Introduction to Urban Sustainability Appraisal Tools

This course is the first in a four-part series on how urban sustainability appraisal tools serve as collaborative platforms and sustainability accelerators for communities. Assessment and rating tools covered in the series include STAR Community, APA Sustaining Places, 2030 Districts, EcoDistricts Protocol, LEED for Neighborhood Development, Enterprise Green Communities, Living Community Challenge, SITES, and Envision. This introductory course provides an overview of the series, a set of learning objectives, and background information on the benefits of sustainability appraisal. At the conclusion of this course, you will understand the definition of an urban sustainability appraisal tool, the value of applying such tools, and who is currently using them.