Exploring Strategies for Sustainability on University of Minnesota Duluth Rooftops

Abstract

Sustainability Issues Investigation (ENED 5325) is a graduate level course at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) aimed at developing students? investigation and critical thinking skills about sustainability and issues related to sustainability. Part of this course includes the process of conducting research and presenting findings to constituents. Possible outcomes of this project-based course is the implementation of the group's recommendations for achieving the UMD campus sustainability goals. The group consists of five students: four graduate students and one undergraduate student, all studying environmental education or biology. The group's project will pertain to sustainable roof options for achieving sustainability goals. It appears that rooftops on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus are underutilized to contribute to sustainability. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent and ways UMD rooftop spaces can be used for sustainability. To this end, the group has developed a set of guiding research questions: 1. What is the current condition of UMD campus roofs? 2. What plans, if any, are already in place for UMD rooftop spaces? 3. How can UMD's campus rooftops be utilized to contribute towards the University's sustainability goals?