“ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS” GREEN EVENT

FRIENDS OF THE SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY LIVER CENTER

PARTNER WITH EPA’S ENERGY STAR® INITIATIVE FOR

“ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS” GREEN EVENT

ST. LOUIS: ENERGY STAR® will be the featured partner at the upcoming “Any Way The Wind Blows” event on Saturday, October 16, 2010. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Event Booth will be featured at this premiere green event.

EPA’s ENERGY STAR Event Booth is an interactive display, which depicts five colorful “rooms” within a typical household. Each room highlights simple energy-efficient actions that can help the public learn how to save energy, save money, and help protect the environment. The rooms depicted include:

·         Kitchen (featuring appliances)

·         Living Room (featuring electronics and lighting)

·         Home Office (featuring office equipment)

·         Kid’s Bedroom (featuring electronics and kid-friendly tips)

·         Heating and Cooling Area (featuring an HVAC system, ducts, and a programmable thermostat)

 “Any Way The Wind Blows”, sponsored by the Friends of the Saint Louis University Liver Center and hosted by John and Natalie Alberici, will be held from 6:00 until 9:30 pm on October 16 at the Alberici headquarters, located at 8800 Page Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri.

Along with EPA’s ENERGY STAR, other eco-friendly companies and organizations will provide information and presentations for guests, in order to demonstrate how the average consumer can include simple “green” measures and initiatives as a part of their daily lives.

As a part of the “Any Way The Wind Blows” event, and in a positive step toward reducing energy use,                         the Friend of the Saint Louis University Liver Center organization has taken the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR Challenge.

The ENERGY STAR Challenge, launched by EPA in March 2005, calls for an energy efficiency improvement of 10 percent or more for the more than 5 million commercial and industrial buildings in the United States. Energy is often generated by burning fossil fuels, which emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Forty-five percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are caused by buildings and industrial facilities. Making more efficient use of energy is the best starting point for reducing our carbon footprint and saving money.

“Many of us are taking steps to improve energy efficiency at home but may not realize that there are opportunities to save where we work, shop, play, and learn, as well,” said Robin Ude, Friends Executive Committee Board Member and Event Chairperson. “By making energy-efficient choices, we can reduce our energy use and save money while protecting the environment.”

“The Challenge and the ENERGY STAR Event Disply were natural enhancements for our inaugural Green Event. And the initiative is a win-win for any organization - as well as the average consumer – looking to save energy and improve their bottom line,” continued Ude. “ENERGY STAR provides the tools and resources to help identify areas for improving energy efficiency and develop a strategic energy management plan.”

Tickets for the “Any Way The Wind Blows” event are $35 for general admission. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $100 each, and include an exclusive pre-party and a personalized tour opportunity conducted by John Alberici beginning at 5:00 pm prior to the public event.  Proceeds from the “Any Way The Wind Blows” event will benefit the Saint Louis University Liver Center.

Just as the “green” movement promotes the preservation and renewal of our earth’s natural resources, the Saint Louis University Liver Center provides patients from around the world with a new hope in the fight against liver diseases.

The Friends of the SLU Liver Center supports the research efforts of the world-renowned Saint Louis University Liver Center for the treatment and cure of liver diseases, and to promote understanding and awareness of liver disease. All money raised by the organization stays in the St. Louis area to perform life-saving research and treat patients in St. Louis.

The Friends organization has raised and donated more than $1.9 million for the SLU Liver Center since its inception. The funds help support the critical infrastructure of the Liver Center from faculty salaries to visiting professorships and patient-oriented seminars and research. By leveraging the donations of the Friends, the Liver Center is able to use the funds as“seed grants” for investigators to gather preliminary research data that in turn generates larger grants from outside sources. This seed grant process has generated $18 new dollars from outside the region for every $1 raised locally.

For more information about the Friends of the Saint Louis University Liver Center’s “Any Way The Wind Blows” event or to purchase tickets (by October 9), please contact Executive Director Leisa Duff via email at lduff@friendsoftheslulc.org or by calling the Friends of the Saint Louis University Liver Center office at (314) 576-3078.

Additional information about ENERGY STAR is available at energystar.gov. And the public is invited to take EPA’s “Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR” Pledge at energystar.gov/changetheworld.