The City’s Sustainable Santa Fe Commission and Youth Advisory Board are seeking nominations for the 2010 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards for projects completed during the 2009.  This is the second year these Awards will be given and they cover the full range of sustainability including:

• Education Project
• Youth-led Project
• Green Building Project
• Clean Renewable Energy Project
• Alternative Transportation Project
• Ecological Adaptation Project
• Water Conservation Project
• Solid Waste Reduction Project
• Food System Project and
• Outstanding Project that is not covered under one of the other categories. 

The Awards provide an opportunity to showcase local sustainability projects to demonstrate emerging best practices developed within our community.  Santa Fe has a strong history of leading the nation in new ways of thinking including solar adobe building design, turning waste into art, and using community grown food to feed the hungry. 

Click Here to submit a nomination.

Last year’s winners were:

• Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity for the green-built home at Paseo de Peralta and Gomez;
• Luna Laundry for using recycled water for a commercial laundry service;
• The Santa Fe Watershed Association for ecological adaptation of the Santa Fe River at the San Isidro restoration project;
• Paula Iveland, English teacher, for the Capital High School Interdisciplinary Green Project;
• Santa Fe Farmer’s Market for the new farmer’s market building;
• Andre Jones, Earth Care Youth Allies Organizer, for his Sustainable Urban Garden Solutions project;
• Friend of the Earth Music for their use of solar energy for home, business and transportation;
• Nancy Judd for her use of solid waste to create her Couture Recycle Runway clothing line;
• Dan Baker for his solar-powered electric car conversion;
• Kathleen Chambers for Santa Fe Green Drinks;
• A special recognition award to Ed Mazria for the Architecture 2030 Challenge; and
• A special Lifetime Achievement award to John Stevenson for the Santa Fe Community Farm.

The 2010 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards will be given out at a special Awards Ceremony the week of Earth Day. This year's Award Ceremony will take place at the downtown Hilton on April 24th from 5-7PM. The winners will have their projects showcased on the City's website as well as in the Sustainability Commission's quarterly newsletter, and local printed and radio media.

Please consider what projects were completed in 2009 that you feel warrant nomination.

The Residential Green Building Codes became effective on JULY 1ST 2009 for all new building applications submitted on or after that date.  To learn more about the codes and how to comply with them, come to a free presentation:

Date: TBD
Location: TBD
Time: TBD
Questions?  Call Katherine Mortimer at 505-955-6608.

Quick Downloads for the Code:
A fillable Excel version of the Checklist (Complete this and submit to the City along with one copy of your plan set and any other required documentation) (updated with 7/8/09 approved revisions)

Adminstrative Procedures which includes a Users Guide providing more information on each checklist item. (updated with 7/8/09 approved revisions)

A list of Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Professionals in the area for use in getting the HERS index for a new home is provided for your reference.  Check the Residential Energy Services Network website for any updates to this list.

More information about the code and information about innovative options and interpretations of specific items go to the Green Building Code webpage.

If you have questions regarding green building please contact Katherine Mortimer or Ted Swisher (contact information at the right side of this page) 

The Sustainable Santa Fe Plan outlines the City's program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to make the community more resilient to weather the changes that are inevitble from global warming in increased energy costs.  Developed in response to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which the City adopted in 2006, this plan seeks to both reduce the City's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and to prepare the City to be resilient to the effects of both climate change and peak oil.

The Sustainable Santa Fe Newsletter (April 2009) ourlines a number of activities that have been going on that implement the Plan. 

If you have questions about the Sustainable Santa Fe Plan or implementation of any of its sections, please contact Katherine Mortimer.  (contact information below).

Katherine Mortimer, Supervising Planner, heads up the sustainbility efforts of the City of Santa Fe including greenhouse gas emission reduction, green building codes, food systems and policy, ecological adaptation and education and outreach.

Contact:
Phone (505) 955-6608
Email

Nick Schiavo, Energy Specialist, heads up the City's efforts to reduce energy demand, promote clean renewable energy, and improve the City's facilities and fleet efficiency.

Contact:
Phone (505) 955-6693
Email

Maria Vigil, Project Specialist, assists with the sustainability projects.