SENATE MEMORIAL 5

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph J. Carraro

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT REQUIRES CERTAIN ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ALL STATE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

     WHEREAS, the efficient use of energy is of prime importance to the energy supply and the economic well-being of the state of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, state buildings use a considerable portion of the state's energy supply;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to issue an executive order that requires the following energy conservation measures to be implemented in all state government buildings:

          A. all personal computer systems shall be turned off when not in use for more than two hours, including evening and weekend hours. During working hours, all screen savers shall be disabled and energy-saving power-down features shall be enabled;

          B. the temperature in all state buildings shall be set between seventy-four and seventy-eight degrees during the summer months and between sixty-eight and seventy degrees during the winter months;

          C. lights in office areas shall be turned off during evening and weekend hours;

          D. exterior lighting shall be turned off during daylight hours and between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Necessary security and safety lighting shall remain lit as required;

          E. all main heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems shall be examined for efficient operation. Setback times shall be reevaluated and adjusted to the absolute minimum time required to heat and cool buildings to prepare for operations. All filter-changing procedures should be evaluated to determine if filters need to be changed more frequently to achieve more efficient operation of the systems;

          F. the use of personal heating appliances shall be limited to energy-efficient heated mats or other high-efficiency heaters;

          G. all hot water heaters shall be set to one hundred forty degrees. Facilities that require a higher hot water temperature to meet code requirements are not required to comply with this requirement;

          H. all hot water circulation loops shall be examined to determine their necessity;

          I. office equipment shall be turned off during nonworking hours;

          J. lights located in storage areas shall be turned on only when the storage areas are in active use;

          K. the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems shall not be operated for small groups of employees;

          L. all exterior surfaces of buildings shall be evaluated for thermal efficiency. Insulation, window gaskets and seals shall be replaced as necessary;

          M. off-hours security and janitorial crews shall be instructed to turn off lights as work is completed in office areas; and

          N. all vending machines shall have their lights turned off and any redundant vending machines shall be removed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.

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