As of July 1, 2009 all new applications for single-family residential buildings in the City of Santa Fe are subject to the Residential Green Building Code.

You can download a PDF copy of the Residential Green Building Code Checklist or a fillable excel copy of the Checklist which you can complete and email to submit for building permit. (both documents updated with 7/8/09 approved revisions).

The Administrative Procedures include the User's Guide. (updated with the 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.

Both the State of New Mexico and the Federal Government have Clean Energy Incentives
and New Mexico also has a Sustainable Building Tax Credit.

Before you submit for a building permit you must complete the residential green building checklist (above) and submit it, along with any supporting documentation that will not be on the building plan set to Katherine Mortimer.  You can call Katherine with any questions while preparing the checklist at (505)-955-6608.

Print out two copies of the first sheet of the checklist and submit them with the building plans.

You are responsible for ensuring that all third-party testing and inspections are done during the course of construction.  Please ensure that you keep your HERS professional apprised of when you are ready for their inspections.  You must have a confirmed HERS index on the Cirty-approved posting, along with the final point totals in each section of the code, posted in a conspicuous location on the home before you can receive a Certificate of Occupancy.

The Residential Green Building Code is intended to be flexible and respond to evolving technologies and construction methods.  It allows the Green Building Code Adminstrator to make interpretations of the items in the code and to approve innovative options not included in the code.  The following are interpretations and innovative options that have been made of specific items in the green building code and innovative options that have been approved by section:

Section 1
No interpretations or innovative options approved yet.

Section 2
Innovative Option 2.8.6:  Use of insulated concrete forms (ICFs) for at least 50% of the exterior wall. (2 points)

Section 3
Item 3.3.6.1 A:  This item is not intended to require Grade 1 insulation installation.  It is intended to encourage verification of the installation grade by a third party inspector.  If the HERS index assumes Grade 1 or 2 insulation installation, the HERS Rater must inspect the insulation to ensure that grade for the confirmed HERS index.  If Grade 3 is used, this inspection is not required for the confirmed HERS index.  This inspection should only ensure that the grade of insulation installation used in the HERS index is met by the installation quality.

Section 4
No interpretations or innovative options approved yet.

Section 5
No interpretations or innovative options approved yet.

Section 6
No interpretations or innovative options approved yet.

Single Family Residential Remodels and Additions
A working group is currently meeting twice a month to develop this code.  A draft of this code should be ready for public review in Spring of 2010.

Commercial Buildings
A working group is currently meeting twice a month to develop this code.  A draft of this code should be ready by for publc review in Fall of 2010.

Historic Structures
The City Council has appointed a working group to develop policies about how and when green building codes will apply to historic structures. 

~ Buildings use the majority of electricity produced by power plants.

~ Building materials contain large amounts of embodied energy.

~ The design of buildings and consideration of materials used can greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with them.

~ The City of Santa Fe was the first city to adopt the 2030 Challenge which calls for progressively reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings until they produce zero emissions in year 2030.

~ The City of Santa Fe formed a Green Building Code Task Force to develop compusory green building codes. The draft Residential Green Building Code described wasthe first of these codes. The Task Force has now split into two groups and added new members and are preparing codes for remodeling and additions to existing single-family residential buildings and for commercial buildings.

~ This Residential Green Building Code is modeled after the Green Build New Mexico program and address: Project Implementation Plan and Lot Development; Resource Efficiency; Energy Efficiency; Water efficiency; Indoor Environmental Quality; Operation, Maintenance, and Sustainable Practices.

~ The requirements increase for larger residences to help offset the increase in embodied energy in the building materials.

~ Implement performance based Santa Fe Green Building Codes (Program) that recognize the need for phased-in mandatory minimums and offer incentives to builders for performance significantly above the mandatory thresholds.

~ Codify long-range commitments and date benchmarks included in the “2030 Challenge”.

~ Develop green building codes and incentive programs for: 
        Existing building remodels and retofits; 
        Commercial buildings; and 
        Structures in historic districts both new and existing