STAR COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEMTM

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• INSTILL RESILIENCY• FOSTER INNOVATION• REDEFINE PROGRESS• LIVE WITHIN MEANS

• CULTIVATE COLLABORATION• EMBRACE DIVERSITY • INSPIRE LEADERSHIP• CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE

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 POINTSPARTICIPATING STAR COMMUNITY NO POINTS REQUIREDREPORTING STAR COMMUNITY 50-1993-STAR COMMUNITY 200-3994-STAR COMMUNITY 400-5995-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• CLIMATE & ENERGY• ECONOMY & JOBS• EDUCATION, ARTS &

COMMUNITY

• EQUITY & EMPOWERMENT• HEALTH & SAFETY• NATURAL SYSTEMS

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

Working Lands

Transportation Choices

Waste Minimization

Safe Communities

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 POINTSEDUCATION AND OUTREACH 1PLAN DEVELOPMENT 2POLICY AND CODE ADJUSTMENT 2 or 3PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

1

PRACTICE IMPROVEMENTS 1INVENTORY, 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 ADAPTATIONCOMMUNITY 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 ADAPTATIONLOCAL 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 ADAPTATIONLOCAL 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 ADAPTATIONLOCAL 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

*As of January 2014

Active STAR Communities

CERTIFIED STAR COMMUNITIES

• TACOMA, WA (4-STAR)• INDIANAPOLIS, IN (3-STAR)• LEE COUNTY, FL (3-STAR)• FORT COLLINS, CO (3-STAR)• CHANDLER, AZ (3-STAR)

• BROWARD COUNTY, FL (4-STAR)• EVANSTON, IL (4-STAR)• AUSTIN, TX (4-STAR)• DES MOINES, IA (4-STAR)• NORTHAMPTON, MA (5-STAR)

MORE INFORMATION

STARCOMMUNITIES.ORG