Sustainability Performance Indicators

BE1.3: Encourage energy efficiency and electrification retrofits

Develop a community-wide energy efficiency and electrification outreach and educational campaign. The campaign should: promote existing incentives and funding sources, especially for low-income households; focus on cost savings and public health benefits for residents, business, and landlords; and provide information about specific retrofits (e.g., weatherization, energy efficient appliances, LED lighting, electric hot water heaters, space heaters, stoves, laundry dryers). As part of the campaign:

• Market DPU’s “Induction Cooktop Loaner Program.”
• Develop and provide free home energy audits.
• Teach residents how to engage in decision-making regarding the ownership, generation, storage, distribution of, and transition to renewable energy.
• Provide information on available funding for all residents and share what incentives are available to relieve the financial burden for low-income residents. Notify the community when new funding opportunities become available through resources such as the County website, utility bill inserts, and pamphlets and brochures distributed at County events.
• Stay up to date on future clean energy financing options for low-and-moderate income households, such as through the New Mexico Climate Investment Center.

Buildings in Los Alamos County are generally older, which can be less energy efficient than newer buildings. This action would reduce GHG emissions and improve energy efficiency in those older buildings. In addition, New Mexico has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and low-income households often struggle to pay for utilities and fuels used to power their homes and vehicles; this action—and plan in general—was developed with equity as a top priority. Making energy efficient improvements may reduce energy and cost burdens for residents and businesses.

BE1.4: Adopt green building standards

Promote fossil fuel infrastructure reduction in new residential, commercial, and municipal construction by adopting a green building performance standard (examples include the Santa Fe County HERS Rating and Seattle Building Energy Performance Standard). Educate the community on the cost and public health benefits this will provide for new buildings such as lower utility bills and improved indoor air quality. Plan to provide technical assistance, educational resources, and outreach during this transition, especially for commercial users of natural gas appliances such as restaurants and community centers.

BE2.2: Expand electric energy resiliency

Continue to expand electric energy resiliency by investing in a diverse set of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear, as well as energy storage. Work with DPU staff to align with existing initiatives and increase energy resiliency for the community through the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and by providing redundancies within the circuit systems.

CC2.4: Expand community partnerships

Develop a working group with Los Alamos National Laboratory, local schools, and community-based organizations to encourage technology development and innovative solutions to addressing climate challenges.

CR1.1: Conduct a vulnerability assessment

Conduct a climate hazard vulnerability assessment to understand how extreme weather and other aspects of climate change will impact people, services, and infrastructure, particularly vulnerable populations. Identify vulnerable areas and populations and enhance equity-focused response in emergency planning to extreme temperature events, drought conditions, and wildfires.

CR1.2: Invest in public climate education campaigns

Invest in public education campaigns about climate resilience and mitigation solutions in partnership with Pajarito Environmental Education Center.

• Tailor campaigns to educate and empower vulnerable communities, which often experience the earliest and most acute impacts of climate change, face historic and current inequities, and have limited capacity to adapt.
• Share climate information through targeted community outreach to develop capacity to address sustainability issues.
• Encourage schools to incorporate sustainability related topics and consider partnering with the Los Alamos High School EcoClub.

CR1.3: Support the local food system

Continue to encourage and promote local food systems by:

• Supporting and promoting farmers’ markets.
• Supporting and promoting community and backyard gardens through coordinated community education and regional collaboration.
• Collaborating with businesses and organizations such as LA Cares to provide resources and support for food security for all residents.

MC1.5: Conduct recycling and composting outreach and education

Build on existing programs to conduct commercial and residential education and outreach on recycling, composting, and waste management best practices, including identifying opportunities to expand programs. Initiatives may include:

• Commercial, single-family residential, and multifamily residential technical assistance program that offers recycling toolkits, welcome packets, online resources, and in-person outreach to help with waste prevention, recycling, composting, and sustainable purchasing, especially for new community members.
• Standardized waste collection systems for commercial and multifamily properties, including designated colors for collection bins for each waste stream, clear and consistent signage such as posters with “what goes where,” and recommendations for front-of-house or public facing bins.
• Targeted commercial food scrap outreach that provides additional outreach for the largest generators (including hospitals, universities, and other institutions). Outreach should include information about known contamination issues that need to be addressed.

NS2.1: Promote green stormwater infrastructure and low-impact development

Continue to invest in green stormwater infrastructure and incentivize low impact development (LID) projects by streamlining permitting processes, prioritizing vulnerable communities most impacted by extreme weather and climate impacts. Green stormwater infrastructure is nature-based infrastructure to address urban flooding and water quality issues, such as through rain gardens and bioswales. Green infrastructure provides more climate and health co-benefits than conventional “grey” infrastructure systems.

Stormwater management is a key issue for the community and LANL. This action builds on current County actions to integrate low-impact development, natural systems, and permeable surfaces to reduce and filter stormwater runoff.

T1.1: Promote EV adoption

Encourage EV network expansion by educating the community on available tax incentives and rebates for EV purchases, with a focus on those available to low-income populations. Identify partners such as LANL and the school district to work together on fleet conversions to EVs.

T1.2: Develop EV infrastructure plan

Develop and implement an EV infrastructure plan that prepares the County and community for the transition to EVs by mapping infrastructure needs. Partner with the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities, NMDOT, LANL, Los Alamos Public School, UNM-LA, and other organizations to develop strategies and identify barriers for EV readiness in key locations, including public spaces, schools, businesses, places of worship, and multifamily homes.

T2.1: Expand mixed-use, transit-oriented development policies

Continue to expand land use zoning standards and codes, such as changes to parking minimums, to promote affordable, transit-oriented, and mixed-use development to reduce urban sprawl. Encourage building within walking distance of essential services, when possible, and promote existing complete streets policies and Public Works Design & Construction Standards. Support existing County policies to maintain and increase housing options for all residents by engaging with non-profit service providers who oversee daily operations of affordable housing homeownership, rental, and rehabilitation programs. Affordable housing policies may include a “rent-to-own” policy, where a portion of rent is set aside as capital towards the down payment of a housing unit.

T2.6: Develop a Commute Trip Reduction program

Develop a commute trip reduction (CTR) program for County employees that builds on the “Drive Less Los Alamos” Walk, Bike, Ride, Carpool Initiative, which may include:

• Continuing to provide resources on the Los Alamos County Trail Network, cycling safety measures, Atomic City Transit and Afternoon Express routes and schedules.
• Encouraging employees to utilize alternative modes of transportation when commuting to and from work.
• Continuing to expand flexible work options and remote and hybrid work, for applicable positions, through the Telework and Alternate Work Schedules program, including exploring options such as 4-day work weeks.
• Encouraging local employers to promote CTR, including collaborating with Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop a commuter program and explore flexible work options.