The annual International Builders Show (IBS) sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) was held in Orlando, FL. The conference this year features the latest in building products, education seminars, networking, and award presentations from various builders groups. Two Trails Inc. is one of the nations top “Green” building consulting firms specializing in commercial and residential projects. Duplicating past years this year is not short of Two Trails clients receiving awards for the greener side of building. These awards are given to builders that are not only building their projects green, but are exceeding the already high standards outlined in various green building standards.
The Builders Challenge award is given to builders who have achieved significant benchmarks under the DOE Builders Challenge program. To qualify for the builders challenge award a home must be 30% more efficient than a standard built home. The efficiency of a home is determined by it’s HERS index. On a scale of 0-100, a net zero would be a home that requires no energy from the grid. Two Trails client Josh Wynn’s “Power Haus” project scored a negative –(22) on the HERS index. The home produces more energy than it is needed giving the excess energy back to the grid. The result of this progressive builders design has resulted in a building backlog that extends into 2014.
This year the 2012 Energy Value Housing Award (EVHA) honors builders & remodelers who voluntarily incorporate energy efficiency in the design, construction & marketing of homes. This year two of Two Trails clients received an award. Winner of the Builders Challenge award above Josh Wynne Construction also won a Gold EVHA award for the Custom/Demonstration Category in a Hot Climate. Another Two Trails Client Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County, Inc. received a Silver EVHA for Reconstruction/Demonstration Category in a Hot Climate. Project Manager Michael Sollitto met the challenge of taking a home built in the 1970’s that could rival any newly-built home in the efficiency department and accomplished it with volunteer labor.
The NAHB, Best in American Living Awards (BALA), spotlight the most creative and innovative builders, remodelers, designers, developers, land planners and interior designers in the nation. Every year, BALA winners redefine design excellence for the residential building industry.
The awards program, sponsored by NAHB Design Committee, is open to builders, remodelers, architects, designers, developers, land planners and interior designers nationwide. Top honor Home of the Year went to Phil Kean Designs for home design “LaBelle” in Winter Park, FL. “The home is designed and constructed just right to take advantage of the lakefront property in which it is suited. The interiors are elegant and exquisitely detailed. The floor plan lends itself to entertaining both indoors and out” – BALA Judges. The Gold Green Built Home Award went to Josh Wynne Construction for “Power Haus”. This home has won numerous awards at this years International Builders Show demonstrating amazing design and construction. “We are proud of our clients achieving such success! We are truly honored to be on the teams of these great builders and designers. Drew Smith President of Two Trails Inc.
About Drew Smith | Two Trails, Inc. was founded in 2001, by an innovative builder who set out to change the methodology of conventional building science. Drew realized that the only way to change the industry was to become the resource for the knowledge on how to implement healthy, sustainable projects. He “hung up his hammer” and opened one of the first green building consulting firms in the nation.
By helping to develop standards for the American Lung Association, National Home Builders Association, Florida Green Building Coalition, and USGBC LEED for Homes by either writing the standard or testing the viability of the standard in the field, he was able to provide his firm with a thorough understanding of the science of building sustainable, healthy, environmentally conscious, and affordable solutions for the building industry. He was “green” before “green” was more than a color.
About Two Trails, Inc. | Two Trails, Inc. is a Green Building Consulting firm established in 2001. We provide green consulting services nationwide for commercial, residential, remodeling, and developments looking to obtain LEED USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), National Green Building Certification Program by NAHB Research Center, Energy Star, & Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) certifications.
Our President, Drew M. Smith, LEED AP, was the founding President of the Florida Green Building Coalition and is the first Governor appointed Green Building Commissioner for the State of Florida. Two Trails, Inc. provides hands-on consulting making it easy to achieve certification.
Contact Information:
Tom Rupp
Two Trails, Inc.
Communications and Marketing Manager
tom at twotrails.com
941-776-8680