9 cities and counties have been chosen to play a primary role in defining how the STAR Community Index (STAR) sustainability rating system and performance management tool will help local governments improve their sustainability performance. News of the nine STAR "beta communities" comes on the heels of the release of the new Star Community Index Sustainability Goals and Guiding Principles for Communities (Green Building Insider).
STAR is expected to transform and accelerate the local sustainability movement by offering cities and counties a roadmap for advancing climate protection, economic recovery, and equal opportunities for all residents within a community.
Cities and counties selected as STAR "beta communities" include Atlana; Boulder, Colo.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Cranberry Township, Pa.; Des Moines, Iowa; Washington, D.C.; King County, Wash.; New York City; and St. Louis.
These beta communities will collaborate with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability to design "cutting-edge" performance management software that will allow cities and counties to more effectively manage their sustainability efforts, gather and evaluate data, and report progress toward sustainability goals and measures. "Together, ICLEI and the beta communities will road test STAR to ensure that it can be adopted by local governments around the country, ranging from small towns to major cities."
The beta communities will receive technical support and resources to position them to become early adopters of STAR and accelerate their various sustainability efforts.
ICLEI is developing the STAR Community Index in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, National League of Cities, and Center for American Progress in collaboration with more than 150 sustainability experts and organizations from a diverse group of cities and counties, federal agencies, national associations, non-profit organizations, and private entities.
An ICLEI spokesperson did not immediately respond to Green Building Insider's request for additional details.
