Joining the no-cost Green Star® Program is easy. Get technical assistance on guidance to improve and prioritize your community infrastructure, health and safety. Green Star® provides help with a technical site visit, short and long-term planning and most importantly, recognition for your efforts to create a healthier community
More than 20 years working with Green Star in Alaska has demonstrated that businesses and organizations that plan prioritize also have a better health and resilience. These same principles apply to communities where their water, wastewater, solid waste, and energy utilities are maintained and managed with best available practices. Examining a community's health, utility and waste management infrastructure can result in significant community benefits.
How does it work?
Green Star works with the community to schedule an initial on-site community assessment to identify existing service gaps necessary for sustainable management of infrastructure systems (energy, water, wastewater,) and community safety and health management improvements.
The assessment is a community-wide review of local utility infrastructure, safety and health services and provides information for the community to identify priority needs for improvement and specific action items.
Follow-up and technical support by Green Star staff enable the community to develop a work plan to resolve any issues in the village and progress towards earning their Green Star Award.
Take a look at an overview the Green Star program and review the Green Star Standards to see if it's a good fit for your community.
Green Star® Communities Program
Improve and Sustain
Solid Waste Management and Recycling
Through the original Green Star program, it was found that businesses and organizations that prioritize sustainable operational practices of their infrastructures provide a safer and healthy community, often with reduced operational costs. These principles apply to communities where their drinking water, wastewater, solid waste and energy utilities and other infrastructure are maintained and managed with best available practices. Examining a community's infrastructure, can result in significant financial savings and long-term benefits.
Over the past decade, the Green Star® Communities Program has helped rural Alaska communities strengthen infrastructure management. Among those communities showing progress post-assessment, Solid Waste Integrated Management System (SWIMS) scores rose by an average of 13.2%, and Water Best Practices Scores improved by 8.9%, based on Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) metrics.
Help your community earn their Green Star® Award Today! Contact us today to get started.
Sustainable solutions are realized by approaching community management with an integrated community-focused approach, and the Green Star Award provides affirmative public recognition for achievements.
The program provides an initial on-site community assessment to identify existing service gaps necessary for sustainable waste and resource management improvements. The assessment is a community-wide review of local utility infrastructure and provides information for the community to identify priority needs for improvement and specific action items.
General information, training, and technical assistance is delivered onsite during the assessment. Information and materials are designed to engage both decision-makers and the community by providing practical, local, and sustainable solutions to many potential issues adjusted to address problems specific to each community's situation. Follow-up and technical support by Green Star staff enable the community to develop a work plan to resolve issues in the village and progress towards earning their Green Star Award.
Community Awardees
Aleknagik
Anvik
Atka
Chignik
Chignik Lagoon
Chitina
Ekwok
Gakona
Gulkana
Igiugig
Kipnuk
Kivalina
Kokhanok
Kongiganak
Koyukuk
Kwigillingok
Larsen Bay
Minto
Napakiak
Nulato
Nunam Iqua
Port Alsworth
Port Heiden
Sand Point
Tanacross
Tazlina
Togiak
Tununak
Yakutat