Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Engineering, Prof. Dr. Ghassan Hameed Abdul Majeed, and the supervision of the Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, Prof. Dr. Basim Shaba Abed, the Department of Water Resources Engineering, in cooperation with the Continuing Education Unit at the College of Engineering, held a workshop titled “Greening Existing Buildings Towards a Sustainable Environment and Regenerative Urbanism.”
The workshop was moderated by Dr. Ruqayya Hadi Rasheed and took place as part of the scientific workshop activities of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, on Sunday, 13/4/2025, at 12:30 PM in the Dijlah Hall of the Department.
The workshop addressed the following:
In light of global climate changes especially in our country, due to desertification, urban sprawl into agricultural areas, and increasing pollution, it has become essential to raise awareness and educate on the importance of adopting measures to reduce the negative impacts of these changes. One such approach is implementing greening techniques for existing buildings, which contribute positively to human physical and mental health and represent a long-term investment in the country’s economy. These techniques include:
1. Indoor plants
2. Green walls and roofs
3. Sustainable ventilation methods
4. Sustainable lighting
5. Water management
6. Use of solar energy
The workshop concluded with several outcomes and recommendations, including preserving vegetation cover and encouraging the application of building greening concepts, especially due to their positive impact on mental health particularly for university students. At the end of the workshop, a discussion was opened, and the Head of Department praised the efforts made to organise such workshops, which aim to promote a healthy and sustainable environment.
A number of faculty members, department staff, and college employees attended the workshop.
