Measuring Sustainability Progress: STAR Certification

Kansas Environmental Conference – August 10, 2017

Eileen Horn, Sustainability Director

ehorn@lawrenceks.org

785-330-3121

Sustainability:

Economy

Environment

Society

What is a sustainable community?● A sustainable community is one that is economically,

environmentally, and socially healthy and resilient.

● It meets challenges through integrated solutions rather than through fragmented approaches that meet one of those goals at the expense of the others.

● And it takes a long-term perspective – one that’s focused on both the present and future, well beyond the next budget or election cycle.

-Institute for Sustainable Communities

3

Municipal Leadership

Policy/Programs

Community Engagement

Sustainability in local government: a multi-pronged approach

Guiding Documents: City of Lawrence: Climate Protection Plan (2009) Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (2005, 2012) Douglas County: County Sustainability Plan (2011) City of Lawrence reports from Peak Oil Task Force, Solid

Waste Task Force, Bike/Ped Task Force City & County: Horizon 2020: Chapter 16 (2011) T2040 Transportation Plan Douglas County Food Systems Plan (2017)

Sustainability Advisory Board Douglas County Food Policy Council

Advisory Boards:

Measuring SustainabilityWhy and how do we measure sustainability? Why should we measure a community’s sustainability? If you had to choose 4 goal areas to measure sustainability, what would you choose?

7 Photo: Gretchen Ertl

Each city determined its own metrics

SET GOALS. MEASURE PROGRESS.IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY.

STAR COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM

The STAR Community Rating System (STAR) is

the nation’s first comprehensive framework and

certification program for measuring local

sustainability. STAR was built by and for local governments and the

communities they serve.

THE STAR COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEMGoal Areas & Objectives are rated and evaluated in the online system, helping local leaders set goals and measure progress across all areas.

STAR-certified communities

Communities using STAR or pursuing certification

STAR-certified communities

NEARLY 100 COMMUNITIES IN THE US AND CANADA ARE USING STAR... THAT’S OVER 40 MILLION PEOPLE.

CERTIFICATION LEVELS

Certified 5-STAR Community (600+ points)Recognized as top tier achiever in national sustainability

Certified 4-STAR Community (400-599 points)Recognized for national excellence

Certified 3-STAR Community (200-399 points)Recognized for sustainability leadership

Reporting STAR Community Currently pursuing certification

Member STAR CommunityA community that has expressed a commitment to the STAR Communities’ mission and is using the STAR Community Rating System informally

STAR SCORING SYSTEM:

STAR ranks cities on both Outcomes and Actions.

Community Level Outcomes are measurable, condition-level indicators that show community progress on a STAR Community Rating System Objective.

Local Actions are the things you do to move toward the Community Level Outcomes – the range of decisions, investments, programs, plans, and codes that a local community puts in place.

STAR SCORING SYSTEM:

Sample Outcome (from NS-5 Water in the Environment):Outcome 2: Watershed Vulnerability Index5 PointsDemonstrate a local Watershed Vulnerability Index of less than 70

Sample Actions:Action 2:Plan DevelopmentAdopt a watershed management plan that integrates natural water bodies with human water use and addresses inputs and outputs of the water systemsAction 5:Education and OutreachCreate an education campaign about ambient water quality, pollution prevention, mitigation, and restoration techniques

City

of L

awre

nce

Scor

e

STAR GOAL AREASLAWRENCE LEADING THE WAY

We received over 95% of available points available in these 10 categories:

Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Educational Opportunity & Attainment

Emergency Prevention & Response

Safe Communities

Outdoor Air Quality

Resource Efficient Public Infrastructure

Public Spaces

Business Retention & Development

Resource Efficient Buildings

Community Water Systems

STAR GOAL AREASAREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

We received fewer than 10% of available points in these categories:

Climate AdaptationEnvironmental JusticeInvasive SpeciesQuality Jobs & Living Wages

For more information:www.lawrenceks.org/starwww.lawrenceks.org/sustainabilityhttp://www.douglascountyks.org/depts/sustainability

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