STARS: Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System
Over the past several years, college sustainability rankings and ratings have been popping up like the mushrooms have been this September. So far the ranking and rating systems have mostly been a source of positive publicity at Carleton. But we cannot rest upon our laurels for three important reasons:
- Carleton is far from achieving carbon neutrality.
- Carleton’s competitors are hiring sustainability coordinators, building LEED platinum buildings, and developing comprehensive plans to become carbon neutral by 2020—we must move fast or risk falling behind.
- The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is launching the most comprehensive sustainability assessment system in higher education in January 2009.
AASHE’s rating system is called STARS—sustainability tracking, assessment, and rating system. STARS will award colleges and universities points for their performance in three broad categories: education and research, administration and finance, and operations. STARS is unique because it is completely transparent. AASHE provides extensive information on how colleges will be assessed and the type of documentation that will be required. To read more about the STARS methodology, see the following link: http://www.aashe.org/stars/
I think the STARS website is especially useful as a resource for members of the Carleton to generate a list of sustainability initiatives at Carleton that are weak or nonexistent. Here are a few ideas that I find particularly interesting:
Education and Research
- Student publication/newspaper section focused on sustainability
- Hosting a major conference on sustainability in higher education
- Sustainability-focused courses in most academic departments
- Sustainability-focused study abroad programs
- Academic-Civic Engagement Coursework involving sustainability
- Sustainability Literacy Assessment/Educational Program
- Faculty Development/Academic Initiative for sustainability
- Employee Sustainability Outreach Program
- Sustainability component of new employee orientation program
- Funding and Recognition for student-faculty sustainability research
Operations
- On-site combustion with renewable fuel for heating and cooling
- Paid positions for student garden and edible landscaping
- Environmentally Preferable Furniture Purchasing
Administration and Finance
- Funding for sustainability office/officers
- Sustainability-focused community service programming
- Cooperation with local community on renewable energy projects