Two Trails, Inc. has again earned the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Market Leader Award

Two Trails Inc is once again proud to announce that it has received the 2020 ENERGY STAR® Market Leader Award for its outstanding efforts to promote energy-efficient construction and help homebuyers experience the peace of mind, quality, comfort, and value that come with living in an ENERGY STAR certified home or apartment.

Each year, the ENERGY STAR Residential New Construction program presents Market Leader Awards to outstanding partners who have made important contributions to energy-efficient construction and environmental protection by building or verifying a significant number of ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments, or by sponsoring a local program that supported these activities during the previous year.

More than 95,000 ENERGY STAR certified single-family homes and multifamily units were built in 2019, for a total of more than 2 million homes since 1995.  Two Trails Inc. is proud to be verifiers for this program and its promotion of building efficient residential projects that are verified by a third-party verifier.

About ENERGY STAR: ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped save American families and businesses nearly 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity and achieve over 3.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions. In 2018 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners helped Americans avoid $35 billion in energy costs. More background information about ENERGY STAR can be found at: energystar.gov/about and energystar.gov/numbers.

Two Trails Inc. Recognized as Home Innovation 2019 NGBS Green Partner of Excellence

Two Trails Inc. Recognized as Home Innovation
2019 NGBS Green Partner of Excellence

Local Green Home Verifier Applauded for Excellence in Advancing

High-Performance Mainstream Home Building

Two Trails Inc. has been named a Home Innovation NGBS Green Partner of Excellence for 2019. NGBS Green, which is based on the National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS), has certified more homes than any other national green home certification program. In celebration of the recent release of the 2020 NGBS, there were 20 individuals or companies recognized in each of three categories – NGBS Green Verifiers; Single-Family Builders/Developers; and Multifamily Builders/Developers. Being one of an elite group of Home Innovation’s green certification program partners to be recognized validates the commitment of Two Trails Inc. has made to providing customers with increased value, professionalism, and relevance in the marketplace through third-party verification to the NGBS.

“In 2019, NGBS Green celebrates a decade of green, high-performance buildings,” said Home Innovation Vice President, Innovation Services Michelle Foster. “The NGBS Green certification program continues to enjoy widespread growth for both single-family homes and multifamily buildings. This year we celebrate the continued accomplishments of verifiers, architects, developers, and builders who have been recognized previously as Partners of Excellence and continue to design, build, and verify exceptional and sustainable homes, and we welcome new program partners who we are recognizing for the first time. Our partners continue to innovate and transform the residential construction industry so that living in a healthier, more comfortable, and lower-cost home can be attainable to anyone seeking a more sustainable lifestyle. We could not deliver such an affordable, rigorous certification program that provides value to the entire residential construction industry without dedicated partners like [individual verifier].”

As an accredited NGBS Green Verifier, Two Trails Inc. has provided independent verification services for 675 homes/buildings/units that became NGBS Green Certified by Home Innovation Research Labs. NGBS Green Verifiers are trained, tested, and accredited by Home Innovation to ensure consistency and rigor for NGBS Green Certifications across the country.

“Two Trails is proud to make the list again this year and is especially privileged to have our very own Drew Smith as an NGBS Master Verifier. The Master Verifier designation is very difficult to obtain and comes with a wealth of knowledge and expertise that Drew offers to our clients daily.” - Tom Rupp | Director of Marketing

To earn certification to the National Green Building Standard, a home must meet rigorous criteria in six categories – Lot & Site Development; Resource Efficiency; Energy Efficiency; Water Efficiency; Indoor Environmental Quality; and Homeowner Education. There are mandatory practices in each category that every NGBS Green Certified home must meet, and there is a wide range of additional optional practices in each category that a builder can select based on the applicability to buyers or renters in their market. There are also mandatory point minimums in every category in order for a home to attain the next level of certification, which is a more stringent requirement than in any other national certification program.

Since January 2009, when the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) became the first residential green building rating system to be approved by ANSI, Home Innovation has certified more than 223,500 green single-family and apartment homes, and nearly 1,700 lots within green residential land developments. For more details on current certification numbers, visit www.homeinnovation.com/ngbsgreenstats. For more information on the NGBS Green Certification Program, visit www.homeinnovation.com/green.

2019 Aurora Awards and The Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC)

The Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC) was packed with attendees and exhibitors alike. We had the opportunity to experience all SEBC had to offer by participating as both an attendee and exhibitor. It was great to attend classes and be on the floor to connect with existing clients and meet new people and companies we hope to work with in the future.

During a Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) meeting at the show, our COO Drew Smith was honored by the FHBA and received the Lifetime Director achievement status.

On the last day of the show we look forward to the Aurora Award Design Competition. Many of our clients enter, and win, in the 54 various award categories. In total our clients won an Innovative Award, 12 Grand Aurora Awards and 21 Silver Aurora Awards. Congrats to all our clients that received an award in their respective categories!

Aurora Awards Competition Honors the Best of Design Competition Heralds Design Trends Awards Ceremony Recognizes the Best in the Southeast 

August 2 was the date, Gaylord Palms Resort & Conference Center was the place, as the best and the brightest gathered to celebrate the Silver Aurora, Grand Aurora, and Golden Aurora award winners for the 40th annual Aurora Awards. Grand Award Winners were announced from the circle of Silver Aurora Award honorees.

This year’s competition drew nearly 400 entries in 54 different award categories including: commercial, office space, renovated projects, mixed-use, affordable housing, multi-family, site planning, single family production, and custom homes.

Since we are in the business of sustainability our pride cannot be contained for the project teams that excel in the green construction and sustainable categories.

Innovation Design Award

Lively Beach
Corpus Christi, TX
Entrant: Resilient Building System
Builder: Coastal Fortified Homes, Inc.
Developer: Mustang Island Group, LLC Architect/Designer: Jeffrey Berkus Architects, Inc. Interior Designer: Dana Berkus Interiors
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Green Construction

The Family Retreat | Grand & Silver Aurora Award
Entrant/Builder: BUILD, LLC
Architect: Inbar Architecture, AIA
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Osprey Landing | Silver Aurora Award
Sarasota, FL
Entrant/Builder: Josh Wynne Construction
Architect: DSDG – Mark Sultana
Interior Design: Ana Santa Maraia – Apex Interior Design
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Porsche South Orlando | Silver Aurora Award
Orlando, FL
Entrant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants
Architect: Prasix3, LLC
Planner: Poulos & Bennett, LLC
Builder/Developer: Envirostruct

The New Traditional Remodel | Silver Aurora Award
Orlando, FL
Entrant/Builder: Farina & Sons, Inc.
Architect: Nasrallah Architectural Group, Inc. Interior Design: Gribble Interior Group
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Solar Energy Home

Osprey Landing | Grand & Silver Aurora Award
Sarasota, FL, USA
Entrant/Builder: Josh Wynne Construction
Architect: DSDG – Mark Sultana
Interior Design: Ana Santa Maraia – Apex Interior Design
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Water-Wise Home

The Family Retreat | Grand & Silver Aurora Award
Englewood, FL
Entrant/Architect: Inbar Architect
Builder: BUILD, LLC
Interior Design: SereneDesign
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Energy Efficient Home

Marc Rutenberg Green Residence | Grand & Silver Aurora Award
Tampa, FL
Entrant/Builder: Marc Rutenberg Homes
Architect: Aude-Smith Architecture Interior Design: Pasquale Design Associates
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

Osprey Landing | Silver Aurora Award
Sarasota, FL
Entrant/Builder: Josh Wynne Construction
Architect: DSDG – Mark Sultana
Interior Design: Ana Santa Maraia – Apex Interior Design
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

The New Traditional Remodel | Silver Aurora Award
Orlando, FL
Entrant/Builder: Farina & Sons, Inc.
Architect: Nasrallah Architectural Group, Inc.
Interior Design: Gribble Interior Group
Sustainable Consultant: Two Trails Inc. - Sustainable Building Consultants

26 Aurora Awards 2018

We are grateful to be part of multiple teams winning Aurora Awards at this years award presentation.  The Aurora Awards are held annually during the Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC) in Orlando, FL at the Gaylord Palms Resort.  We would like to congratulate everyone that submitted a project for this competition.  We know teams worked very hard on all projects that were submitted.  We would like to highlight a few of our clients.  Farina & Sons, NWC Construction, Solstice Planning & Architecture, University of South Florida, ikon.5 architects, Harvard Jolly Architecture and Josh Wynne Construction.  With our submission for the USF St. Petersburg College of Business we won a total of 26 Aurora Awards.  We can not thank our clients enough for allowing us to be a part of these very special projects.  Two Trails clients dominated all the sustainable categories this year.  Please take a moment to look through the winners book below.

Two Trails CEO Debbie Smith Nominated And Selected As Winner for SRQ Magazine's Women In Leadership Competition

SRQ's Magazine Program Recognizes Women Leaders in Sarasota and Bradenton
who have made meaningful and significant contributions in the areas of business, health, education, entrepreneurship, science, sports, philanthropy and the arts. 

Debbie has been selected the winner for this years 2017 SRQ Magazine Hear Me Roar Competition. We could not be prouder of the accomplishments Debbie has made for herself and our company.  Be sure to check out the profile the magazine published in the link below.

2017 USGBC Florida LEEDership Awards Gulf Coast Region

L to R: Drew Smith COO of Two Trails & Pete Killeen Sales Manager of Two Trails

USGBC Florida Gulf Coast's signature program LEEDership Award Program -- which annually is one of the best GREENworking events in the region -- recognizes and honors those outstanding projects, inspirational businesses, dedicated volunteers and individuals, and instrumental Chapter members who are LEEDing the way to a more sustainable built environment in the Florida Gulf Coast community. This year Two Trails won two awards along with a few other of our clients.

Two Trails Awards:

LEED for New Construction Public/State  - Wauchula National Guard Armory (Client Partner: The Artec Group) 

LEED for New Construction Private - Auto Nation Mercedes Benz Wesley Chapel (Client Partner: AutoNation)

Client Partner Awards:

LEED for Homes / Single Family - Small - Breese Residence (Client Partner: Josh Wynne Construction)

LEED for Homes / Single Family - Large - CompassHaus (Client Partner: Josh Wynne Construction)

Outstanding Green Business/Contractor: Rokop General Contractors, Inc.

Branch Volunteer of the Year / Myakka River — Sara Kane –Josh Kane Two Trails Project Manager's wife.

2017 Aurora Awards

This Year Two Trails won a Grand Aurora Award and two Aurora Awards.  We were delighted to be on multiple project teams with partner builders Josh Wynne Construction and Phil Kean Designs.

Josh Wynne Construction took home the Golden Aurora Award for the Best in show. In total we were on projects that won 25 awards.  Be sure to check out our video, winners book and the Harold Tribune article.

2016 Aurora Awards

Congratulations to all our clients that were recognized for their hard word this year the Southeast Builders Conference Aurora Awards.  Please take a moment and check out the entire list of winners.  

Congrats:

Phil Kean Design

Minto Communities 

Gulf Bay Builders 

2016 International Builders Show Highlights

We are very fortunate to have a wonderful group of clients and to be able to add more to that list every year.  Two Trails and our clients had a great showing at this years' International Builders Show.  We are proud to be on all of our client build teams, but it is especially nice to see our clients recognized by the industry for their hard work. 

Two Trails was again auspicious enough to be a part of the Design & Build team the 2016 New American Home put together by the NAHB Leading Suppliers Council.  This years home was built by Element Design | Build.  Please check out our project portfolio on the home here 2016 New American Home.

2016 New American Home

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Best in Green (BIG) Awards was held an the IBS Live Booth in the South hall. This is the second year of a new green awards program that focuses on integration. Instead of a completely separate awards program, green and sustainable categories have been incorporated into many of NAHB’s other award programs, including the Best in American Living Awards, The Nationals, the 50+ Housing Awards, the multifamily Pillars of the Industry Awards and the Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Marketing and Home Design for systems-built homes. If you win a green or sustainable award in any of these programs, you are automatically entered to win a Best in Green Award. Best in Green categories include: 50+ Home or Community, Single-Family, Production Home, Single-Family Custom Home, Multifamily Project, Interior Project, Remodeling Project, Development, Sales and Marketing Strategy, Systems-Built Home and ICC 700 National Green Building Standard.

The top category: Single-Family Custom Home featured three of our clients:

Category Winner: Josh Wynne Construction for their Lotus on Orange Project

Phil Kean Designs for their Via Lugano Project

Michael K. Walker & Associates and Inbar Architect for their Siesta Key Residence Project

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The Best in American Living Awards (BALA) is the nation's premier award program continually redefining design excellence for the entire residential building industry. It spotlights the most creative and innovative builders, remodelers, architects, residential and building designers, developers, land planners and interior designers in the nation. Every year, the awards program, sponsored by NAHB Design Committee, recognizes good design in single-family and multifamily homes of all types and sizes, communities, interior design, remodeling and rental developments.

Since its inception the BALA awards have been recognized throughout the industry as the premier design awards, with past associations with Better Homes and Garden and BUILDER magazines. Professional Builder again join the NAHB Design Committee as a media sponsor for the 2015 awards cycle.

As a leader in design for home and community, the BALA awards program has grown over the years to include categories in green building, senior and student housing and affordable housing. Recognition of BALA has even extended beyond our borders with the inclusion of international categories that capture the spirit of the Best in American Living.

This year four of our clients won an award.  They are as followed:

Lotus on Orange | Wining 3 Bala’s
South Atlantic Bala
One-of-a-Kind Custom or Spec Home 3,501-4,500 sq ft Bala
Green Built Bala - Platinum
Project Team
Architect: Leader Design Studio
Builder: Josh Wynne Construction
Interior Designer: SAWA Design

Design Statement: The Florida-friendly landscape was carefully considered to provide the necessary screening in an infill lot such as this, while being sensitive to the single-story scale of the home and the adjacent neighbors. There are three courtyards, which form the critical adjuncts between the vertical architecture and the landscape architecture. The entry court welcomes one from the street frontage with a koi and lotus pond. The rear court is the heart of the home. The "L" shaped design lives around and is open to this pool court with outdoor fireplace and kitchen area. The last courtyard is the most private, flanked by the master suite and accessible only through the master bath.

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Green Built Bala
Gold - Siesta Key Residence
Project Team
Architect: Inbar Architect
Builder: Michael K. Walker and Associates, Inc.,
Interior Designer: Dale Blumberg

Design Statement: The orientation of this home responds to approximately 300 linear feet of waterfront and unobstructed 360-degree views from the roof and outdoor-living level of the adjacent Intracoastal Waterway and entire downtown skyline. The floorplans orient all rooms toward sweeping views while maintaining privacy for each of the four bedroom suites. A localized open-loop geothermal system supports all primary HVAC systems, pool, spa, and domestic water heating. A roof-level solar power farm produces approximately 15,000 watts of power that are capable of supporting the normal daily operation of the residence.

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Design Detail Bala
Gold - Via Lugano
Project Team Architect: Phil Kean Design Group Builder: Phil Kean Design Group

Design Statement: The wood cladding design detail adds warmth and elegance to this Mid Century Modern inspired home. The use of wood detail flows from home's entrance into the home's interiors. The natural wood cladding is a design detail that compliments the organic theme of the home and the detail is repeated in master bedroom disguising a secret door to master closet.

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Suburban Mixed Community
Silver - The Isles of Collier Preserve
Project Team
Architect: Minto Communities
Builder: Minto Communities
Developer: Minto Communities
Land Planner: Phil Graham Landscape Architecture

Design Statement: Inspired by the timeless architecture and traditions of Old Naples, this community offers luxury villas, single-family, and coach homes. Over half of the 2,400 acres in the community are dedicated to lakes, nature preserves, and natural habitat. At the heart of the community is the one- mile long Cypress Waterway and the Cypress Waterway Bridge, which is enthused by the Collier County Gateway Arch built in 1928. Residents use kayaks that are available at the boathouse and kayak launch. With easy access to the Cypress Waterway, residents can also take their kayaks and explore the waterway trails from the convenience of their own backyards.

2015 USGBC South Beach Chapter LEEDership Awards | Two Project Awards

The U.S. Green Building Council Florida Gulf Coast Chapter hosted its fifth annual LEEDership Awards on October 21, 2015

The chapter’s annual awards program recognized and honored the outstanding green building projects, forward-thinking businesses, innovative design teams, and instrumental Chapter members who have displayed green building and sustainable development leadership on the Gulf Coast of Florida through their practices of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED certification — the leading international third-party green-building certification.

Two Trails Inc. Is proud to be a team member on two projects to receive an award this year.

Sarasota County Gulf Coast Library | Outstanding Project of the Year - LEED for New Construction - Public - Small

Team Members: 

LEED Consultant & Commissioning Agent: Two Trails Inc.

Owner: Sarasota County Government

Project & Landscape Architect: Havard Jolly Architects

MEP Engineers: Smith Seckman Reid, Inc.

Structural Architect: Wilson Structural Consultants, Inc.

Contractor: Willis Smith Construction

LEED Certification Achieved: LEED Silver

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Element House | Outstanding Project of the Year - LEED for Homes

Team Members:

LEED Consultant: Two Trails Inc.

Project Architect: Sharp Design Studio

Structural Engineer & Contractor: R&S Engineering & Construction Corp.

LEED Certification Achieved: LEED Platinum

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