On Tuesday, June 24, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2025-001 approving the County Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) program. The program will further efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and alleviate energy burdens for low-income households across the County.  The program is funded through an $835,000 block grant from the New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECAM).

Energy burden is defined as the percentage of a household's income spent on energy costs, including monthly electricity, propane, and natural gas bills.  Households that pay 6% or more of their monthly income on energy costs are considered to have a high energy burden[i]. While only 2% of households countywide have a high energy burden, over 31,000 households in Santa Fe County make less than the area median income, and 36% of homeowners pay more than 30% of their monthly income on housing[ii], [iii], [iv]. For low-income households, even a slight reduction in monthly costs can provide meaningful financial relief.

The funding provided by the State of New Mexico through the CEED grant will enable County staff and contractors to evaluate households for performance and install a range of energy efficiency upgrades for up to 42 low-income households within three categories.

• Envelope Improvements: insulation, window, and door replacement
• Building Systems: smart thermostats, energy efficient appliances, LED lighting, heat pump heating and cooling systems and water heaters, and
• Health and Safety Improvements: incidental repairs, mold abatement, lead paint removal and electrical issues among others

Specific improvements will be selected to maximize energy efficiency and cost savings, while also meeting the individual needs of homeowners. On average, CEED enhancements are expected to reduce household energy use by 32% and save participating households approximately $31 per month, or $340 annually. 

The CEED program will be administered alongside Santa Fe County’s ongoing Home Rehabilitation and Energy Efficiency (HREE) program, which provides one-time grants of up to $50,000 to qualified households for urgent home repairs and health and safety-related projects. Households may be eligible to participate in one or both programs, with the potential to receive a maximum of $66,000.

To qualify, individuals must own their home and have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the CEED program and 100% of the Area Median Income for the HREE program. A 1-person household with an annual income of $47,000 (80% AMI) to $59,000 (100% AMI) would qualify, as would a 3-person household making $61,450 (80% AMI) to $76,000 (100% AMI).

Applicants applying to the HREE program will be automatically screened for participation in the CEED program. To learn more about the program and to apply, visit the HREE webpage here.

- Will Donahoo, Sustainability Specialist

I can remember, as if it were yesterday, my first Master’s-level class in Sustainable Design and Development, and the first sentence stated by my practicing architect professor: “It’s all about the water.” I realized the significance even then, having spent many years hauling water by hand in remote reaches throughout the world, directing water by contouring the land with a shovel in hand and sweat on my brow to grow food, or to redirect flows for water damage mitigation. I was forced to conserve every drop living on a sailboat, and now, on land, I constantly worry about my domestic well going dry. Yet, this powerful statement has become even more poignant over the last few years as I observe the increasingly extreme weather events and the unpredictability of monsoons, storms, and droughts. Recently, water has been impacting communities worldwide by either flooding excessively or not providing enough, and the seasons are becoming more dramatic and increasingly hostile as they change. Although it is hard to imagine in our arid climate, consider the many locations in our landscapes that have also suffered flooding, even during a drought year (Rio en Medio, 2022 flash floods). “Too much” is just as much of a problem as not enough.  It is wise to consider and prepare for both concerns, despite our 14” or less average annual rainfall, due to the concentration of precipitation becoming more unpredictable and extreme as global temperatures continue to rise.

Since the beginning of humankind, our species has chosen locations for living that are close to water, along with most of the flora and fauna cohabitating and sharing resources in our habitats.  Access to water, as well as its movement and storage, is essential to our ability to survive and thrive, grow food, and provide for cleansing and sanitation.  Quite simply, life doesn’t sustain itself without it.

This is just one reason why the Sustainability Division sponsors the Next Generation Water Summit each year. Other obvious reasons abound, such as the opportunity for subject matter networking, partnering, deepening of community ties, and increasing awareness and education. This year, the Summit was held at the beginning of June at the Roundhouse. The Sustainability team and County staff were well represented throughout the workshops, reception, and speaker series. The former Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, kicked off the event with a powerful reminder of the human need, especially our emotional and physical connection to water.  Santa Fe County's Commissioner Hughes was honored to introduce Friday’s keynote speaker, Mary Ann Dickinson, and with a background in water, Commissioner Hughes' local perspective and articulation of New Mexico’s growing concerns melded seamlessly with Dickinson's message related to climate change and the depletion of such a vital resource and our shared responsibility. 

The Sustainability Division is focusing on water more than ever in the coming months as the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Master Plan for the County’s facilities and SLDC water conservation updates recommendations unfold by locally contracted GSI experts, Raincatcher.  In May, the County was honored to provide land for a new rain garden installation at the Southside La Familia Medical Clinic, a project made possible by the Santa Fe Watershed Association and Southwest Urban Hydrology. The working groups and action planning for the County’s Water Policy Advisory Committee (WPAC) are taking essential steps to improve drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, advance policies for healthier watersheds, and support conservation and outreach efforts. WPAC aims to strengthen its collaboration with key stakeholders in all matters related to these key areas in FY26. No doubt, the continued focus on preserving and managing this precious resource will be ongoing well beyond this new fiscal year, and it will intensify despite the political gymnastics and races swirling around. 

In the swirl, I can’t help but go back to that one first sentence, holding onto the words like an emergency flotation device, “It’s all about the water.” Indeed, water doesn’t know borders, or water rights, or perceived ownership, or politics. It is a basic need for all life and can provide abundance or devastation, depending on its management, usage, and shared facilitation. May we, as a community, hold these truths precious and near, pray for an abundant monsoon season, and act accordingly.

- Jacqueline Beam, Sustainability Manager

Santa Fe’s monsoon season is in full swing. The rooftop pitter-patter is pleasant to hear, but there is just so much water, and seemingly few places for it to go. Here are a few tips to consider as the rain continues to pour down.

Invest in a rain barrel or water tank: When it isn’t raining in New Mexico, it’s often arid. If you have a garden, try collecting rainwater to use on those days when there is no rain cloud in sight. There are resources throughout New Mexico that will help you select and install a water catchment system that is right for you. Your plants will be perennially grateful!

Add rainwater to your compost: To maintain a successful compost system, moisture is a crucial factor that enables organic material to break down and allows your composting worms to thrive. By adding rainwater to your compost, you are not only saving money but also contributing to a healthy compost.

Use rain chains or Canale Catchers: Add rain chains or Canale Catchers to replace downpipes and redirect rainwater to plants or rain barrels. You can buy rain chains from local businesses or even make your own by stringing together stones or seashells, or even by reusing glass bottles or ceramic pots. They double as a beautiful water feature that will add tranquility and style to your home. Canale Catchers are a rainwater harvesting system designed in New Mexico to capture water from canales effectively. You can learn more about the design, as well as options for purchase and installation, on their website.  

- Eva Eklund, Community Development Department Intern