The Nathaniel Witherell, the town of Greenwich’s short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility, said recently it received an award of $129,156 from Eversource Energy, a publicly traded, Fortune-500 energy company headquartered in Hartford and Boston, recognizing the energy efficiencies incorporated into Project Renew Witherell, the site”™s $27 million capital improvement push.
Project Renew included the installation of high-efficiency lighting, heating and cooling systems, plus other unspecified energy conservation devices.
Project Renew, according to Witherell, “has dramatically improved the infrastructure and environment” with upgrades that include increasing the number of private rooms from 26 to 64 as well as remodeling and decorating 87 resident rooms. The project has also brought a new 4,000-square-foot rehabilitation center; new family reception areas; modernization of three elevators and the addition of a new fourth elevator; and a new emergency generator.
Of the total construction costs of $27 million, Friends of Nathaniel Witherell contributed $4.6 million, secured $4.5 million from the sale of historic rehab tax credits to Eversource Energy, and assisted with the state of Connecticut providing an additional $12 million over a 20-year period.
After completion of an energy audit, Eversource Energy awarded the money to the town in recognition of the energy savings achievement under its program for incentives for commercial/industrial retrofit projects.
The Witherell in a statement cited Stephen Soler, co-chairman of the town’s Nathaniel Witherell Building Committee, which supervised Project Renew, and a member of The Nathaniel Witherell Board of Directors, as playing an important role in securing the funds.
In accepting the check on behalf of the town, First Selectman Peter Tesei thanked Eversource Energy and all those who were involved in procuring the award. He said it was an example of leaving no stone unturned to assist in funding the town’s major capital projects.
