STAR COMMUNITY RATING
TM
SYSTEM
SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS FOR ASSESSING & RATING
COMMUNITIES
PURPOSE
• A NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY RATING SYSTEM FOR TOWNS, CITIES, AND
COUNTIES
• CAN BE USED TO ASSESS SUSTAINABILITY, SET TARGETS FOR MOVING
AHEAD, AND MEASURE PROGRESS ALONG THE WAY
• THE VISION IS TO LEAD A NORTH AMERICAN MOVEMENT THAT EMPOWERS
COMMUNITIES TO CHART A CLEAR PATH TOWARD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.
FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS
• ICLEI--LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY USA
• U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
• NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES
• CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS
DEVELOPMENT OF RATING SYSTEM
NEARLY 200 VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTING 50 CITIES AND COUNTIES,
STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, UNIVERSITIES, UTILITIES, AND PRIVATE
CORPORATIONS CONTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF HOURS AND DIVERSE
EXPERTISE.
BENEFITS
• PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABILITY ENCOMPASSING THE SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSIONS OF COMMUNITY
• ATTAINING CERTIFICATION DRIVES CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND FOSTERS
HEALTHY COMPETITION AMONG LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
• INCLUDES AN ONLINE REPORTING TOOL THAT GATHERS, ORGANIZES, AND
PRESENTS INFORMATION REQUIRED TO MEET SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.
OVERVIEW
• MILESTONE IN THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO CREATE MORE LIVABLE,
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FOR ALL
• GUIDING PRINCIPLES, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES COLLECTIVELY DEFINE
COMMUNITY-SCALE SUSTAINABILITY, AND PRESENT A VISION OF HOW
COMMUNITIES CAN BECOME MORE HEALTHY, INCLUSIVE, AND PROSPEROUS
ACROSS SEVEN SPECIFIC CATEGORIES.
• GOALS AND OBJECTIVES PROVIDE A MUCH NEEDED VOCABULARY THAT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES CAN USE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
STRATEGIZE AND DEFINE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY PLANNING EFFORTS.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES
• THINK AND ACT
SYSTEMATICALLY
• CULTIVATE COLLABORATION
• INSTILL RESILIENCY
• INSPIRE LEADERSHIP
• FOSTER INNOVATION
• CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE
• REDEFINE PROGRESS
• LIVE WITHIN MEANS
• EMBRACE DIVERSITY
CERTIFICATION AND RECOGNITION
• THREE LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATIONS: 3-STAR COMMUNITY, 4-STAR
COMMUNITY, AND 5-STAR COMMUNITY
• COMMUNITY RATING LASTS FOR 3 YEARS AFTER THE AWARD
DATE, AT WHICH POINT A COMMUNITY IS EXPECTED TO MEASURE
PROGRESS THROUGH RECERTIFICATION.
LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION
LEVEL
POINTS
PARTICIPATING STAR COMMUNITY
NO POINTS REQUIRED
REPORTING STAR COMMUNITY
50-199
3-STAR COMMUNITY
200-399
4-STAR COMMUNITY
400-599
5-STAR COMMUNITY
600+ POINTS
PARTICIPATING STAR COMMUNITY
• COMMUNITIES THAT CERTIFY THEIR INTENT TO USE THE STAR
COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM.
• COMMUNITIES THAT DOWNLOAD THE STAR COMMUNITY RATING
SYSTEM AND ITS TECHNICAL GUIDE WITH THE INTENT TO USE THE
SYSTEM’S FRAMEWORK IN LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS WILL BE
COORDINATED AND RECOGNIZED.
PARTICIPATING STAR COMMUNITY SUBSCRIPTION
• DEVELOPED TO HELP COMMUNITIES GET ORGANIZED AROUND THE STAR
COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM AND DETERMINE WHETHER CERTIFICATION IS
RIGHT FOR THEM
• PROVIDES BASIC TOOLS TO START MEASURING COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY
• OFFERS AN ONLINE SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST TO SEE WHAT YOUR
COMMUNITY’S PRELIMINARY SCORE WOULD BE IF CERTIFICATION IS PURSUED
• COST IS $500/YEAR
REPORTING STAR COMMUNITY
• COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE REGISTERED THEIR INTENT TO REPORT
SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES IN THE ONLINE REPORTING TOOL
AND ARE MAKING INCREMENTAL PROGRESS.
• TO ATTAIN THE RECOGNITION, THEY WILL HAVE ALSO MET THE
BASIC PREREQUISITE OF ACHIEVING POINTS IN AT LEAST ONE
OBJECTIVE IN ALL OF THE SEVEN GOAL AREAS.
3-STAR COMMUNITY
RECOGNIZED FOR SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP
4-STAR COMMUNITY
RECOGNIZED FOR NATIONAL EXCELLENCE
5-STAR COMMUNITY
TOP TIER ACHIEVER IN NATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY
SEVEN GOAL AREAS
• BUILT ENVIRONMENT
• EQUITY & EMPOWERMENT
• CLIMATE & ENERGY
• HEALTH & SAFETY
• ECONOMY & JOBS
• NATURAL SYSTEMS
• EDUCATION, ARTS &
COMMUNITY
FORTY-FOUR OBJECTIVES
WITHIN EACH OF THE 7 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, THERE ARE
BETWEEN 5-7 OBJECTIVES. THESE 44 OBJECTIVES ARE THE
CORE AREAS THAT CONTAIN EVALUATION MEASURES AND
METRICS.
Built
Environment
Climate &
Energy
Economy & Jobs Education, Arts,
& Community
Equity &
Empowerment
Health & Safety
Natural Systems
Ambient Noise &
Light
Climate
Adaptation
Business
Retention &
Development
Arts & Culture
Civic Engagement
Active Living
Green
Infrastructure
Community Water
Systems
Greenhouse Gas
Mitigation
Green Market
Development
Community
Cohesion
Civil & Human
Rights
Community
Health & Health
System
Invasive Species
Compact &
Complete
Communities
Greening the
Energy Supply
Local Economy
Educational
Opportunity &
Attainment
Environmental
Justice
Emergency
Prevention &
Response
Natural Resource
Protection
Housing
Affordability
Industrial Sector
Resource
Efficiency
Quality Jobs &
Living Wages
Historic
Preservation
Equitable Services
& Access
Food Access &
Nutrition
Outdoor Air
Quality
Infill &
Redevelopment
Resource Efficient
Buildings
Targeted Industry
Development
Social & Cultural
Diversity
Human Services
Indoor Air Quality Water in the
Environment
Public Spaces
Resource Efficient
Public
Infrastructure
Workforce
Readiness
Poverty
Prevention &
Alleviation
Natural & Human
Hazards
Transportation
Choices
Waste
Minimization
Safe Communities
Working Lands
EXAMPLE GOAL AREA: CLIMATE & ENERGY
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES TO CLIMATE
CHANGE IMPACTS ON BUILT, NATURAL, ECONOMIC, AND
SOCIAL SYSTEMS.
15 AVAILABLE POINTS
GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION
ACHIEVE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
20 AVAILABLE POINTS
GREENING THE ENERGY SUPPLY
TRANSITION THE LOCAL ENERGY SUPPLY FOR BOTH TRANSPORTATION
AND NON-MOBILE SOURCES TOWARD THE USE OF RENEWABLE, LESS
CARBON INTENSIVE, AND LESS TOXIC ALTERNATIVES.
15 AVAILABLE POINTS
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
MINIMIZE RESOURCE USE AND DEMAND IN THE INDUSTRIAL
SECTOR AS A MEANS TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS AND CONSERVE WATER.
10 AVAILABLE POINTS
RESOURCE EFFICIENT BUILDINGS
IMPROVE THE ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY OF THE
COMMUNITY’S RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL
BUILDING STOCK.
15 AVAILABLE POINTS
RESOURCE EFFICIENT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE
MINIMIZE RESOURCE USE AND DEMAND IN LOCAL PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE AS A MEANS TO MITIGATE GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS AND CONSERVE WATER.
10 AVAILABLE POINTS
WASTE MINIMIZATION
REDUCE AND REUSE MATERIAL WASTE PRODUCED IN THE
COMMUNITY.
15 AVAILABLE POINTS
EVALUATION MEASURES
• COMMUNITY LEVEL OUTCOMES
• LOCAL ACTIONS
COMMUNITY LEVEL OUTCOMES
• MEASURABLE, CONDITION-LEVEL INDICATORS THAT DEPICT A
COMMUNITY’S PROGRESS TOWARD A PREFERRED STATE OR
CONDITION AS SUGGESTED BY THE STAR OBJECTIVE
• OUTCOMES ARE REPRESENTED AS TREND LINES, TARGETS, OR
THRESHOLDS IN THE RATING SYSTEM.
LOCAL ACTIONS
• THE RANGE OF DECISIONS AND INVESTMENTS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL
TO ACHIEVING DESIRED OUTCOMES
• ACTIONS FOCUS ON THE KEY INTERVENTIONS THAT MOVE THINGS
TOWARDS DESIRED OUTCOMES.
• ACTIONS CAN INCLUDE ACTIVITIES OR PARTNERSHIPS WHERE THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS A CONVENER, PARTICIPANT, OR ACTIVE
SUPPORTER IN A COMMUNITY-SCALE EFFORT TO ACHIEVE THE
OUTCOMES.
ACTION TYPES
• EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
• PLAN DEVELOPMENT
• POLICY AND CODE ADJUSTMENT
• PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION
•
ACTION TYPES (CONTINUED)
• PRACTICE IMPROVEMENTS
• INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT OR SURVEY
• ENFORCEMENT AND INCENTIVES
• PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IMPLEMENTATION
• FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
•
POINT ASSIGNMENTS FOR
PREPARATORY ACTION TYPES
ACTION TYPE
POINTS
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
1
PLAN DEVELOPMENT
2
POLICY AND CODE ADJUSTMENT
2 or 3
PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION
1
PRACTICE IMPROVEMENTS
1
INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT OR SURVEY
1
POINT ASSIGNMENTS FOR
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS
IMPLEMENTATION ACTIONS
POINTS
ENFORCEMENT AND INCENTIVES
4
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
4
FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
6
EXAMPLE OBJECTIVE: CLIMATE ADAPTATION
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
COMMUNITY LEVEL OUTCOMES
• PRELIMINARY STEP: IDENTIFY 4 CORE AREAS OF LOCAL CLIMATE
CHANGE ADAPTATION CONCERNS. CORE AREAS MUST APPLY TO AT
LEAST 3 OF 4 GENERAL GROUPINGS: BUILT ENVIRONMENT,
ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENT.
• OUTCOME: VULNERABILITY REDUCTION - DEMONSTRATE A
MEASURABLE REDUCTION IN VULNERABILITY IN EACH OF 4 CORE
AREAS IDENTIFIED LOCALLY.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
LOCAL ACTIONS
• ADOPT A CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN.
• REQUIRE THAT INTERNAL DECISIONS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS USE THE MOST CURRENT CLIMATE SCIENCE AND THAT
STAFF MONITOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS.
• DEVELOP A COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES CLIMATE SCIENTISTS,
ADJACENT JURISDICTIONS, REGIONAL COALITIONS, STATE AND
FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND/OR NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF UNDERSTANDING AND
ADDRESSING SHARED VULNERABILITIES.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
LOCAL ACTIONS (CONTINUED)
• CREATE AN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO ENGAGE
CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES IN CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY
REDUCTION EFFORTS.
• ADOPT ZONING CODE, BUILDING CODE, OR OTHER LEGALLY BINDING
REGULATIONS THAT ADDRESS FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS.
• CREATE OR ENHANCE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT SPECIFICALLY
HELP ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS.
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
LOCAL ACTIONS (CONTINUED)
• ENFORCE REGULATIONS OR OFFER INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO SHIFT BEHAVIORS TO PREPARE FOR
FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS.
• IMPROVE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO BE BETTER
PREPARED FOR CLIMATE CHANGE THREATS.
SOME KEY ASPECTS OF THE 2014 LEADERSHIP
STAR COMMUNITY PROGRAM
• INVITATION TO A 2-DAY IN-PERSON KICKOFF TRAINING FOR 2 TEAM MEMBERS
• INVITATION TO THE 1-HOUR “INTRO TO STAR” WEB TRAINING
• A DEDICATED STAR COORDINATOR FOR REGULAR CHECK-INS AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE
• USE OF THE SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL, A CHECKLIST TO DETERMINE YOUR
COMMUNITIES PRELIMINARY SCORE
• ACCESS TO THE TECHNICAL GUIDE TO THE STAR COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM
• MONTHLY WEBINARS WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES TO WORK THROUGH THE RATING
SYSTEM TOGETHER
Active STAR Communities
*As of January 2014
CERTIFIED STAR COMMUNITIES
• TACOMA, WA (4-STAR)
• BROWARD COUNTY, FL (4-STAR)
• INDIANAPOLIS, IN (3-STAR)
• EVANSTON, IL (4-STAR)
• LEE COUNTY, FL (3-STAR)
• AUSTIN, TX (4-STAR)
• FORT COLLINS, CO (3-STAR)
• DES MOINES, IA (4-STAR)
• CHANDLER, AZ (3-STAR)
• NORTHAMPTON, MA (5-STAR)
MORE INFORMATION
STARCOMMUNITIES.ORG