New Mexico Establishing a Green Building Bureau
Earlier this year, Governor Richardson of New Mexico called for
immediate efforts to establish a Green Building Bureau, which will
mandate building codes under the auspices of the Construction
Industries Division (CID) in Santa Fe. Through the summer months and
into this fall, CID Director Lisa Martínez and Head Building
Official Fermín Aragón have been holding meetings with leaders of
New Mexico's residential and commercial construction communities to
find the best way to phase in green codes that will save energy,
create sustainable building practices and respect human health and
the environment. An interesting aspect of New Mexico's codes is that
the state already has been practicing green building through its
centuries-old adobe traditions, which had been codified starting in
the 1950's. The state has also been a leader in Passive Solar
Design, especially through the period 1976-1985. None of this has
been lost on the CID, which has welcomed participation by those
representing the Earthbuilding and Solar communities, as well as
other "alternative" builders. The task amounts to a paradigm shift
in code creation. Brain cramps are already being experienced by
committee members, who are studying LEED, NHBA and other "green"
standards, while looking at what is green in the current IBC and IRC
codes. However, spirits are high among committee members who face
the taunting job of devising a way to educate New Mexicans about
green construction, including the building inspectors. A committee
of some 24 people is working with the CID in the effort.
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