Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 6772 |
| Journal | Sustainability (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Apr 2023 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Universities are well placed to adopt and use the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on their campuses to educate and showcase how the SDGs can be delivered in the built environment. Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, green walls, or green parks, are highly visual implementations with environmental and social benefits that contribute to several SDGs, such as 3 (good health and wellbeing), 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land). These features may be referenced in sustainability teaching and learning, which may raise and heighten awareness of the social, economic, and environmental benefits of green infrastructure. In this study, we explored users’ perceptions of the extent to which a university campus green roof contributes to the SDGs and whether users focussed more on its social or environmental benefits. Statistical analyses, namely independent samples t-tests and analysis of variance, were conducted to determine what influenced users’ perceptions of the green roof. The analyses revealed that users’ perceptions did not differ largely by sociodemographic characteristics, though students perceived the social benefits as greater than university staff. Those with greater knowledge of green roofs perceived its environmental benefits as greater, but not the social benefits. The findings demonstrate the importance of green infrastructure on university campuses for encouraging engagement with the SDGs, whilst indicating that knowledge of such infrastructure increases appreciation of their environmental credentials.
Keywords
- environmental benefits, green infrastructure, green roofs, social benefits, sustainable development goals, user perceptions
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Science(all)
- Computer Science (miscellaneous)
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Social Sciences(all)
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Energy(all)
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Computer Science(all)
- Hardware and Architecture
- Environmental Science(all)
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
- Computer Science(all)
- Computer Networks and Communications
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Sustainability (Switzerland), Vol. 15, No. 8, 6772, 17.04.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Users’ Perceptions of the Contribution of a University Green Roof to Sustainable Development
AU - Nguyen Dang, H.-A.
AU - Legg, R.
AU - Khan, A.
AU - Wilkinson, S.
AU - Ibbett, N.
AU - Doan, A.-T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/4/17
Y1 - 2023/4/17
N2 - Universities are well placed to adopt and use the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on their campuses to educate and showcase how the SDGs can be delivered in the built environment. Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, green walls, or green parks, are highly visual implementations with environmental and social benefits that contribute to several SDGs, such as 3 (good health and wellbeing), 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land). These features may be referenced in sustainability teaching and learning, which may raise and heighten awareness of the social, economic, and environmental benefits of green infrastructure. In this study, we explored users’ perceptions of the extent to which a university campus green roof contributes to the SDGs and whether users focussed more on its social or environmental benefits. Statistical analyses, namely independent samples t-tests and analysis of variance, were conducted to determine what influenced users’ perceptions of the green roof. The analyses revealed that users’ perceptions did not differ largely by sociodemographic characteristics, though students perceived the social benefits as greater than university staff. Those with greater knowledge of green roofs perceived its environmental benefits as greater, but not the social benefits. The findings demonstrate the importance of green infrastructure on university campuses for encouraging engagement with the SDGs, whilst indicating that knowledge of such infrastructure increases appreciation of their environmental credentials.
AB - Universities are well placed to adopt and use the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on their campuses to educate and showcase how the SDGs can be delivered in the built environment. Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, green walls, or green parks, are highly visual implementations with environmental and social benefits that contribute to several SDGs, such as 3 (good health and wellbeing), 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action) and 15 (life on land). These features may be referenced in sustainability teaching and learning, which may raise and heighten awareness of the social, economic, and environmental benefits of green infrastructure. In this study, we explored users’ perceptions of the extent to which a university campus green roof contributes to the SDGs and whether users focussed more on its social or environmental benefits. Statistical analyses, namely independent samples t-tests and analysis of variance, were conducted to determine what influenced users’ perceptions of the green roof. The analyses revealed that users’ perceptions did not differ largely by sociodemographic characteristics, though students perceived the social benefits as greater than university staff. Those with greater knowledge of green roofs perceived its environmental benefits as greater, but not the social benefits. The findings demonstrate the importance of green infrastructure on university campuses for encouraging engagement with the SDGs, whilst indicating that knowledge of such infrastructure increases appreciation of their environmental credentials.
KW - environmental benefits
KW - green infrastructure
KW - green roofs
KW - social benefits
KW - sustainable development goals
KW - user perceptions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85156105222&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/su15086772
DO - 10.3390/su15086772
M3 - Article
VL - 15
JO - Sustainability (Switzerland)
JF - Sustainability (Switzerland)
SN - 2071-1050
IS - 8
M1 - 6772
ER -