Indianapolis, April 21, 2022 – As Eskenazi Health recognizes Earth Day on April 22, the health system is reinforcing its commitment to creating a healthier future for Central Indiana by supporting innovative environmental sustainability and green efforts.

An example of this is a recent partnership between Eskenazi Health and ExBio, a company in Davenport, Iowa, that has resulted in the creation of the Aerobic Food Waste Digester, which provides unique large-scale composting. The digester is able to turn food into grey water in 24 hours or less. It is an extremely efficient process that uses very little electricity or water and diverts food waste from being dumped in landfills where it will turn into large quantities of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas 20 times more dangerous than carbon dioxide. The Aerobic Food Waste Digester at Eskenazi Health is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the U.S.

For Eskenazi Health, creating a healthier future for our community means working beyond the walls of our hospital and health centers and beyond the biomedical model of treating disease. Environmental sustainability and supporting air, water and soil quality throughout our community are central to ensuring the long-term health of Central Indiana residents. The new food waste digester is just one of many efforts Eskenazi Health has implemented in recent years.

“Eskenazi Health is invested in a cleaner and healthier environment and recognizes the positive health impact these efforts can have on our community,” said Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO of Eskenazi Health. “We can’t think about the health of our patients and our community without also thinking about the health of our planet.”

Eskenazi Health facilities have been designed with the environment in mind, featuring hundreds of bicycle racks, with fuel-efficient vehicle parking and locations along IndyGo bus routes. In addition, Eskenazi Health garden spaces include community and patient farming aimed at healthful eating. More than 70 percent of food served to patients, staff and visitors on Eskenazi Health’s downtown campus is sourced from Indiana growers.

Designed and built in 2013 as one of the most environmentally friendly hospital campuses in the nation, the Eskenazi Health downtown campus was constructed using the highest environmental standards regarding transportation, water efficiency, energy efficiency, site development, construction and more. Eskenazi Health as a system has implemented many strategies that contribute to environmental sustainability throughout its facilities including:

• Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health downtown campus certified as a LEED Gold campus.
• Eskenazi Health Center West 38th Street certified as LEED Silver.
• The addition of garden spaces on both the downtown campus and at Eskenazi Health’s outpatient centers.
• A weekly farmers’ market in the summer.
• Bike racks at all our locations.
• Investments in trails and walking paths in Central Indiana.
• Fuel-efficient and carpool parking.
• All locations along IndyGo routes.
• Natural light has become a key component of all new construction projects.
• Energy and water efficient technologies have been integrated into facilities.

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 where support for environmental protection is demonstrated. First held on April 22, 1970, the annual celebration now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by EarthDay.org, including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The Earth Day 2022 theme is “Invest in Our Planet.”  For more information on Earth Day 2022, please visit: https://www.earthday.org.