Overcoming barriers to campus greening: a survey among higher educational institutions in London, UK

Abstract

This paper explores the greening of higher educational institutions. It is based on a survey carried out on a sample of higher educational institutions within London, UK. A qualitative research approach, using semi-structured interviews, is applied to assess: how far the relevant institutions have reached with respect to greening within the areas of energy and solid waste management; what the interviewees consider to be the most important barriers to further greening their campuses; and how such barriers can be reduced, or possibly overcome. The study maintains that although the institutions are not at ground zero with respect to greening, their overall environmental quality is relatively poor, particularly concerning recycling. It is argued that the barrier suggested to be of greatest significance by the interviewees, namely budgetary constrains, is at least partly due to a lack of knowledge concerning how greening initiatives can save costs as well as an institutional reluctance to change. It is concluded therefore that one of the most important measures that needs to be undertaken to overcome barriers to greening is to raise the environmental awareness within campus communities