STAR is intended to serve as a rating system, not a ranking system. It will provide local governments with a system to evaluate their own progress and recognize their achievements through a continuous improvement process. Standardization will enable opportunities for cross comparisons of communities with similar characteristics. Using technology, STAR resources will be developed to allow jurisdictions to learn from each other, encourage sharing of best practices and therefore hasten capacity building.

Performance and Progress

This rating system will be applicable to diverse localities and will recognize both objective performance and the degree of progress toward priorities. Local governments will have the opportunity to “certify” their achievement through independent, third-party verification. STAR will also serve as a tool to facilitate jurisdictions in publishing an annual “Sustainability Performance Report.”

Designed to Evolve

The rating system will be designed to be dynamic and will evolve to allow for refinements and to incorporate new indicators and metrics. Our initial goal is to update the rating system on a two-year cycle.

Multiple Metrics

Policy-, practice-, and performance-based metrics will be utilized in the rating system, as all have been demonstrated to drive change toward sustainability. Smaller communities may not have the same capacity as larger communities to gather and evaluate performance data, and thus the adoption and implementation of policies and best practices may enable these communities to significantly improve their performance toward local priorities.

Rating Achievements

Jurisdictions will be rated by their achievement and will receive a STAR designation similar to the LEED designations. Core issues of common relevance may be established as required credits in the STAR Community Index. Jurisdictions may also have the option to add additional indicators and metrics based on local conditions and priorities.