Ashley Thompson: Net Zero Affordable Housing for the People

Ashley Thompson is the resident services coordinator at New Orleans–based St. Bernard Project (SBP), a nonprofit addressing the need to reduce suffering and increase resilience in U.S. communities by shrinking the time between disaster and recovery. Ashley’s role is to support residents in their everyday needs while helping to reach drawdown through efforts that power a Just Transition to a clean energy economy. St. Peter Apartments is the first net-zero affordable housing building in Louisiana, located in the heart of mid-city along the route of the famous Mardi Gras Zulu Parade. There, Ashley teaches tenants how net-zero affordable housing is a benefit for cost savings on their monthly electricity bills while also benefiting the greater good of energy conservation, which is necessary for drawing down emissions that contribute to climate change.

One of the most important things you can do regarding climate change is talk about it.

• St. Peter Apartments are mixed-income housing for families, women, children, singles, veterans, and people who are disabled. These homes are also a climate solution. Tenants save money by living in a net-zero building and benefit from the added security of a solar-powered battery backup system that holds strong if hurricanes and climate-disaster events knock out the traditional energy grid. “During the time of the hurricane, our tenants still had light here when the rest of the city was out for probably two and a half weeks.” What are the limits of our existing built infrastructure, like buildings, for addressing climate change? How might we reimagine our built systems to be designed for decades (versus years)? What are your ideas for incorporating green technologies and social impact strategies (like St. Peter Apartments) that exemplify climate solutions?
• Ashley talks about missed opportunities for property management companies and developers to demonstrate compassion and improve the lives of residents. She advocates for the housing industry to play a more proactive role in breaking the vicious cycle of poverty by increasing tenant education and skills in areas like money management, meaningful employment searches, and understanding homeownership. “There is so much more to [housing] management than just collecting rent from people every month.” What do you think about the idea of social impact through affordable housing? What are other examples of industries traditionally focused on increasing profits? What kinds of businesses and services might you advocate for to increase equity and show more care and compassion for the people whose lives intersect with their services?
• As the newly minted genealogy expert in her family, Ashley has reconstructed a family tree by researching her ancestral roots. She speaks about the importance of knowing where your family comes from, and the wisdom that can be passed from elders to the next generation. “There are so many untold stories.” Do you know your ancestral history? What stories or lessons learned from your life, do you hope will be passed on to the next generation? What is the significance of sharing these stories?
• Ashley has found her purpose in people-centered work and her role at SBP, intentionally cultivating a positive mindset about her daily impact. “[Sometimes] people go to work, just to go to work. They are not going because it makes them happy, and they enjoy it… The biggest thing for me is I enjoy waking up, coming here every day because I know I'm going to do something that's going to help someone, that's going to put a smile on someone’s face, that may change their perspective.” How do you show compassion and care by helping others in your life? When you help others, how does that impact you personally?

Learn about the solutions in this story.

• Solution Sectors: Buildings, Electricity
• Solution: Net Zero Buildings
• For more on all of Project Drawdown’s climate solutions, visit drawdown.org/solutions
• Learn more about Ashley’s work at St. Bernard Project

Explore Climate Solutions 101, the world's first major educational effort focused solely on climate solutions. This video series combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of inspiring, scientifically knowledgeable voices from around the world: drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101.

Visit the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, a resource that shares research, communications strategy and opinion polling on climate communications.

• Drawdown Ecochallenge, presented by Ecochallenge.org, is a fun and social way to take measurable action on the top climate solutions. Take the challenge, and see how a few weeks of action add up to a lifetime of change for you and the planet. If you want to take action on climate solutions like Ashley, start a challenge today. 
• The Drawdown Labs Job Function Action Guides are practical resources that highlight specific, high-impact climate actions employees in common corporate professions can take at work. 
• ChangeX connects people with proven ideas for strengthening communities with the resources needed to implement those changes. Explore countless ways to improve your community and help the world reach drawdown.
• Climate Generation's Green Careers for a Changing Climate Instructional Supplement (for Grades 6-8) contains resources to help young people learn about Green STEM Careers—paths that use STEM skills to help reduce the impacts of climate change. Throughout this instructional supplement, students use Project Drawdown resources to make important connections between climate solutions and different careers.
• Solutions Journalism Network highlights the importance of reporting stories of climate solutions in the media to create a more equitable and sustainable world. Visit their Teaching Climate Solutions resource to find curated collections and the latest examples of climate solutions journalism.
• SubjectToClimate (StC) is a nonprofit online connector for K–12 leaders of all subjects to find materials on climate change at no cost. Explore StC’s educator-generated database to connect to Project Drawdown–based climate education resources