the perception of advantages and disadvantages of green roof design in riverside county, california

211 Pages·2016·6.6 MB·English

by  Megan Leigh Juric

THE PERCEPTION OF ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF GREEN ROOF DESIGN IN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
A Thesis
Presented to the
Faculty of
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Master
of
Landscape Architecture
By
Megan Leigh Juric
2016
SIGNATURE PAGE
THESIS: THE PERCEPTION OF ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF GREEN ROOF DESIGN IN
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
AUTHOR: Megan Leigh Juric
DATE SUBMITTED: Winter 2016
Landscape Architecture Department
Susan J. Mulley, MA, MLA, PhD ___________________________________
Thesis Committee Chair
Associate Professor,
Landscape Architecture
Director, California Center for Land
& Water Stewardship
Karen C. Hanna , BLA, MA, FASLA ___________________________________
Professor Emerita
Landscape Architecture
Gerald O. Taylor Jr. BSLA, MLA ___________________________________
Professor,
Landscape Architecture
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my husband, John, who without our combination of brilliant ideas and
spontaneous actions would have never committed my dedication for higher education into an
extensive nine year journey. To my advisor and friend, Susan, who always believed in me and my
work, and helped me accomplish my final thoughts and goals into a cohesive, well-researched,
final product. And, of course, to my mom and dad, who delivered continuous encouragement and
support though my schoolings, from the very beginning to the very end.
Thank you to my dogs, Possum and Cleveland, for giving me the new perspectives
on life when I needed it the most. Thank you to my cats, Gary and Lily, for helping me to relax
and nap when worry and regret would start to emerge. And finally, thank you to my baby boy,
Ben, for helping me realize how important it is to always finish the goals and dreams I have
started.
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ABSTRACT
This study examines attitudes and beliefs about green roofs in the highly populated and
expanding desert suburban areas of Riverside County, California, with an emphasis on the City of
Temecula, California. By the use of the survey research method, 64 residents of the City of
Temecula (in-person) and 30 professionals of Riverside County (mailed) completed a survey
questionnaire designed to discover attitudes about the advantages and disadvantages of green
roof designs in tract housing developments. The survey questionnaires were created with closed-
ended questions, such as with Likert Scale questions and open-ended questions, which were
analyzed with the content analysis method. The results from this study suggest that the attitudes
of residents from the City of Temecula recognize the amenity/aesthetic, economic and
environmental advantages that green roof design has to offer tract housing development, and the
positive impacts on their quality of life. However, the findings from professionals working in
Riverside County, California suggest concerns for the cost and construction of implementing
green roof design into the current and future practice of tract housing development, although
there is recognition of positive impacts on the quality of life in the area, especially on
environmental factors.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Signature Page ........................................................................................................................ ii
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iii
Abstract .................................................................................................................................... iv
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ vii
List of Figures ........................................................................................................................... viii
Chapter 1: Introduction............................................................................................................. 1
Thesis Statement ........................................................................................................ 1
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
Significance of Study................................................................................................... 3
Chapter 2: Literature Review ................................................................................................... 5
Sustainable Design and Green Building Movement ................................................... 5
The Historical Background of Suburbanization, Sprawl and Master-Planned
Communities of Southern California ........................................................................... 15
Cost/Benefit Analysis Theory and the Environment ................................................... 17
Green Roof Design: Advantages and Disadvantages ................................................ 23
Summary of Literature Review .................................................................................... 44
Chapter 3: Background ............................................................................................................ 46
Riverside County ......................................................................................................... 46
The City of Temecula .................................................................................................. 51
Chapter 4: Research Methods ................................................................................................. 62
Survey Research (In-Person and by Mail) .................................................................. 62
Residential Survey Questionnaire (In-Person) ........................................................... 69
Professional Survey Questionnaire (Mailed) .............................................................. 72
Survey Research Assumptions and Limitations ......................................................... 75
Content Analysis Research ......................................................................................... 76
Residential Coding Themes ........................................................................................ 81
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Professional Coding Themes ...................................................................................... 82
Content Analysis Research Assumptions and Limitations.......................................... 83
Limitations to Study ..................................................................................................... 84
Chapter 5: Results ................................................................................................................... 87
City of Temecula Resident Results (In-Person) .......................................................... 87
Riverside County Professional Results (Mailed) ......................................................... 119
Summary of Results .................................................................................................... 159
Chapter 6: Discussion .............................................................................................................. 162
Chapter 7: Conclusion and Recommendations ....................................................................... 166
Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 167
Further Research ........................................................................................................ 168
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 170
Appendix A: I.R.B. Approval Form ........................................................................................... 181
Appendix B: Informed Consent Form and Green Roof Perception Survey ............................. 182
B.1 Informed Consent Form ........................................................................................ 183
B.2 Residential Survey Questionnaire ........................................................................ 185
B.3 Professional Survey Questionnaire ...................................................................... 189
Appendix C: Coding Themes & Definitions .............................................................................. 194
C.1 Residential Coding Themes and Definitions ........................................................ 194
C.2 Professional Coding Themes and Definitions ...................................................... 196
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.1 Riverside County, California: Population & Housing Unit Characteristics
1900-2050 ............................................................................................................ 50
Table 3.2 Temecula, California: Population & Housing Unit Characteristics
1900-2050 ............................................................................................................ 55
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1 “Triple Bottom Line” ........................................................................................... 6
Figure 2.2 Graphic Example of Green Roof System .......................................................... 29
Figure 2.3 Urban Heat-Island Effect Graphic ..................................................................... 36
Figure 3.1 Location of Riverside County, CA. .................................................................... 46
Figure 3.2 Terrain Map of The City of Temecula (Bird’s-Eye View) ................................... 53
Figure 5.1 (Q25) What is your gender? .............................................................................. 88
Figure 5.2 (Q24) In what year were you born? ................................................................... 88
Figure 5.3 (Q26) What is the highest level of education you have completed? ................. 89
Figure 5.4 (Q27) What is your current household income in U.S. dollars? ........................ 90
Figure 5.5 (Q29) How long have you been living there ...................................................... 90
Figure 5.6 (Q30) Where were you born? ............................................................................ 91
Figure 5.7 (Q1) Which of the following best describes the area you live in? ..................... 92
Figure 5.8 (Q2) What do you currently live in? ................................................................... 92
Figure 5.9 (Q5) How interested would you be in saving money through using energy
efficient techniques in your household? ............................................................ 93
Figure 5.10 (Q6) How interested would you be in adding value to your home with the
addition of energy saving techniques? .............................................................. 94
Figure 5.11 (Q7/8) Do you have any previous knowledge of green roofs? (Yes/No)/
How did you hear about green roofs? ............................................................... 95
Figure 5.12a (Q7/8) Do you have any previous knowledge of green roofs?/ How did you
hear about green roofs? (YES) ......................................................................... 96
Figure 5.12b (Q7/8) Do you have any previous knowledge of green roofs?/ How did you
hear about green roofs? (NO) ........................................................................... 97
Figure 5.13 (Q12) Would you consider green roofs as an option for saving energy in your
home? ............................................................................................................... 98
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Figure 5.14 (Q13) Would you consider green roofs as an option for increasing value in
your home? ....................................................................................................... 98
Figure 5.15 (Q14) If green roofs were an option in new development of tract housing, how
likely would you consider buying? ..................................................................... 99
Figure 5.16 (Q15) If green roofs were an option in home additions, how likely would you
consider adding to your home? ......................................................................... 100
Figure 5.17 (Q16) What overall benefit of a green roof is most important to you? .............. 101
Figure 5.18 (Q17) What disadvantages of a green roof concerns you the most? ............... 101
Figure 5.19 (Q18) How likely would you be to consider purchasing a house with a green
roof in a new housing development if annual tax breaks applied? ................... 102
Figure 5.20 (Q19) How likely would you be to consider an addition of a green roof to
your existing home if it saved you money in the long-term? ............................. 104
Figure 5.21 (Q20) How likely would you be to consider an addition of a green roof to
your existing home if annual tax breaks applied? ............................................. 104
Figure 5.22 (Q21) If an incentive program was available to convert your roof to a green
roof, would you take part in one? ...................................................................... 105
Figure 5.23 (Q22a) What benefits of green roofs are most important to you? (Please rank
the top 3 choices with “1” being your most important benefit, “2” being your
second most important benefit and “3” being your third most important
benefit.) -- 1st Ranked ........................................................................................ 107
Figure 5.24 (Q22b) What benefits of green roofs are most important to you? (Please rank
the top 3 choices with “1” being your most important benefit, “2” being your
second most important benefit and “3” being your third most important
benefit.) -- 2nd Ranked ....................................................................................... 108
Figure 5.25 (Q22c) What benefits of green roofs are most important to you? (Please rank
the top 3 choices with “1” being your most important benefit, “2” being your
second most important benefit and “3” being your third most important
benefit.) -- 3rd Ranked ....................................................................................... 109
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Figure 5.26 (Q22) What benefits of green roofs are most important to you? (Please rank
the top 3 choices with “1” being your most important benefit, “2” being your
second most important benefit and “3” being your third most important
benefit.) -- Combined......................................................................................... 110
Figure 5.27 (Q9) What do you know about green roofs? ..................................................... 113
Figure 5.28 (Q10) How would you define a green roof? ...................................................... 115
Figure 5.29 (Q11) What do you think the benefits of green roofs are? ................................ 117
Figure 5.30 (Q23) Do you think green roofs could change your quality of life at your
home? Positive or negative? How? ................................................................... 119
Figure 5.31 (Q28) What is your gender? .............................................................................. 121
Figure 5.32 (Q24) What year were you born in? .................................................................. 121
Figure 5.33 (Q26) What is the highest level of education you have completed? ................. 122
Figure 5.34 (Q33) If you have obtained a college degree, what is your degree in? ............ 122
Figure 5.35 (Q27) What is your current household income in U.S. dollars? ........................ 123
Figure 5.36 (Q28) Where do you currently reside? .............................................................. 124
Figure 5.37 (Q29) Where were you born? ............................................................................ 124
Figure 5.38 (Q1) Which of the following best describes the area you live in? ..................... 126
Figure 5.39 (Q2) Where do you currently work? .................................................................. 126
Figure 5.40 (Q7) How interested would you be in helping homeowners save money
through energy efficient techniques for their home? ......................................... 127
Figure 5.41 (Q8) Would you yourself be interested in saving money through using energy
efficient techniques in your household? ............................................................ 128
Figure 5.42 (Q9) How interested are you in adding value to the public's homes with the
addition of energy saving techniques? .............................................................. 129
Figure 5.43 (Q10) Would you yourself be interested in adding value to your home with the
addition of energy saving techniques? .............................................................. 129
Figure 5.44a (Q14) How did you hear about green roofs? ..................................................... 131
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