Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions - May 20, 2022
New Mexico Buildings Decarbonized
Over 30 aging buildings in Santa Fe, Mexico were part of the State Buildings Green Energy Project (SBGEP), a decarbonization-focused initiative, and the State of New Mexico’s largest state-owned renewable energy project to date.
The project was completed by the State of New Mexico and Trane– by Trane Technologies and will help the state to reach its 2050 net-zero carbon emissions goal and eliminate 7,400 metric tons of carbon emissions.
The 32 public buildings are all over 50 years old and received a sustainability makeover, partially funded with future energy savings through a Trane Energy Savings Performance Contract and utility rebates. In addition to modernized, high-efficiency HVAC systems and rooftop solar panels, nearly all buildings are now outfitted with LED lighting, water conservation measures and advanced controls to monitor and maximize energy efficiency.
“New Mexicans see common ground on saving energy and costs in state government,” said Sarah Cottrell Propst, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department in a statement. “We want to be wise stewards of taxpayers’ dollars. A project like this, that saves money while saving energy, is just a win-win.”
By generating, supplying, and storing some of the buildings’ own renewable energy, the SBGEP allows the state to reduce reliance on utility companies and the energy grid, which can be subject to outages or disruptions.
The SBGEP supports New Mexico’s sustainability goals and also supports the state’s Energy Transaction Act which sets a statewide renewable energy standard of 50% by 2030 for New Mexico investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives and a goal of 80% by 2040. Additionally, the state has committed to reducing statewide GHG emissions by 45% below 2005 levels by 2030, and has pledged to protect scarce water resources through several programs including recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded projects.
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