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Letter to the editor: Greenifying USU

The USU Facilities Department is discussing the possibility of establishing roof-top gardens/sitting areas on new buildings around campus, as well as potentially on the roof adjacent to the fourth floor of the TSC. This would serve as an oasis for students and faculty  to enjoy a feeling of natural serenity overlooking a mountainous background – providing an easy way to destress while eating, doing homework, or simply relaxing.

As the effects that green spaces have on city infrastructure have become better understood, many buildings have established green roofs to reduce the impact that climate change has had in the local community. Green roofs are a form of infrastructure that involves planting greenery on the roof of a building. These are known to have a variety of impacts, including improved mental health, reduced damage caused by stormwater, flood prevention, improved water quality, reduced temperatures from urban heat islands, and captured carbon dioxide, to name a few.

As the climate continues to change, negative temperature anomalies are becoming increasingly rare while positive climate feedback loops favor further temperature increases – one in particular being the aforementioned urban heat island effect. Research on heat extremes and health risks shows that such increased temperatures can lead to adverse health effects, such as limited motor-cognitive functions as well as pregnancy complications and outcomes. Plants are able to absorb CO2 and limit further heating, while also acting as a natural cooling agent for its respective building. Thus, implementing more green roofs can greatly protect the health of the Utah State University community and improve overall energy efficiency. 

Green roofs also provide a variety of psychological and social benefits, with its aesthetically appealing, unsimulated natural landscapes, as well as opportunities for peaceful social interactions. According to a study conducted in Australia measuring the psychological benefits of green roofs, access to green roofs – both visually and physically – have reflected an improvement in stress, creativity, and emotional stability. Another study about the connection between focus and green roofs highlights that just brief views of vegetated rooftops, even for as short of a span as 40 seconds, has been linked to an improvement in attention span, productivity, and memory retention.

People who spend more time around unsimulated natural scenery show improved mental functioning and a reduction in stress. They are also less affected by anxiety disorders and depression, and have improved levels of happiness. Communities with access to high-quality green spaces have shown better health, coping mechanisms, and overall well-being than those who don’t have access to such spaces.

As building needs at Utah State University continue to grow, establishing a rooftop garden on buildings across campus can provide students, faculty, and staff a sanctuary to refresh and rejuvenate. If you’d benefit from a rooftop garden overlooking our beautiful Cache Valley, please scan the QR code below to show your support!

This letter to the editor was submitted by Abby Dustin, Pat Doyle, and Josh Wilson for their class, ENVS 4700 Communicating Sustainability.

— patrick.doyle@usu.edu