BUILDING CODES

& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

NEW MEXICO
Updated September 14, 2010

ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Consumers save money by reducing utility bills,
minimizing the negative impacts of fluctuations in
energy supply and cost, and conserving available
energy resources. Retail and office buildings con-
structed to meet the requirements of the IECC can be
over 30 percent more energy efficient than typical
buildings not constructed to meet national model
energy standards.
Monetary savings derived from codes increase a

B
uildings account for roughly 40 percent of the consumer's purchasing power, and help expand the
total energy use in the United States and 70 state’s economy by keeping local dollars in New
percent of its electricity use, representing a Mexico.
significant opportunity for energy savings. Energy BUILDING INDUSTRY BENEFITS
efficiency – through the adoption and enforcement of
strong building energy codes – is the quickest, cheap- The national model residential code, the 2009 IECC,
est, and cleanest way to reduce energy consumption offers flexibility to New Mexico builders and design
and achieve a sustainable, prosperous future. For New professionals, allowing them to optimize the cost-
Mexico, the next step should involved the adoption of effectiveness of energy efficient features in their
codes at least equivalent to the latest U.S. model resi- building products, and to satisfy a variety of con-
dential and commercial energy codes – the 2009 In- sumer preferences.
ternational Energy Conservation Code (2009
The 2009 IECC also simplifies guidelines for build-
IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007. ers, providing a uniform code across the state with
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Rein- multiple options for compliance.
vestment Act (Recovery Act) – federal legislation ap-
propriating funds for a variety of state economic ini- Uniformity throughout New Mexico will enable lo-
tiatives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Depart- cal jurisdictions to pool limited resources and com-
ment of Energy (DOE) State Energy Program (SEP) to bine personnel to form county-wide, regional, and
assist states with building efficiency efforts. As a con- statewide enforcement and educational programs.
dition of accepting $31.8 million1 in SEP funding, UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Gov. Bill Richardson certified to DOE2 that the state
would implement energy standards of equal or greater Energy codes improve the energy efficiency per-
stringency than the latest national model codes and formance of new buildings and reduce demand on
achieve 90 percent compliance in new and renovated power generators, therefore improving the air qual-
residential and commercial building space by 2017. ity of local communities and throughout New Mex-
ico.
As a condition of New Mexico must now begin laying
the groundwork to successfully implement the building Electricity use is a leading generator of air pollution.
energy code plans submitted to DOE. It is in the state’s Rising power demand increases emissions of sul-
best economic interest to adopt codes that meet or fur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide. En-
exceed the stringency of the model codes and begin ergy codes are a proven, cost-effective means for
enjoying the benefits of an efficient building sector. addressing these and other environmental impacts.

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Washington, DC 20036
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 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR NEW MEXICO
HOUSEHOLD PROSPERITY
Energy expenses comprise an economic drain on low-
income communities. In 2007, New Mexico ranked
43rd in the nation in per capita personal income.6
Low-income households typically spend 17 percent of
their total annual income on energy, compared with
four percent for other households. According to some
estimates, more than four-fifths of energy expenses leave
low-income communities. Higher energy costs deprive
these communities of resources they need to generate
additional economic activity.
Desert landscape near Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
(Credit—James Dale) AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE

N
With energy prices projected to rise sharply over the me-
ew Mexico’s current energy code, the 2006 dium- and long-term, reducing New Mexico’s energy
New Mexico Energy Conservation Code demand will also enhance the state’s energy security
(NMECC), is based on the 2006 IECC for resi- and stimulate its economy.
dential construction and on ASHRAE 90.1-2004 for
commercial construction. It became effective in July A limited DOE analysis of the changes from the state's
2008.3 current residential code (based on the 2006 IECC) to the
2009 IECC resulted in estimated energy savings of 13
In July 2010, the Construction Industries Commission to 16 percent, or $216 to $251 a year for an average
adopted the 2009 NMECC, with amendments to achieve new house at recent fuel prices.7 Another DOE analysis
20 percent energy savings beyond the 2006 IECC (for of the changes from the state's current commercial code
comparison, the 2009 edition achieves up to 15 percent to Standard 90.1-2007 estimates energy and cost sav-
energy savings beyond the 2006 IECC).4 The code will ings of 2 to 4 percent.8
be effective January 1, 2011, with a six-month phase-in
period until July 1, 2011 (Note: Any cost and energy Energy codes also offer large-scale gains. BCAP esti-
savings figures associated with the implementation of mates that if New Mexico begins implementing the
the 2009 IECC that are cited herein would likely in- pending 2009 NMECC statewide in 2011 (making incre-
crease under the more stringent New Mexico code pend- mental steps toward 90 percent compliance in 2017), the
ing). state would realize substantial savings over BCAP’s
business-as-usual scenario:
ENERGY RESOURCES
By 2030, $103 million in annual energy cost savings for
New Mexico is rich in fossil fuel and renewable energy households and businesses, or $920 million from 2011-
resources. The state’s crude oil and natural gas account 30.
for about 3 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of total
U.S. production. The majority of its coal production is By 2030, annual CO2 emissions reductions of 500,000
used in-state, providing more that 80 percent of New metric tons, or 4.7 million from 2011-30.
Mexico’s electricity generation.5 Reducing local demand By 2030, residential sector source energy savings of 6
for electricity and natural gas would free up even more percent, representing annual savings of 3 trillion Btu.
of the state’s energy resources for export to other
states, decreasing costs for consumers and increasing By 2030, commercial sector source energy savings of 10
profits for businesses. percent, representing annual savings of 6 trillion Btu.

** NOTES ** For more information, please visit www.bcap-ocean.org

1 6
US DOE (http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=202) US BEA (http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2008/spi0308.htm)
2 7
US DOE (http://www.energy.gov/media/4076RichardsonNewMexico.pdf) US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/residential/
3
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/new-mexico) Residential_New_Mexico.pdf) (page 20/21)
4 8
BCAP (http://bcap-ocean.org/news/2010/august/23/new-mexico-commission-adopts US DOE (http://www.energycodes.gov/implement/state_codes/reports/commercial/
-2009-iecc-amendments-code-effective-january-2011) Commercial_New_Mexico.pdf) (page 16/24)
5
US EIA (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=NM)

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Washington, DC 20036
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