SENATE MEMORIAL 57

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

William Soules

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SERVICE TO SET THE THERMOSTAT IN THE STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS TO NO HIGHER THAN SIXTY-EIGHT DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

     WHEREAS, the state capitol buildings, consisting of the building commonly referred to as the "roundhouse", as well as the north annex to the roundhouse, need to be heated to keep legislators, staff and visitors comfortable; and

     WHEREAS, regular legislative sessions in New Mexico occur during the winter months; and

     WHEREAS, setting the thermostats to sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit would be sufficient to keep most legislators, staff and visitors comfortable; and

     WHEREAS, setting the thermostats to more than sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit routinely results in some legislators, staff and visitors not being comfortable because they become overheated; and

     WHEREAS, all legislators are required to wear business attire, and male legislators are required to wear a suit jacket and tie during floor sessions, which last multiple hours, and many legislators, as well as staff and visitors to the legislative floor, become overheated because of the combination of experiencing temperatures over sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit while being warmly dressed in the required business attire; and

     WHEREAS, it is possible for people who feel cool to add layers, but it is not possible for people who feel hot to remove layers, while on the legislative floor; and

      WHEREAS, heating buildings requires the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide, produces greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming; and

     WHEREAS, one way to limit the release of carbon dioxide, production of greenhouse gases and contribution to global warming is to set the thermostat to no higher than sixty-eight degrees thermostat during the winter months; and

     WHEREAS, the cost of fossil fuels for heating the legislative buildings negatively impacts the general fund; and

     WHEREAS, setting the thermostat to no higher than sixty-eight degrees also will save money in heating costs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative council service be requested to set the thermostats in the capitol buildings at no higher than sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative council service.

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