Green Initiatives

On April 2007, former President Boren signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, making OU the first institution in Oklahoma to sign the commitment. As one of 152 college and university presidents or chancellors who became charter signatories of the commitment, it is fitting that OU has a pioneering role in pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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The University Research Campus incorporates high standards regarding construction of buildings with the environment in mind.  Current and future products of the research campus involve LEED certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.  This certification insures that new construction will be built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Parking & Transportation Services is committed to promoting university sustainability initiatives. Three Partners Place and Four Partners Place have received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. As one of many strategies to this certification, parking spaces have been dedicated Low Emission, Fuel-Efficient (LEFE).  

Only vehicles that had a green score of 45 and above listed on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) may park in the university’s LEFE parking spaces. OU has no influence on which cars make the list. Valid parking permits are required to park in any LEFE vehicle parking spaces on campus. 

How to charge: 

• Locations: Jenkins Avenue Parking Facility, 1332 Jenkins Ave., first floor near southwest corner; Three Partners Place, 201 David L. Boren Blvd., north parking lot, southeast wall.
• Parking: Charging station parking is reserved for electric vehicles only in three-hour increments.
• Charging: There is no cost to OU faculty, staff and students with a valid OU Norman campus parking permit. This charging station is only for OU faculty, staff, students and others affiliated with OU who carry a valid parking permit.
  Start charging:
• If you already are a ChargePoint member, you should go online to submit the university’s code, OKLAHOMAEV, or apply for membership at www.chargepoint.com or on the mobile app for iPhone or Android. Your ChargePoint card should arrive in five to seven business days.
• When the university is open for business, activation of card use at the OU station should take 24 hours or less.
• Once you have approval, hold your ChargePoint card over the station’s reader symbol.
• After the station authorizes you, remove the charging station’s connector by pressing down on the button at the top of the handle while pulling the connector from the holster.

Norman’s sustainability efforts are coordinated by Green Norman, a team of city employees who are dedicated to improving the city’s green standards.  Their initiatives include a focus on the use of compressed natural gas instead of traditional gasoline, retrofitting street lights to use LEDs and using energy efficient building materials.