CONCLUSION

A Sprinkle of Green is a student-created project to implement Green Roofs on the University of Houston’s main campus. These green roofs will include their own water collection sprinkler system and have walkable pathways, benches, and picnic tables for student use. Each green roof will be uniquely designed for the building it serves. Our green roofs will use Palisades Zoysia Grass and LiveRoof Texas Engineered Green Roof Soil. We have created designs for both the Cougar Place residential hall and the future residential hall that is replacing The Quadrangle. Future UH buildings with green roofs will include the social/walkable areas because they will be designed to maintain the greater weightload.

While we have estimated initial implementation costs to be roughly $85,000, true costs cannot be estimated until a building consultation for the construction is conducted. Because of this, the total cost will fluctuate depending on the building itself, green roof design, and plants/soils used. The university can earn funding for green roofs through the millions earned by student fees, public funding, or even educational grants/scholarships.

Though a green roof may be costly, UH will definitely have its investment pay off. Benefits of green roofs include improving stormwater management, reducing urban heat island effects, improving air quality, proving building insulation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, extending roof life, and providing other amenities (14). According to the National Parks Service, over 40 years a green roof can save an average of $200,000, mostly because of energy savings (14).

Our project can also be expanded to more buildings than those just at the University of Houston. Both the city of Houston and other universities/cities throughout America and the world can begin to include green roofs on current and future buildings. Expanding this project will promote worldwide energy savings and sustainability.

With A Sprinkle of Green, we believe the University of Houston will promote education, positive social interactions, and sustainability. The project is feasible because of each benefit a green roof provides and because similar projects have been completed at other universities. As a leading American University, UH will play a major role for the future of energy savings and sustainability by implementing this project.