Oklahoma

In June 2008, the governor of Oklahoma signed HB 3394 requiring the state to develop a high-performance building certification program for state construction and renovation projects. The standard, which will be developed by the Oklahoma Department of Central Services (DCS), must be meet the certification guidelines of either the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED system or the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes rating system.

The requirement applies to new construction or substantial renovation projects that begin the design phase after July 1, 2008 in buildings larger than 10,000 square feet. Substantial renovations are defined as projects that cost in excess of 50% of the value of the facility. Buildings with less than 5,000 square feet may be held to the standards of the high-performance certification program when completing minor renovations and controlled maintenance. In order to be considered a state project for the purposes of the standard, state funds or state-insured funds must constitute at least 50% of the project cost. State agencies are directed to meet the highest level of certification attainable under a payback period of 5 years or less.

The law specifically exempts public schools and state archive buildings from the requirement, as well as buildings that do not contain heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system. In cases where the increased initial cost of achieving certification is expected to be greater than 5%, the design must be examined by the DCS prior to being approved. The DCS also has general discretionary authority to grant exemptions for other extenuating circumstances.

As of July, 2012, the EPA named eight Oklahoma state buildings as Energy Star buildings, including the Department of Agriculture, Attorney General, Department of Transportation, Allen Wright Memorial Library, DHS-CAP, State Capitol, Jim Thorpe and the Kerr-Edmondson buildings. More information can be found within the FY2011 Sustainability Performance Review.