OP EDITORIAL
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
OP-ED: Why “green buildings” are a civil rights issue By Jacqui Patterson and Mandy Lee, NAACP
V
ry for this concept. Through this effort, the
farmers’ market; and a variety of indoor and
oting rights. Segregation. Crimi-
sustainable buildings. For example, accord-
NAACP will develop a replicable model for
outdoor community spaces. The campus’
nal justice reform. For more than
ing to the National Organization of Minority
centering equity in all aspects of sustainable,
sustainability and equity approaches were
a century, the civil rights move-
Architects, less than two percent of reg-
healthy, safe, and regenerative buildings.
verified through LEED Gold certification
ment has taken on the inequities that divide
istered architects are African Americans,
So, what would an equitable green
and disfigure American society. Now the
and less than 0.4% are African American
building sector look like? It would advance
Another model is the Green Commu-
green building sector has joined the fronts
women. Green building is a huge growth
community-wide transition, not just a few
nities Criteria (GCC) program, a framework
of struggle for access and equity.
industry, but communities of color are not
green buildings in isolation. Sustainability
and certification developed by Enterprise
yet positioned to fully benefit from it.
would be seen as a basic necessity – not
Community Partners to bring the benefits
Why? The green building sector is transform-
When we decided to establish our new
a luxury item — in any building project.
of sustainable construction practices to
ing the places in which we live, work, and
headquarters as a living building and began
Low-income communities, communities
low-income families and affordable hous-
gather. Sustainable buildings, defined by
to explore what it takes to do so, we saw
of color, and women would be at the heart
ing. While this program is still in develop-
certification programs like LEED, promote
the problem firsthand at meetings of green
of a better building industry, supported by
ment, it has already produced 127,000 cer-
the health and wellbeing of building occu-
building organizations. We were struck by
more inclusive education and profession-
tified affordable homes through $3.9 billion
pants while minimizing climate change and
just how homogenous some of those spac-
al development pathways. Sustainability
in investment. Thanks to the leadership of
pollution. For some people.
es were in terms of race, with a significant
investments would prioritize the most im-
standards like GCC, a total of 32 states have
This wave of better building practices
dearth of people of color engaged in these
pacted communities. And underrepresented
incentivized green building certification
has yet to fully reach the people suffering
discussions. We juxtaposed this against
communities would be deeply engaged in
programs for affordable housing develop-
the most from buildings that are unsafe,
what we knew to be true: Communities
planning and design, because “shaping the
ments receiving support from the federal
unhealthy, unaffordable, and unsustainable.
of color and low-income communities are
environment is best done by the people who
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)
African Americans and other people of
more likely to be in sick buildings, whether
live in it,” according to Professor Dale Glen-
program.
color disproportionately feel the burden of
it’s mold, lead, asbestos, or radon. We are
wood Green of Morgan State University.
unsustainable buildings: energy insecurity
more likely to be in the least energy-efficient
Some communities and organizations
equity will merely sustain inequity. The civ-
in their homes, health problems like asthma
buildings, and that is reflected in the fact that
are getting it right and helping us imagine
il rights movement has a critical role to play
from poor indoor air quality, and damage
we pay the highest proportion of our income
what is possible. For example, the Mental
in creating a sustainable building sector that
from worsening disasters fueled by climate
for electricity. And we are more likely to be
Health Center of Denver, Colorado planned
is both green and just – for the benefit of our
Harlem Community Newspapers | March 5. 2020
Vol. 25, No 10 March 5, 2020
Fundamentally, sustainability without
change. These are enduring legacies of dis-
in the least disaster-resilient buildings, with
to build a new, green campus in the predom-
families, our communities, the economy,
criminatory practices, disinvestment, and
homes in floodplains or without reinforce-
inantly African American and low-income
and the planet.
barriers to building wealth over the gener-
ment.
Northeast Park Hill community. The Center
This op-ed is adapted from two re-
That’s why the NAACP recently
sought input from neighbors to shape the de-
ports released today from the National As-
What’s worse, the sustainable building
launched the Centering Equity in the Sus-
sign and function of the four-acre property.
sociation for the Advancement of Colored
sector is an insider’s club with a serious
tainable Building Sector (CESBS) Initiative,
As a result, the Dahlia Campus for Health
People (NAACP) Centering Equity in the
diversity problem. Whether it’s as policy
pushing forward civil rights in this critical
and Well-Being now offers a comprehensive
Sustainable Building Sector (CESBS) Initia-
makers, advocates, architects, contractors,
(if unexpected) new sphere. The NAACP
array of services in addition to mental health
tive. Patterson is the Senior Director of the
or even in the construction workforce, the
will define and articulate an agenda for an
care: a preschool that is inclusive of stu-
NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice
most impacted communities are underrep-
equitable green building sector, using its
dents regardless of ability; a pediatric dental
Program; Lee is the program manager for
resented in the design and construction of
Baltimore headquarters as a living laborato-
clinic; an urban farm, teaching kitchen, and
the CESBS Initiative at the NAACP.
ations.
6
and a tool called the SEED Evaluator.
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