The consultants cast a wide net to invite citizens to participate in the steering committee, a requirement of the contract with the town. In the end, a committee that included builders, engineers, architects, landscapers, real estate agents, banks, and public officials played a significant role in defining the three perspectives of adopting a sustainable high performance building ordinance.
1. Reduce Energy and Water Consumption
The committee began its focus on existing examples of successful energy Replica Jaeger-LeCoultre reduction, including renewable energy, solar water heating, passive solar design features, energy efficient appliances, recycled and reused materials, insulation, and efficient windows. Discussion around water conservation embraced water collection systems (catch water systems), recycled water (gray water systems), and xeriscaping.
The final ordinance adopted both flexible and prescriptive regulations to improve energy efficiency and reduce water consumption. In an effort to improve energy efficiency in new residential and commercial construction, the ordinance required that all new building permits include a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) certificate for residential projects and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) checklist for commercial projects. The HERS certificate and LEED checklist offer builders flexibility in achieving energy efficiency and water savings through innovative and low or no-cost solutions.
The ordinance also adopted specific prescriptive regulations to lower water consumption, including mandating drip or underground irrigation systems for landscaping (except for xeriscape) and installing low-flush toilets in new construction. The prescriptive water conservation regulations were adopted because they were simple to enforce and limited the administrative burden of the town building inspectors,
2. Provide Alternatives for Affordable Mousing
Taos is rurally located in the north-central part of New Mexico, but the town itself is more densely populated than the surrounding county. With a wide income disparity within the town of Taos, there is a critical need to provide not only affordable housing within the town limits, but also to design residences that offer financial savings for reducing energy and water use.
To address the needs of the low- to moderate-income citizens, the committee considered the economic impact of the ordinance on all community members, with the intention of creating cost savings rather than a burden. Early in the process, the committee acknowledged that reducing energy bills would improve the quality of life of Taos' citizens.
To offset anticipated costs in promoting energy and water conservation, the steering committee proposed creating a town-administered incentive program, whereby larger residential and commercial projects had the option to meet certain energy efficiency standards or pay a fee. The proposed fee was to exclusively fund energy-efficient retrofits for low-income residents.
The final ordinance adopted by the Town Council was more comprehensive. All residential and commercial projects, regardless of size, were afforded the option to pay "in lieu fees" as an alternative to meeting the HERS and LEED requirements. The final ordinance Cartier Roadster Replica also expanded how the funds collected through the "in lieu fees" could be used, including not only water and energy retrofits for low- to moderate-income residences, but also consultation and educational materials for low-to moderate-income citizens.
3. Facilitate Community Consensus
Taos is a diverse community with deep historical roots and a vibrant arts community and is a popular location for vacation homes. The construction industry in Taos represents a significant portion of the economy. To ensure that the ordinance would be supported by the developers, real estate professionals, and affordable-housing advocates, the steering committee members committed to defining the critical principles of the ordinance, including affordable and accessible building techniques, incorporating energy and water conservation practices already in use in Taos, and making the compliance process simple.
Throughout the yearlong commitment, the consultants emphasized relationship building, dialogue, and process accountability to develop sustainable consensus on the principles, language, and implementation of the proposed ordinance.
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