• Shining a light on environmental sustainability efforts across Mayo Clinic

Buildings across Mayo Clinic will turn green on Friday, April 22, as Mayo Clinic visibly demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability.

In honor of Earth Day, Mayo will light its buildings in green using energy-efficient LED lights. This includes the Plummer Building in Rochester, Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona, the sign to the main entrance at Mayo Clinic in Florida, and the Cancer Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.

In keeping with the Earth Day theme, here's a look at some of Mayo Clinic's key ongoing environmental sustainability initiatives:

Measuring Mayo's carbon footprint

Facilities and the Office of Sustainability have partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund's Climate Corps Program to create a framework to calculate Mayo Clinic's greenhouse gas emissions. This work, once complete, will capture a baseline of Mayo Clinic's carbon footprint to measure and track progress in the future.

Expanding sustainable dining options

Mayo Clinic Food Services is offering more plant-based meals, focusing on food waste reduction, and educating customers on how to properly segregate waste and recycling. New signs on waste and recycling containers will roll out to Mayo Clinic Food Services locations later this year. As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Food Services also is bringing back reusable china and food service wares.

Conserving energy

Teams in Facilities continue to seek ways to conserve energy and transition to more sustainable energy sources. They are considering geothermal energy sources for heating and cooling the new bed tower at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and a remodeling project at Superior Drive Support Center in Rochester.