Green Initiatives
Dedicated to sustainability, implementing green initiatives that reduce environmental impact and enhance campus beauty.
Promoting Sustainability with the Ole Miss Landscape Green Initiative
The Ole Miss Landscape Green Initiative is an effort aimed at promoting sustainability, reducing environmental impact, and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship. Through a combination of education, awareness, and action, this initiative seeks to integrate sustainable practices into every aspect of university life, from energy conservation and waste reduction.
Facts & Figures
Trees
On average, Landscape Services plants 200 new trees on campus each year.
An adult tree can change 48 pounds of carbon dioxide into oxygen each year.
Trees trap dust, smog, and other debris that pollutes the air.
Trees help save energy by reducing the cost of heating and air conditioning bills. Trees shade buildings, cooling them in the summer, and block cold winds in the winter.
A single tree will absorb a ton of carbon in its lifetime.
Plants
6,568 shrubs were planted on campus last year.
When plants are removed, shrubs and other perennial plants are carefully relocated rather than discarded.
Seasonal plants have been donated to local schools to support educational initiatives and promote environmental learning.
Turf Grasses
There are roughly 354 acres of turfgrass across campus.
Healthy, dense lawns absorb rain 6 times more effectively than a wheat field.
Turfgrass traps a large portion of the 12 million tons of dust released into the atmosphere.
90% of a grass plant is housed in its roots. Like tree roots, grass roots help fight erosion.
Turfgrasses help purify water that eventually enters underground aquifers by using their root mass and soil microbes to filter out pollutants.
Taking the Initiative
Campus Growth
Landscape Services collaborates with Facilities Planning on future campus projects. When landscaping plants are in the area of growth, Landscape Services will proactively determine a new area to relocate those plants if possible.
Tree-Cycling
At Ole Miss, every effort is made to preserve trees on campus. If relocation is not viable, the tree may be repurposed into wood products such as frames or tables, or converted into hardwood mulch.
Leaves
To maintain the campus’s appearance, the Landscape Services team removes leaves from parking lots and shrub beds. Over 90% of the leaves are then mulched using mowers, and any leaves that cannot be mulched are taken off-campus to a natural waste site for recycling.
John Deere Propane Mower
Landscape Services at Ole Miss has integrated two John Deere Zero-Turn Propane Mowers alongside our standard fleet. These mowers are EPA-certified, engineered to reduce carbon emissions, minimize fuel system maintenance, and lower fuel costs by up to 30%. Additionally, propane is widely accessible, with over 88% of the propane used in the U.S. sourced domestically.
Rain Sensor
We utilize automated rain sensors to efficiently manage the campus irrigation system. Over 100 control clocks are equipped with sensors that automatically deactivate the irrigation when it rains. This automated approach is an environmentally-friendly solution that helps maintain the beauty of the Ole Miss campus.
Water Barrel
We initiated sustainability efforts with the creation of a rain barrel designed to collect rainwater for use around campus. This system captures 50 gallons or more of free water each day. This water is then used to irrigate the campus landscape, reducing water costs during the summer. The 30-gallon barrel features a system of tubes that channel the condensation from the air conditioning unit to a faucet, where it is directed into the barrel.