Higher Learning - Greening the Kenneth Rowe Roof

Abstract

The Kenneth C. Rowe building on the Dalhousie University campus was designed to support a greenroof. The greenroof was never installed due to a lack of funding. Higher Learning is a group of Environmental Science students who are dedicated to the future implementation of a greenroof on the Rowe building. In this study, Higher Learning identifies and offers solutions to the economic hurdles which prevent greenroof installation by examining faculty support and opinion. Faculties from the chosen departments were provided with a questionnaire, which concluded that from those participating, there existed support. On the contrary, the results did reveal that the faculties were not in favour of their departments diverting funds for the purpose of a greenroof, nor were they interested in the research opportunities associated with it. There was, however, opportunity for a greenroof to be incorporated into existing class curriculum. A long list of classes was identified as being able to do so. There were many economic opportunities which were aroused from this study in the form of increased enrollment and new classes. The next steps towards greenroof implementation would first be contacting potential donors of the project, some of whom were identified with our questionnaire and second, developing a design which is suited to the Halifax Climate.