After a quick perusal of their website, it seems that STAR will reward communities that have implemented so-called "green growth" programs despite also experiencing rapid growth, even though such growth is inherently unsustainable. In the meanwhile, slow-growth communities such as Boulder which are more sustainable by virtue of the restraints they have imposed on the rate of growth will go unrecognized. If that is the case, STAR will be worthless as a rating system.

One doesn't need to see survey results to find out that Kelowna isn't a particularly smart city. One only needs to look at who the residents elect to city council.