Building the First Sustainability Rating System for Local Government - Spring

The STAR Communities program supports local governments in measuring and improving sustainability performance through a comprehensive evaluation framework known as the STAR Community Index. The system helps communities collect, analyze, and evaluate sustainability data using both traditional and geospatial analysis. By providing structured tools, collaborative networks, and a transparent rating system, STAR enables communities to identify sustainability priorities, track progress, and implement effective policies. The framework is built around 70 objectives organized within nine goal areas: Natural Systems, Planning and Design, Energy and Climate, Economic Prosperity, Employment and Workforce Training, Education, Arts, and Community, Health and Safety, Affordability and Social Equity, and Innovation and Process. These goal areas align with the three pillars of sustainability—environment, economy, and society.

This project focused on developing a credible point allocation and weighting system for the STAR Community Index. The consulting team evaluated existing sustainability rating systems and identified best practices to inform the design of a flexible and effective framework. Three models were developed for allocating and weighting points: a simple model, a rubric-based model, and an external scorecard model. Based on this analysis, the team recommended a 100-point scoring system with equal weighting across sustainability pillars and goal areas, while allowing different weights for individual objectives. Additional recommendations included partial credit for progress, clear rating thresholds, streamlined objectives, and a user-friendly online platform to encourage broad community adoption.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.