Users’ Perceptions of the Contribution of a University Green Roof to Sustainable Development

Hoai-Anh Nguyen Dang, Rupert Legg, Aila Khan (), Sara Wilkinson, Nicole Ibbett and Anh-Tuan Doan
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Hoai-Anh Nguyen Dang: School of Business, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2150, Australia
Rupert Legg: Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Aila Khan: School of Business, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2150, Australia
Sara Wilkinson: School of Built Environment, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Nicole Ibbett: School of Business, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2150, Australia
Anh-Tuan Doan: International School of Business, University of Economics HCMC, Ho Chi Minh City 8340201, Vietnam

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-11

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: green infrastructure; green roofs; user perceptions; sustainable development goals; environmental benefits; social benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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