SUMMER
 2015 NEWSLETTER

Award Presented to U.S. House Representative Mike Simpson

New Mexico Going Beyond Weatherization

By Troy Cucchiara

 
For the last six decades, New Mexico has been in competition to take first place as the driest of all fifty states seeing an average annual precipitation level of 14.63 inches and record low of 6.55 set in 1956 that still stands to be beat.  Despite the consequences of drought, the people of New Mexico are fortunate to have a water savings fringe benefit of the Energy$mart Program. 

The efforts for program year 2014-2015 improved over 600 homes, many that received water saving devices along with a healthy dose of client education.  Conservative estimates show a minimum savings of 4.2 million gallons of water annually, enough to supply 50 homes per year.

This way of thinking helps to put things in perspective when it comes to energy saving retrofits.  Again, water savings is only a fringe benefit of the program.  The real impact resides, as always, with the almighty dollar. Including all funding sources, New Mexico has received a total of $5,129,261 for program year 2014-2015.  Over the lifetime of weatherization measures, it is projected that the people of NM will save $5,239,000 which is a far reaching benefit for the communities. 

The program paying for itself is not the only objective of the program. The current numbers are barely scratching the surface of the state’s total need.  Even if funding and demographics remained constant, it would take more than 500 years to positively affect the 42% of NM’s eligible households with the Energy$mart Program.  This is one of many reasons why the Energy$mart Program continues reaching out to a broader selection of funding sources. Some of these funding sources are utility companies.  In NM, the utility companies are required to file an estimated plan for energy efficiency, with low-income being part of that plan. Some of the utilities are small co-ops - allowing only a fragment of funding for low-income.  Establishing these relationships can be long term.  This helps to not only stretch the base funding out further helping more people, but also will to provide additional funding streams for when federal dollars fluctuate.  



To further stabilize the Sub-Grantees, NM is also cultivating several multi-family projects that include work that goes beyond typical weatherization. When a property is eligible for DOE weatherization, the buildings often need more than what is allowed.  By pooling together several funding sources, including a buy down from the property owners, the buildings receive the work they need and the local economy is further stimulated by providing work that otherwise would not have been available.  Multi-family projects mean lower per unit costs along with more complications.  To reduce complications and to ensure high quality work, DOE has issued guidance in WPN 15-4 that require all Quality Control Inspectors to attend and successfully pass a multi-family QCI course based on the NREL Job Task Analysis.  The NM Energy $mart Academy is among the first of weatherization training academies that is providing this training.  Their courses consist of several online modules and assignments followed by a rigorous week long class. This ensures students have the mental tools necessary to oversee the quality of work performed on multi-family projects. 

From water savings to multi-family projects and training, NM anticipates an exciting future with many successes, challenges, and opportunities. Our hope is to continue sharing lessons learned with other states so that all can benefit and progressively move the entire program forward.

East Porterville, CA Drought Central