Albuquerque City Council Approves New Local Energy Code
August 11, 2009 - 1:39pm — Paul.Karrer
The Albuquerque City Council approved Ordinance 09-85 on August 3, establishing a new local energy code that will go into effect December 1, 2009 should the city's mayor sign the legislation. The 2009 Albuquerque Energy Conservation Code is based on the 2006 IECC but also contains several amendments that are more stringent than corresponding sections of the 2009 IECC, including testing for air filtration and duct leakage.
When the code is published, it will be posted on the city's website.
The residential code advances the 2006 IECC by allowing:
- New Mexico Build Green Silver or LEED-Silver homes to be deemed to qualify
- Adds air infiltration testing 6.0 ACH50 (exceeds 2009 IECC)
- Adds duct leakage testing 4.0 CFM @ 25
- If ducts are in conditioned space and not tested air infiltration rate for house drops to 3.0 ACH50
- Adds requirement to use the thermal bypass checklist
- Adds SHGC requirement, 0.40
- Increases wall insulation to R-21/13+7.5
- Increase floor insulation to R-21
- Adds roof reflectance requirement
- Adds ventilation fan requirements
- Adds ENERGY STAR labeled light fixtures
- Homes using performance path must be 30% more efficient than baseline 2006 IECC
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