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Measuring Sustainability Progress: STAR Certification
Kansas Environmental Conference – August 10, 2017
Eileen Horn, Sustainability Director
785-330-3121
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Sustainability:
Economy
Environment
Society
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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
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Municipal Leadership
Policy/Programs
Community Engagement
Sustainability in local government: a multi-pronged approach
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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:
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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
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Each city determined its own metrics
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SET GOALS. MEASURE PROGRESS.IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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City
of L
awre
nce
Scor
e
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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
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STAR GOAL AREASAREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
We received fewer than 10% of available points in these categories:
Climate AdaptationEnvironmental JusticeInvasive SpeciesQuality Jobs & Living Wages
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For more information:www.lawrenceks.org/starwww.lawrenceks.org/sustainabilityhttp://www.douglascountyks.org/depts/sustainability
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