The Orchards at Southington receives 2016 GreenCircle award
May 23, 2016
In recognition of its eco-friendly initiatives, The Orchards at Southington received the state of Connecticut’s GreenCircleTM Sustainability Award in the business category during a special event held May 23 in Hartford. Winners were honored by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Hartford Business Journal. The Orchards at Southington, a non profit independent and assisted living community located at 34 Hobart St., has received numerous awards in past years for its environmental methodology.
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover: The Orchards at Southington’s Sustainable Green Program” was implemented in January 2007 and is ongoing throughout the entire building with residents, staff and families partnering for the cause. The staff-led and driven Green Committee strives to achieve its ongoing mission to “collaborate, research and teach environmental sustainability [and]… cultivate green practices with our staff and residents,” according to Kathleen Johnson, director of Environmental Services at The Orchards.
During the nearly 10 years in practice, all departments have changed numerous products and procedures to lessen the environmental impact and improve the safety and health of everyone in the community. The Orchards also joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise program and Food Recovery Challenge, tracking and reducing the volume of food waste through prevention, donations and recycling. Other programs in action include, “Come Grow with Us,” in partnership with American Forests, a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring forest ecosystems.
The Orchards previously received the EPA’s 2014 Food Recovery Challenge Achievement Award, the Best of the Best Award from the Assisted Living Federation of America and International Council on Active Aging Green Award.
The GreenCircle Award was implemented more than 15 years ago to recognize businesses, individuals and community organizations whose activities or projects promote conservation and/or environmental awareness.
The Orchards at Southington offers independent and assisted living, and is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Health Services, a Hartford HealthCare Partner. For more information, visit
www.southingtonorchards.org.
Photo courtesy of J. Fiereck Photography At the GreenCircle Award presentation are, from left, Rob Klee, commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Audrey Vinci, The Orchards executive director; Edesa Ciscar, The Orchards retirement counselor; Doug Bacon, EnergizeCT, sponsor; Kathleen Johnson, The Orchards director of Environmental Services; Sandy Ingriselli, The Orchards director of nursing; Joey Lee Miranda, Robinson & Cole, sponsor; and Matthew Mullen, EMCOR Services/New England Mechanical, sponsor.