OMRF named a finalist for national “green” award



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OKLAHOMA CITY, January 15, 2010 – The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has been selected as a finalist for the Renewable Energy World North America Award.

OMRF is the only Oklahoma institution among the 25 finalists for the national award. The foundation was nominated for its research tower, which is one of five finalists in the category of Building Integrated Renewals.

The awards will be presented in February at the 2010 Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America in Austin, Texas by the editors of RenewableEnergyWorld.com and Renewable Energy World North America magazine. The awards recognize cutting-edge programs, projects and technologies in renewable energy.

OMRF’s new tower will be the first medical research facility in North America to harness the wind to help power its labs. When complete in 2011, its energy-saving features will save the equivalent of 44,000 gallons of gasoline each year and cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 2 million pounds.

“Research facilities are typically energy hogs,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “When we designed this tower, we wanted to create a space that would be conducive to scientific discovery while also minimizing our carbon footprint.”

OMRF is also in the running for the Readers’ Choice award, chosen by popular vote and open to the public until Jan. 31. Go to http://www.omrf.org/vote and scroll down the page to “Building Integrated Renewals” to vote for OMRF.

OMRF’s new tower will feature:

-	24 wind turbines—uniquely designed in the shape of the DNA double helix—that will sit atop its roof, generating an estimated 58,000 kilowatt hours of the tower’s electricity.
-	Newly developed energy management systems to cut electricity usage.
-	Window and wall designs to capture natural daylight deep inside the tower to reduce electrical lighting.
-	A living roof and rain garden to prevent runoff pollution and insulate the building.
-	An air conditioning system to reduce water consumption by recycling condensation.

“This project is about being forward-looking and state-of-the-art in everything we do,” said Prescott. “We want to be innovative in every part of our organization.”

To take a virtual tour of OMRF’s research tower, go to http://www.tower.omrf.org

About OMRF
OMRF (omrf.org) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human diseases. Chartered in 1946, its scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus and cardiovascular disease.

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