Via Vista resident urges rooftop heat pump upgrades to avert indoor 110°F temperatures

Leticia Lovato, president of the Via Vista neighborhood board, told the Board of County Commissioners that extreme indoor summer heat is a public health issue in the Via Vista housing community. She said when heat waves hit, indoor temperatures can "regularly exceed 110 degrees," stressing that existing county rules prohibit window air conditioners in some units for structural reasons and that rooftop heat pumps paired with rooftop solar could provide low‑cost cooling.

"Safe shelter requires safe indoor temperatures. Cooling in New Mexico summers is no longer a luxury. It is a basic safety requirement," Lovato said, urging the county to prioritize heat pump upgrades in the neighborhood's upcoming action plan and to pursue state programs and HUD or climate grants to fund installations. Commissioners thanked Lovato and asked staff to follow up.