A new environmental project sponsored by the School of Urban and Public Affairs will continue university efforts to make the campus greener.

A meeting concerning the UTA Green Roof Project will be hosted by the school at 6 p.m. today in 534 University Hall.

The project has a vision of using the roofs of campus buildings as green spaces. The meeting is to develop a plan to make that happen, said assistant professor Jeff Howard, faculty sponsor for the project.

He said he believes the project is part of a larger picture of this campus as an environmental entity.

“Many universities across the nation are trying to bring themselves into a more sustainable posture,” Howard said.

Sustainability is one of the key concerns driving the project and similar endeavors. Green roofs are intended to conserve resources, specifically water, energy and oxygen.

Thomas J. Vicino, urban and public affairs assistant professor, stressed the importance of the conservation aspect of the project.

“It is important that we focus on sustainable measures that renew the environment,” Vicino said.

Green roofs, depending upon their implementation, are often partially or completely covered with soil and vegetation or plant life, Howard said. Green roofs cool the surface, conserve rainwater to aid plant growth, capture carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, he said. They also reduce the urban heat island effect — a condition that causes metropolitan areas to be significantly warmer than surrounding areas.

The project is joined by other campus efforts, including the award-winning President’s Recycling Committee that aims to raise awareness about environmental issues.

John Hall, vice president for administration and campus operations, cited the need to be more environmentally friendly as an important element that factors into decisions made by the university.

“It’s one of our guiding principles with our updated Campus Master Plan,” Hall said.

The Green Roof Project is in planning stages and will continue forward toward its mission after Wednesday’s meeting.

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