See the Announcement here

More details from the SEA

- Solar Supporters -

NMSEA ACTION ALERT !!!

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Or contact us with questions & comments. We value your input!

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The Martinez Administration is planning to roll back the NM Energy Efficiency Building Code which was approved (after a lengthy and very open process) in 2010, which had a very high level of public support, and which is scheduled to go into effect this July.

Please consider the info below, and take a moment before the end of this week to mail or fax your opinion to the NM Construction Industries Commission.

Points to keep in mind:

1) the average $13 per month savings being quoted in the media is net – ie after including the costs associated with meeting the new code. A major argument from the Martinez faction is that the cost of meeting the code will be greater than the $13/mo saved – a gross & deliberate distortion of the facts.

2) the new code included specific provisions dealing with classic NM architectural innovations and practices. It doesn’t include everything that we would have liked, but it’s a whole lot better than the alternative.

3) the Martinez administration’s rollback strategy has been to “clean house” at the Construction Industries Commission and then ram this change thru before “the public” has time to react. Public hearings are required by statute, so they were scheduled immediately after the Memorial Day weekend – ie to make it as hard as possible for the “opposition” to get organized. This is clearly an inside hatchet job, as opposed to the long and very public process of creating the new energy code specifications in the first place.

4) the Albuquerque Journal published their own editorial on 5/22 supporting this rollback – and using the same misleading arguments ie that costs weren’t considered the first time around, and that the new rules will kill jobs.

5) The Albuquerque Journal has accepted an op-ed by NMSEA VP Gary Vaughn opposing the rollback, which will be published in their “green building” focus section on Tuesday May 31. If any of you want to submit op-ed pieces, better do so ASAP. The bad news is that such a late publishing date will make it difficult for readers to register their opinions with the CIC before “the deadline”.

6) The CIC is required to tally “official” public comments – ie comments that follow their specific rules. That means statements made at the public hearings, and written statements made by mail or by FAX. Emails and any communication with individual commissioners can be ignored at will. So it’s important to mail or FAX your opinion to the CIC at the “official” address or FAX number listed below. And note that comments must be received by 5PM on June 2 – otherwise they’ll simply be ignored. There’s no real need to justify your opinion – all that they will be tallying is Yea or Nay for rolling back the code. The final tally is not legally binding – but it’s the only form of leverage that we have.

7) if you can make the formal hearings, or encourage others to do so, please do that. A big pro-efficiency turn out will make the news and add to the pressure to stop the rollback.

there’s only one week left to “act” – and that includes the long holiday weekend.

9) the bottom line is that the current efficiency code – set to go into effect in July – will have a bigger beneficial effect on NM’s future energy use than any other recent energy related initiative – including our hoped-for “dream” revision of passive solar adobe building codes and incentives, the consequences of PNM’s temporarily delayed PV grid-tied interconnect rider, and the combined effect of our last 11 Solar Fiestas.

STATE OF NEW MEXICO

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES DIVISION

of the
Regulation and Licensing Department

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public hearings on the proposed changes to the following CID Rules: NMAC 14.7.6 2009 New Mexico Energy Conservation Code;NMAC 14.8.2 2009 New Mexico Plumbing Code; NMAC 14.9.2 2009 New Mexico Mechanical Code; and,NMAC 14.10.4 2008 New Mexico Electrical Code, will be held as follows:

* June 2, 2011, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: FARMINGTON – McGee Park Convention Center, #41 Road 5568, Bloomfield Hwy
* June 2, 2011, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: ROSWELL, NM – City Council Chambers, 421 N. Richardson
* June 2, 2011, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: LAS CRUCES, NM – Las Cruces Administrative Offices, 505 South Main Street, Suite 249, Conference Room A
* June 2, 2011, 9:00 pm – 12:00 pm: ALBUQUERQUE, NM – CID Conference Room: 5200 Oakland Avenue, NE

Copies of the proposed rules are currently available on the Construction Industries Division’s website: www.rld.state.nm.us/cid and at the CID office in Santa Fe. You are invited to attend and express your opinion on these proposed rules changes. If you cannot attend the meeting, you may send your written comments to the Construction Industries Division, 2550 Cerrillos Road, P.O. Box 25101, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504, Attention: Public Comments. FAX (505) 476-4685.

All comments must be received no later than 5 pm, on June 2, 2011.
If you require special accommodations to attend the hearing, please notify the Division by phone, email or fax, of such needs no later than May 27, 2011. Telephone: 505-476-4686. Email: www.rld@state.nm.us/cid Fax No. 505-476-4685

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NEW MEXICO SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION
1009 Bradbury Dr. SE, # 35, Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-246-0400, 888-886-6765, Fax: 505-246-2251
info@nmsea.org www.nmsea.org

Rural Living just minutes from town on 2.3 acres – Gorgeous views. 3 Old Galisteo Trl, 87508

http://santafe.craigslist.org/ofc/2167434415.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110105/ap_on_re_us/us_mistaken_demolition

Although a relatively new product, fiberglass windows are available in many versions. The leading products are all-fiberglass frames that combine the traditional wood frame appearance with the strength and low maintenance components of fiberglass. These windows look like traditional painted wood windows with factory applied exterior finishes. Most recently, manufacturers also introduced a line of windows in which the production process enables complex profiles for the look of painted wood windows on the exterior, with natural wood interior which are called fiberglass wood clad windows. Other options in this category include furniture grade, clear, vertical grain Douglas fir, mahogany or other species on the interior, powder coated exterior finish and built in systems to increase energy efficiency and window lifespan.

Unlike common fiberglass used in pools and boats, fiberglass window frames are produced in a process called pultrusion. The process involves glass rovings and mats that are pulled at high force through resin bath and a series of dies where the resin sets to the desired shape. The materials combine and catalyze to provide tensile and torsional strength. Dimensionally stable lines are assembled into frames that are often foam filled and glazed with high performance low-e insulating glass for higher performance.
Fiberglass is a composite material that is made of fiber reinforcements, typically glass bound together in a resin matrix.

Window frames typically make up about 20% of the entire window area which is a substantial factor in a window’s total energy efficiency and performance.

Other Window Materials

Aluminum windows have been made because of their rigidity, narrow frames and durability. They can be combined in a variety of combinations that maximize views. As a low maintenance material, aluminum windows will not rot or rust, and can be anodized or can be produced with a baked on finished. The downside of aluminum windows in the past have been the lack of energy efficiency. Aluminum conducts heat and cold readily. During winter, a building’s heat seeps out through the frame and sash.

Vinyl windows can be inexpensive, durable and energy efficient when designed to minimize thermal transfer. Early vinyl windows had problems with thermal expansion. Vinyl sashes would expand at different rates than the glass and cause leaks. Modern vinyl windows are more dimensionally stable and durable. Vinyl window frames fabricated with heat welded connections are stiffer than mechanically fastened vinyl frames and provide better resistance to temperature stresses. Vinyl window frames are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is practically maintenance free. Unfortunately, vinyl frames cannot be easily painted. New technologies by some manufacturers have enabled some windows to be painted, however the color palettes are limited and must have the correct formulation to prevent deformation of the vinyl due to heat buildup.

As an abundant material in the US, wood is the most common choice for residential windows. Easy to fabricate and strong, wood is a natural insulator and looks great with many styles of architecture. Wood can be left natural, stained or painted. Many downsides to wood window frames have driven consumers to switch to other materials. Wood frames require exterior maintenance which includes touch ups, refurbishing, and the application of painting regularly. Prone to rot, wood windows eventually lose their integrity and ability to hold paint. Some cladding materials conduct heat and cold while others offer limited color choices and cannot be painted. Wood beneath cladding is susceptible to water damage that seeps behind cladding material and rots the wood.

Fiberglass provides strong frame material that is three times stronger than aluminum, and nine times stronger than vinyl. Fiberglass windows have a high level of wind resistance, and exceed CAN-A440 M90 CSA Window Standards, for increased security, offering greater resistance to forced entry. Fiberglass profiles have roughly the same strength as steel based on tensile strength. Fiberglass frames can be fabricated in large sizes for expansive glass without requiring added support or reinforcement for large picture windows and energy efficiency.

Fiberglass has a high strength to weight ratio, meaning that its light weight and strength is suitable for large complex profiles, providing maximum daylight and the flexibility of historical accuracy in restoration projects. The lack of thermal breaks maintains the frames rigidity and integrity. Easy to install fiberglass windows remain square and level, and resist twisting during installation, that are a typical problems with other types of window materials. Difficult to scratch and impact resistant, fiberglass window frames are unaffected by time or temperature.

Its resin and glass fibers expand and contract very little and move approximately at the same rate as glass. Minimized thermal expansion reduces the stresses on seals and the frame to seal connections during temperature changes during the seasons and throughout the day, therefore reducing air infiltration which is the major cause of energy efficiency in a building.

As a superior insulator, fiberglass is a simple polymer with stands of glass. The air trapped inside does not conduct heat or cold so that the material is temperature neutral. The insulation of fiberglass is so effective that the outside temperature will not warm or cool the material, and, therefore condensation will not form. High condensation resistance helps limit the growth of mildew and mold. Fiberglass is impervious to termites and other pests.

Fiberglass is paintable and has excellent adhesion properties. It can take water and solvent based acrylic enamels, powder coatings, polyurethanes, water based products, and pigments can also be added to the resins. Because of its low conduction of heat, fiberglass can be painted in dark colors and long-lasting fiberglass finishes that do not need painting are also available. Fiberglass painted surfaces do not emit gases such as PVC, and is more environmentally friendly than many other window frame materials.

Fiberglass resistance to heat and cold, as well as to moisture protection, ensures a long life expectancy in comparison to wood, vinyl, or aluminum which require future service and maintenance costs. Fiberglass frames prove to be a better value over time than other materials when retrofitting new windows.

Peter J. Gozar, AIA LEED AP is a registered architect and principal of Indigo Design Architects in Santa Fe. Indigo works with residential, commercial and governmental clients on renovations and new buildings. Please see www.indigodesignarchitects.com for more information.

My name is Grayson and I am writing from Atlas Media Corp  and the DIY Network. I am in the process of casting a show for DIY entitled “Ultimate Home Builders,” a documentary series following the build of 13 homes from the ground up. I’m writing this e-mail to see if you might be interested in taking part in the series. We are looking to film a build that will be breaking ground in the next month, with the length of the project lasting around about 5 months.

In terms of a time commitment, we would send a film crew out to cover key parts of the build about 5 or 6 times during the length of construction. We would also want to do a couple of interviews with you and the homeowner. While we are not able to compensate you for your time, it would  be a great advertising and publicity opportunity to be featured on a show that  demonstrates the positives of homebuilding.

This is a legitimate television show, which means we are not looking for any sort of money from you. If you have a family in mind that would be interested, then we  would like to receive photos of you, the family, as well as a bio giving us a little bit of background about you both. Any information on the house (style, square footage, unique design elements etc) would be much appreciated. Please let me know if you would like any further information on the show and if you are interested in moving  forward.

Feel free to check out the DIY Network website http://www.diynetwork.com for a better sense of their programming and viewership.

If you are interested please contact Wise Improvements

While Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico do have our own little quirks in this area I think it is a good jumping off point. For example decks, and front door replacements in the mid range category are good performers returning 80.6% and 128.9% on investment respectively. On the higher end remodels replacement of siding (new stucco?) and window replacements (vinyl and wood) performed the best. Check out the full report. It gives average prices for projects and other valuable information. Wise Improvements would love to hear your reaction to this study and your experiences with ROI on improvements and remodels in our local market. If I get enough responses I will post them which may help us all navigate this complex real estate market we all find ourselves in.

Thanks, Joe L.