by Brianna Crandall — January 5, 2011—The STAR Community Index, a groundbreaking sustainability rating system and performance management tool, recently marked a major step forward with the selection of nine cities and counties that will play a primary role in defining how STAR will help local governments measure and improve their sustainability performance.
STAR will help 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.
The STAR Community Index is being developed by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), National League of Cities (NLC), and Center for American Progress (CAP), and in collaboration with over 150 sustainability experts and organizations.
The following nine cities and counties were selected as STAR “Beta Communities:” Atlanta, GA; Boulder, CO; Chattanooga, TN; Cranberry Township, PA; Des Moines, IA; King County, WA; New York, NY; St. Louis, MO and Washington, DC.
These Beta Communities will collaborate with ICLEI 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.
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.
