2018-168 LEED Certified CityDate: November 16, 2018 Report No. 2018-168
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
STAR Community Rating System integration into LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities
Program.
DISCUSSION:
In October 2017, the City of Denton announced that we had been awarded a 3 STAR rating from
STAR Communities. At that time, STAR Communities was the nation’s leading comprehensive
framework and certification program for evaluating local sustainability. STAR was designed to
help communities identify, validate, and support implementation of best practices to improve
sustainable community conditions. The City of Denton began pursuing STAR certification in
2016.
STAR evaluated communities based on outcomes and or actions in the following areas:
Built Environment
Climate & Energy
Economy & Jobs
Education, Arts, & Community
Equity& Empowerment
Health & Safety
Natural Systems
Innovation & Process
In 2016 there were fewer than 70 STAR certified communities across the country, including
Plano, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. STAR was tied to many of the City’s Key Focus
Areas and goals, and was included throughout the Sustainability Plan update based on COE
recommendation. Staff was excited to start one of the largest cross community collaborative
efforts undertaken to-date and work together over the next four years to improve our ranking.
In August 2018, STAR affiliated communities were notified that STAR had formally merged
with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and would be part of the LEED for Cities and
Communities Team at USGBC.
Staff was notified on November 13 that Denton will now be recognized as a LEED Certified City
under the integrated program. Staff should receive access to the reporting software in a few more
weeks and training will be made available in the upcoming months. Staff will continue
conversations with USGBC staff about data collection, tracking, reporting, and recertification
report back to the Committee on the Environment as additional information becomes available.
Date: November 16, 2018 Report No. 2018-168
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1. USGBC Welcome Letter
Attachment 2. USGBC Press Release
STAFF CONTACT:
Katherine Barnett, Sustainability Manager
(940)349-8202
Katheirne.Barnett@cityofdenton.com
STAR Community Rating System to be Fully Integrated into USGBC’s LEED for Cities &
Communities Programs
USGBC unites with STAR Communities to advance healthy, green and economically strong cities
and communities
(Washington, DC) November 14, 2018 – Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that
the STAR Community Rating System, which offers certification for sustainable communities, will be fully
integrated into USGBC’s LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities programs. This integration will help
advance healthy, green and economically strong cities and communities – and reflects USGBC’s
partnership with STAR Communities, the non-profit that runs the STAR rating system.
USGBC’s LEED for Cities and Communities programs provide third-party verification of the current
performance of built-out cities and communities.
“Integrating the STAR Community Rating System into LEED for Cities and Communities, will bring us
closer to our goal of advancing sustainable cities and communities around the world,” said Mahesh
Ramanujam, president & CEO. “We are helping cities develop responsible, sustainable and specific plans
for energy, water, waste, transportation and many other factors that contribute to raising the standard
of living for all people around the world.”
The 75 cities and communities that have achieved STAR certification and the 20 additional cities and
communities that are seeking STAR certification will now transfer into the family of LEED for Cities and
Communities. Hilari Varnadore, the director of the STAR Communities program, has also joined USGBC
as the Director of the LEED for Cities and Communities program.
“STAR has been a longtime collaborator with USGBC, said Hilari Varnadore, Director, USGBC. “In fact,
the STAR Community Rating System was inspired by LEED, and developed with LEED in mind. Through
this integration, these exceptional STAR communities will reach an even higher level of leadership where
they will be able to benchmark their current performance, hone in on targeted metrics to achieve
continuous improvement, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, human health and
economic prosperity. They also send the signal to city planners and policy makers that radical
transparency and accountability are necessary to ensure a new generation of places where people,
nature and businesses can all thrive.”
The City of Columbia, South Carolina was recently certified under STAR. “As mayor of the City of
Columbia, South Carolina I could not be more pleased that our city’s performance – and continued
commitment to improve that performance – qualifies us to join the illustrious ranks of LEED Cities
around the world,” said Mayor Steve Benjamin, also Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Our STAR
certification – earned last December – has provided a great foundation for future work with the U.S.
Green Building Council, and we look forward to openly tracking and communicating our continued
social, economic and environmental performance so that the people of Columbia can be assured of our
measurable progress.”
The development of equitable, safe, healthy, sustainable cities and communities at USGBC dates back to
the development of LEED for Neighborhood Development more than a decade ago. As new technologies
are developed and new strategies devised, there is a growing consciousness of the collective role
sustainability plays in human health and wellness.
“At USGBC, we have a vision that buildings and communities will regenerate and sustain the health and
vitality of all life within a generation,” added Ramanujam. “In order to realize a sustainable future for all,
the next generation of green building must focus on the development of smart and resilient cities and
communities. Our cities must champion equitable, safe and healthy development policies; advanced
technologies that improve the performance of their communities and cities; and incorporate concepts
like wellness and human experience into city planning, development and management.”
Cities and communities face many challenges in this day and age—citizens are demanding more
transparency and information about the places where they live, work, learn and play. LEED for Cities and
LEED for Communities address these concerns on a global scale.
LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities programs are helping to accelerate the leadership now being
shown by city and community leaders. LEED helps cities and communities benchmark current
performance, track performance metrics, communicate continuous improvement, educate residents,
visitors and business owners to demonstrate commitment to sustainability, human health and economic
prosperity. As a result, local governments are becoming laboratories of innovation and leadership, and
have an enormous opportunity to initiate a dynamic dialogue with citizens – and earn their trust in the
process.
November 14, 2018
Dear
It is my pleasure to inform you that today the U.S. Green Building Council is recognizing your city
as a LEED City. Your accomplishment in achieving STAR certification has qualified you for this
honor. On November 14, USGBC will announce that the STAR Community Rating System will
be fully integrated into our LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities certification programs.
With this move, we will align LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities with STAR’s key
performance goals and welcome your continued engagement and improvement.
Internationally recognized urban sustainability rating systems, LEED for Cities and LEED for
Communities provides third-party verification of the current performance of built-out cities and
communities and helps them develop responsible, sustainable, and specific plans for green
energy, water, waste, transportation and many other factors that contribute to the human
experience. Through the integration of the STAR Community Rating System into LEED for
Cities and Communities and STAR Communities into USGBC, we will be much closer to
advancing sustainable cities and communities around the world.
I would like to personally welcome you and the citizens of your city to the LEED for Cities
program. You are among the vanguard cities in the world who are leading buildings and places
toward the highest standards of sustainability and ensuring a higher standard of living for your
citizens. Along with the 75+ other certified cities and communities, you constitute an elite group
of leaders who are demonstrating the power of radical transparency to ensure greater levels of
performance. Your leadership is sure to serve as a model for city planners and cities around the
world.
Hilari Varnadore, the director of the STAR Communities program, is now Director of the
LEED for Cities and Communities program. She can provide seamless continuity for you and
your staff and answer any questions you may have about this important development.
As I mentioned, we will be making a public announcement via press release of the integration of
all certified STAR Communities into the family of LEED for Cities and Communities on
November 14, 2018. Please keep this information embargoed until this time. If you wish to issue
a release of your own, please contact Taryn Holowka, Senior Vice President of Marketing,
Communications & Advocacy at USGBC: tholowka@usgbc.org.
I look forward to working with you in the years ahead.
Respectfully yours,
Mahesh Ramanujam
President & CEO, U.S. Green Building Council
Chris WattsMayor215 E McKinneyDenton, TX 76201
Mayor Watts,