The Austin (TX) Business Journal (1/13) reported, "Austin is one of 10 cities nationally chosen to test a beta version of a new sustainability rating. The rating system - called STAR Community Index - is designed to help governments measure and improve their sustainability efforts through analytics, mapping and data management." The developers of the system, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, plan to "eventually roll out the program nationwide. Once complete, the data center will allow cities and counties to rank themselves using a standard system. Pilot cities will help ICLEI refine the index's metrics, 81 goals and 10 guiding principles. They were developed in collaboration with the US Green Building Council, National League of Cities, Center for American Progress, and more than 150 sustainability experts. The city of Austin will help the group design performance management software for the data."
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