Ecology and Environmental Awareness Committee
The Ecology and Environmental Awareness Committee (EEAC) was established in 1997.  Clayton citizens serving on the EEAC advise the Mayor, Aldermen and the City Manager with respect to the development and/or support of ecologically sound programs and practices.  The EEAC follows a blueprint for action that includes the following items:
   - Incorporate green building into Clayton facilities
   - Promote Clayton's green event practices
   - Promote multifamily recycling programs
   - Establish a commercial recycling program
   - Reduce traffic congestion
   - Promote the City of Clayton as a model to citizens
   - Promote green purchasing
   - Educate citizens with seasonal green information updates

Click here to learn more about the EEAC.

Plan It! Green Committee

City employees have banded together to promote energy efficiency and resource conservation through municipal operations.  All city departments are represented in the Plan It! Green Committee which operates in the outcome areas of energy, green buildings, clean air and water, recycling and waste reduction, transportation and education.  Highlights from the Plan It! Green Committee's achievements from the past year include:    - Joint purchasing contract with area municipalities for recycled paper    - Using green cleaning supplies in city buildings    - Double-sided copies policy    - Nightly computer shutdown policy    - Construction material recycling in capital improvement projects    - Conducting a greenhouse gas inventory    - Energy auditing city facilities    - Energize Missouri Communities grant recipient    - Purchasing additional hybrid and biodiesel vehicles    - EPA Green Power Community challenge participant

Development Standards

Clayton leads the way in implementing Kyoto Protocol targets, such as "practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Councli's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or a similar system."  The City is one of the first cities to implement the LEED certification program in Missouri.  This certification, created by the U.S. Green Building Council, requires buildings to have environmentally friendly features.  In 2006, Clayton adopted an ordinance which requires all new construction and major renovation projects owned, occupied or funded by the City of Clayton that are 5,000 square feet of floor area or greater be certified to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver level.

The planning and zoning process helps to further demonstrate Clayton's commitment to environmentally responsible and energy efficient building practices and sustainable development concepts.  LEED certification is included in the public benefits criteria section in the Planned Unit Development (PUD) Projects guidelines.  A PUD is a distinct zoning classification established to provide flexibility for unified developments by waiving certain zoning requirements in exchange for public benefit.  PUD guidelines reward developers for environmentally responsible developments.

The Clayton Green Sheet is available to provide information on sustainable development resources to Architectural and Site Plan Review applicants.  Energy efficient buildings that are designed, constructed and operated for optimal performance and resource conservation are able to demonstrate reduced negative environmental impacts, improved occupant wellbeing and profitability from energy savings.

Energize Missouri Communities

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is administering over $10 million of competitive block grant funding for energy efficiency and conservation in Missouri cities and counties.  The awarded projects reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency and create and retain jobs.  Clayton has received grant awards from the Energize Missouri Communities program for two projects, both located at 10 S. Brentwood Boulevard.  $232,000 has been awarded for energy efficiency retrofits in the building, and $662,000 has been awarded for solar photovoltaic installation.

Transportation

To reduce pollution, 79% of the city's fleet isusing alternative fuel.  Many fleet vehicles are hybrids, and Clayton has been using biodiesel in many of its fleet vehicles and equipment for several years.  70% of the chemicals used in fleet maintenance are biodegradable.

As part of the City's aggressive campaign to promote the use of Metro multi-modal transportation to reduce pollution, Clayton is one of the first cities to participate in the Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters (PERC) program.  The program promotes the use of mass transit by offering benefits to employees.  The City subsidizes passes to encourage its employees to ride Metro.  Since the program operates on a pre-tax basis, it benefits employees by reducing their taxable income.  It also reduces their out-of-pocket cost for transit.  It saves employers money not only by reducing payroll taxes and payroll tax liability; it also reduces employers' costs fro employee parking and reduces absenteeism and tardiness.  Everyone benefits by reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and conserving energy by encouraging employees to commute using transit.

Resource Conservation

LED Lighting Upgrade
In 2008, the Public Works Department changed all traffic signal lights from standard incandescent lamps to LED fixtures.  The average energy savings from incandescent to LED is 60-70% with a light output increase of 50%.  With the cost savings on energy, the LED retrofit lamp replacements will pay for themselves within three years.

Sustainable City Buildings
In City-owned buildings, an energy efficient pulse type heating system and environmentally safe light bulbs are used to reduce energy waste.  Each week, 1,700 gallons of paper and 60 gallons of cans and single stream recyclables are recycled in Clayton's City Hall, Police Building and Public Works Garage.  This adds up to 7,040 gallons of material being recycled in these three buildings each month.