
Some developers and environmentalists said Tuesday the city has taken a step backward by adopting the new code, which is based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, a collection of standards that have been vetted by architects, engineers and builders from across the country.
The city's previous code was in line with what has been proposed for the 2012 international code. It included more stringent requirements for builders on things like insulation, windows and lighting than the state code and the 2009 international standards.
Supporters contend the stricter code was making city buildings 5 to 19 percent more efficient than those built under the state code.
"The rollback of the Albuquerque energy code benefits a few at the expense of residents and small business owners," said Cricket Appel, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council's New Mexico Chapter. "The impact of increased energy costs will particularly burden low and moderate income families and small businesses who are likely to occupy older housing or newer structures built at the lower standard."
The council's action comes about six months after Gov. Susana Martinez's administration rolled back stricter state building codes than had been adopted under former governor Democrat Bill Richardson and touted as some of the greenest in the country.
Supporters of the city's new code contend its strikes a balance between making buildings efficient and encouraging development.
"Adopting this new energy conservation code gives Albuquerque an updated code and permits homes, offices, stores and warehouses to be built more cost effectively and energy efficiently," Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said in a statement.
The mayor said the new code also puts Albuquerque on a level playing field with other cities and puts the city on track for adopting future standardized codes.
The city has also hired a new green building code manager who will start in January.
Councilors who voted in favor of the measure argued during Monday's meeting that the code simply sets minimum requirements and that builders and homebuyers who want to pay for more efficiency can still do so.
Supporters of the previous code said more efficient buildings and homes, while marginally more expensive to build, would lead to immediate savings for owners when it comes to heating and cooling expenses. They also argued it would reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants and other generating sources.
"The city code was developed in 2009 and at that time we were planning for and preparing for the future. That future was one in which energy efficient buildings and energy efficient building codes would be the norm," said Shrayas Jatkar of the Sierra Club. "That future is here, but the city is now taking a step backward."
Supporters of the old code said they are hoping the efficiency trend will not lose steam with the council's vote and that the retrofitting of existing buildings to be more efficient will continue to be encouraged. They said that work could even produce more work for the city's electricians, plumbers and other trades workers.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Updated: December 20, 2011 - 8:03 pm
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Albuquerque city councilors have narrowly agreed to roll back the city's strict energy code, which was intended to make the city a leader in energy conservation.
The council voted 5-4 along party lines Monday night to abandon the code in favor of the less strict —and less costly —state code. Republicans supported the rollback, saying it will make Albuquerque more builder-friendly.
Some developers and environmentalists said Tuesday the city has taken a step backward by adopting the new code, which is based on the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, a collection of standards that have been vetted by architects, engineers and builders from across the country.
The city's previous code was in line with what has been proposed for the 2012 international code. It included more stringent requirements for builders on things like insulation, windows and lighting than the state code and the 2009 international standards.
Supporters contend the stricter code was making city buildings 5 to 19 percent more efficient than those built under the state code.
"The rollback of the Albuquerque energy code benefits a few at the expense of residents and small business owners," said Cricket Appel, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council's New Mexico Chapter. "The impact of increased energy costs will particularly burden low and moderate income families and small businesses who are likely to occupy older housing or newer structures built at the lower standard."
The council's action comes about six months after Gov. Susana Martinez's administration rolled back stricter state building codes than had been adopted under former governor Democrat Bill Richardson and touted as some of the greenest in the country.
Supporters of the city's new code contend its strikes a balance between making buildings efficient and encouraging development.
"Adopting this new energy conservation code gives Albuquerque an updated code and permits homes, offices, stores and warehouses to be built more cost effectively and energy efficiently," Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said in a statement.
The mayor said the new code also puts Albuquerque on a level playing field with other cities and puts the city on track for adopting future standardized codes.
The city has also hired a new green building code manager who will start in January.
Councilors who voted in favor of the measure argued during Monday's meeting that the code simply sets minimum requirements and that builders and homebuyers who want to pay for more efficiency can still do so.
Supporters of the previous code said more efficient buildings and homes, while marginally more expensive to build, would lead to immediate savings for owners when it comes to heating and cooling expenses. They also argued it would reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants and other generating sources.
"The city code was developed in 2009 and at that time we were planning for and preparing for the future. That future was one in which energy efficient buildings and energy efficient building codes would be the norm," said Shrayas Jatkar of the Sierra Club. "That future is here, but the city is now taking a step backward."
Supporters of the old code said they are hoping the efficiency trend will not lose steam with the council's vote and that the retrofitting of existing buildings to be more efficient will continue to be encouraged. They said that work could even produce more work for the city's electricians, plumbers and other trades workers.
NM 2009 Energy Conservation Code Effective August 1, 2011
UPDATE June 13, 2011
The New Mexico Constuction Industries Division adopts new 2009 Energy Conservation Code. The new code does not include the proposed ammendments made by New Mexico's previous administration (see below). Instead CID has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with very minor ammendments. The code will be enforced begining August 1, 2011.
See rule change here.
Download a copy of the 2009 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code here.
UPDATE June 2, 2011
The State of New Mexico's Construction Industries Divisions has held public hearings for the discussion and adoption of the latest codes impacting all permitted building construction in the state.
The New Mexico Energy Conservation Code, is one of the affected codes. The proposed changes upgrade the current code which was based on the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)of 2006. Note the IECC-2006 code was based on requirement published in a standard from the American Society of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers- ASHRAE 90.1-2004 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
The New Mexico Energy Code as proposed is to go into effect on January 1, 2011, and is based on the IECC-2009 code (it is based on the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential). ASHRAE 90.1-2007, IEEC 2009 and New Mexico Energy Conservation Code will impact the thermal performance of building envelopes, efficiency of HVAC equipment, plus design and controls strategies for such equipment, and established maximum lighting power density and controls for illumination of commercial buildings.
Download the proposed changes to the existing NM Energy Conservation Code.
Post questions or comments at our Blog.
PNM and NMGC Offers Energy Star Builder Incentive for v3.0
October 25, 2011
Energy Star version 3.0 is sheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2012. The Energy Star builder incentive offered by PNM and the New Mexico Gas Company will be offered for achieving Energy Star v2.5 and v3.0 certification beginning in 2012 and offered through 2013. A total of $750 will be available for each V2.5 & V3.0 homes. Homes built in Santa Fe will not be eligible due to Santa Fe’s advanced building code. Homes in Albuquerque will be eligible if the City adopts the state based IECC 2009 Code. Albuquerque is scheduled to vote on the code this month.
New PNM Electric Rates Begin August 21, 2011
After a very long and costly regulatory process, a $72 million rate increase approved by the N. M. Public Regulation Commission has been finalized. That means that starting August 21, PNM bills will be calculated based on the new rates. We know there is never a good time to raise rates, but sometimes rate increases are necessary to keep your electric service safe and reliable, and to support our state's continued economic growth.
This is a 9.2 percent increase that will go into effect all at once rather than the two phases that we had proposed. How it will affect you may depend on how much electricity you use. The commission adopted a new residential rate structure that means many customers will see a much lower increase than that. The average residential bill in central and northern New Mexico, and Deming, will go up by about $1.26 a month, which reflects a base rate increase and a drop in the fuel adjustment and energy efficiency charges. Business customers can expect to see a 9.2 percent rate increase, assuming their energy use does not change.
Southern Customers:
This will be the first rate increase in five years for our southern customers (excluding Deming), where residential customers will now have the same rate structure, fuel adjustment clause and seasonal rates that our other customers have. They will also have a consolidation adjustment charge or credit that helps to ease the transition to the new rate structure and evenly distribute the impact of the increase from customer to customer.
The average southern residential bill will go up by about $7 a month. (This includes the fuel and consolidation charges, which were not on your bills before.) We asked the commission to combine your rates so that we could keep your rates as low as possible. Business customers will have the same rate structure that our northern customers have. We've already reached out to large business customers where the change will be most noticeable.
Northern Customers:
Under the rate structure, customers in the north using above 1500 kilowatt-hours a month will see much higher non-summer rates, and that could affect customers who heat with electricity in the winter.
We will continue to reach out to our low-income customers to help them. Part of our agreement included a PNM Resources shareholder donation of $1.25 million to the PNM Good Neighbor Fund, which will increase our ability to help low-income customers. In addition, energy efficiency programs help customers save. Last year, customers who participated in our energy efficiency programs received $7 million in rebates and could save up to $5.3 million a year in energy costs.
At a time when we are asking our customers for more, we will continue to focus on running our business is efficiently as possible. We also recognize that ongoing investments required for system reliability are not the only pressure on your electric bill; regulations designed to make energy cleaner also push the price up. PNM will continue to work for solutions to energy issues that balance the cost to the customer, as we did in this rate case, as we are doing with regard to haze control technology and as we consider how we will create and deliver electricity in the future.
If you have questions, please call us at 888-DIAL-PNM (888 342-5766). A customer service representative will be happy to talk with you. More information about this rate increase will also be included in your September bill insert.
Article Courtesy of William Frye, Director of PNM Customer Service
December 17, 2010 Congress extended the $2,000 federal tax credit for builders who build energy efficient homes. The extension is from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011. The extension was part of a sweeping tax package negotiated by the White House and Republican Congressional leaders.
The legislation also includes a provision that extends the tax credit for consumers who purchase qualified energy saving products, but lowers the credit to its pre-economic recovery act levels. The new bill extends the credit to the end of 2011, but reduces the incentive to the original 10% up to $500. Included are provisions limiting window incentives to $200, oil and gas furnace and boiler incentives to $150-200, and water heater and wood heating system incentives to $300. As part of the legislation, Congress tightened the specifications for oil furnaces and boilers and gas boilers to 95% efficiency, up from the 90% efficiency in current credit.
The tax credit for highly energy efficient appliances was extended for one year, and the efficiency criteria and incentives have been updated to provide incentives only for products that are significantly more efficient than today's average new product. The credit goes to manufacturers.
President Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law this week (12/20/10).
A priority of Go Green, NM in 2011 is to work hard for builders and homeowners in New Mexico to achieve high performance new home construction and home energy upgrades for existing homeowners, and ultimately enabling them to take advantage of the federal tax incentive. This would include HERS Ratings, consulations, new construction energyand comprehensive energy audits and upgrades for existing homeowners.
More information on the Energy Efficient Tax Credit from the IRS here!....
Energy Star v2.5 Coming April 1, 2011
Builders participating in the EPA's Energy Star for New Homes will soon begin the transition to v3.0 on April 1, 2011.
Version 2.5 adopts the three key features of Version 3, including a variable HERS index threshold, a Size Adjustment Factor, and new inspection checklists. The new Version 3 checklists, in particular, will require increased planning and coordination with builder clients and trades in order to successfully implement. For this reason, the new inspection checklists must be completed under Version 2.5, but an allowance is provided for deficiencies during this transitional period as described below. This will allow partners to identify what parts of the full Version 3 guidelines require further preparation and assistance before the requirements are fully phased in.
Find more on ENERGY STAR for Homes Version 2.5 here.
Albuquerque City Council Approves New Local Energy Code
August 11, 2009 - 1:39pm — Paul Karrer
The Albuquerque City Council approved Ordinance 09-85 on August 3, establishing a new local energy code that will go into effect December 1, 2009 should the city's mayor sign the legislation. The 2009 Albuquerque Energy Conservation Code is based on the 2006 IECC but also contains several amendments that are more stringent than corresponding sections of the 2009 IECC, including testing for air filtration and duct leakage.
When the code is published, it will be posted on the city's website.
The residential code advances the 2006 IECC by allowing:
New Mexico Build Green (NGBS) Silver or LEED-Silver homes to be deemed to qualify called the "Green Path".
Adds air infiltration testing (blower door) 6.0 ACH50 (exceeds 2009 IECC).
Duct leakage requirement of 4.0 CFM @ 25 / 100 SQFT of conditioned floor space.
If ducts are in conditioned space and not tested air infiltration rate for house drops to 3.0 ACH50.
Adds requirement to use the ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Checklist.
Adds U-Value/SHGC requirement of .35/.40.
Increases wall insulation to R-21 or R-13+R-7.5 and ceiling insulation to R-38.
Increase floor insulation to R-21.
Adds approved ENERGY STAR reflective roof requirements.
Adds ENERGY STAR ventilation fan requirements.
Adds ENERGY STAR labeled light fixtures requirements.
Homes using performance path must be 30% more efficient than baseline 2006 IECC model home.
2009 Courtesy of Building Codes Assistance Project.
Additional reference information on the above are for background use only.
Santa Fe County Green Code Update
Will the county of Santa Fe require certified HERS Inspections or adopt The City Different's green code? This is the question many builder's minds! Go Green, NM is dedicated to keeping Santa Fe's builders informed.
Los Alamos boasts First Energy Star Certified Home
By CAROL A. CLARK Monitor Managing Editor
The green-built home at 520 Camino Cereza in North Mesa is a whopping 40 percent more energy efficient than a conventional home of equal-size built today and it costs just 5 percent more.
The $375,000 home, built by local developer Stan Primak of Primak Builders Inc., was completed last month and is the first certified “Energy Star” rated home in Los Alamos County.
“To earn the ‘Energy Star’ certification, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy,” Primak said during an interview at the home Friday.
Certified homes are a minimum of 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Residential Code, he said, and include energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30 percent more efficient.
Third-party evaluator, Isaac Brazil of Go Green NM, LLC, said while the average Energy Star home ranks 85 on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS), the Primak-built home ranks an impressive 58. The HERS index is a 0-100 rating scale relative to the model home defined by the current international energy conservation code with ‘0’ being the best,” he said. “Each one point decrease in scale equals 1 percent increased efficiency, so a 58 ranking is significant.”
There is a particular value to having an independent party evaluate the project from conception to completion, Primak said, because at the end of the project, a document is generated, which verifies all of the results. There is no guesswork, he said.
“Isaac began the evaluation process at the planning stage,” Primak said. “Through his expertise, he lead us to see that there are also state and federal incentives for Green Building. If criteria are met and verified by Energy Star evaluation, tax credits and rebates can essentially more than pay for the services of Go Green NM.”
Brazil and his brother Matthew Brazil co-own the company and both graduated from New Mexico State
University with degrees in mechanical engineering. He handles their northern New Mexico operations and his brother handles central New Mexico.
“The Camino Cereza home is an efficient 2,100-square-foot design, oriented for winter solar gain, low E glass, has no windows on north side of house and only one sliding glass door,” Brazil said. “Primak Builders utilized Value Engineered Framing, stacking wood on top of each another, using 20 percent less material than a typical home of equal size. They used superior insulation including polyurethane foam with an effective rate of R54 in the ceiling and R24 in the walls, an insulated concrete slab and foundation with a radon gas barrier. They also used a 92 percent efficient boiler with a built-in, tankless on-demand hot water heater as well as efficient, in-floor heat.” The home has an unventilated attic to keep the structure cool in summer and a computer controlled air/heat exchanger to modulate indoor air quality, he said.
“Green Building is a term used loosely in today’s energy-plagued world,” Primak said. “We as a company began asking ourselves what the term actually meant sometime back. The resulting outcome has been the growth and development of incorporating Green Building practices into our homebuilding business. We believe the concepts are important and that it is a responsibility we hold as professionals to educate not only ourselves, but our citizenry in tackling the energy issues we all face.”
Energy Star certified homes include a variety of proven energy-efficient features that contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution:
• Effective insulation;
• high-performance windows;
• tight construction and ducts;
• efficient heating and cooling equipment;
• energy efficient products; and
• third-party verification.
Brazil conducted infiltration evaluation tests during and after construction. The tests create negative air pressure that sucks air from the house. He then uses a smoke detector to verify the home's air tightness. Primak equipped the home with Energy Star rated windows, appliances and light fixtures along with water-saving plumbing fixtures including one and 1.6 gallon dual flush toilets.
Go Green, NM, www.gogreennmllc.com, provides solutions to new challenges in energy efficient and
green building including:
• Certified Energy Ratings that comply with the RESNET Home Energy Rating System (HERS)
• Accredited third party verification for energy star, build green nm and leed-h,
• eligibility for federal and state tax credits,
• applied building science diagnostics,
• energy efficient mortgage inspections,
• identification of cost-effective improvements,
• builder/buyer quality assurance,
• energy audits,
• cost benefit analysis,
• marketing,
• blower door and duct testing and
• green verification.
“Stan is very knowledgeable about these advanced techniques and very open-minded to new ideas,” Brazil said. “It was easy and a real pleasure to work with him.” Primak began building homes in 1982. He retired from teaching building trades at Los Alamos High School in 1999 and has been building custom homes ever since.
“As professionals, committed to moving forward in the energy concerns we face as a community, nation and world, we want to offer our services to anyone interested in planning a Green Built home or greening an existing home,” Primak said.
For information, e-mail jprimak@comcast.net or call 662-7708.
City of Santa Fe Adopts Green Build Code
The Residential Green Building Codes became effective on JULY 1ST 2009 for all new building applications submitted on or after that date. Check it out!
CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION APPROVES ENERGY EFFICIENCY CODES, FORMS SPRINKLER SYSTEM TASK FORCE
Albuquerque – Today the Construction Industries Commission (CIC) approved the adoption of some of the country’s most energy efficient and cost effective building codes. At least 12 other states have taken similar action.
Adoption of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code is a requirement for over $30 million of federal recovery money already received by the state.
In addition, the CIC voted to delete the mandatory residential automatic fire suppression requirement, but voted to have the Construction Industries Division establish a task force to study the cost effectiveness and feasibility of the residential fire sprinkler rule.
“I congratulate the CIC for today’s bold action. This is an enormous step forward for New Mexico’s environment and our green economic initiatives,” said Regulation and Licensing Superintendent Kelly O’Donnell.
Citing feedback received during June’s public hearing process, CID presented recommendations for updates to the New Mexico building codes. The CIC postponed today’s meeting by 2 weeks in order to take into consideration the volume of public comment received during the public hearing process.
The approved codes:
The new codes go into effect Jan. 1, 2011 and after a six-month grace period during which plans can be submitted under either the new or old codes, will be mandatory July 1, 2011.
New Mexico is the 12th state in the union to adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, developed by the International Code Council (ICC).