Sustainability advisory committee updates Clayton officials on emissions, solar and tree recovery

Deb, a member of the Sustainability Advisory Committee, told the Clayton Board of Aldermen on July 22 that the committee has focused its 2023'24 work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, short-term "wins" and supporting Clayton Tomorrow 2040 and the livable communities plan. She said commercial and residential buildings together account for roughly half of the city's emissions and emphasized benchmarking and building programs already enacted by the city.

The committee's presentation summarized near-term priorities and programs the city has advanced, including a benchmarking ordinance for city-owned buildings passed in 2024 and a phased requirement that will apply to all buildings over 100,000 square feet later in the year. "In 2024, we passed an ordinance providing for benchmarking for Clayton-owned buildings, over 10,000 square feet, and then in January, all buildings over 100,000 square feet," Deb said during the…