Orlando, Fla. – Tradewinds, a $5.24 million home built by Charles Clayton Construction in Baldwin Park, swept top honors at the Aurora Awards held August 2 in conjunction with the 2008 Southeast Building Conference.

Tradewinds received 11 awards, including the coveted Golden Aurora for Best of Show, the Best in State award, and the Grand Aurora award in three categories. The competition included more than 300 entries across the 12-state Southeast region.

Tradewinds features 7,316-square-feet of living space that integrates modern design with green building techniques, resulting in a home that is technologically advanced and energy efficient, leaving a minimal footprint on the environment. Tradewinds received “Green Home” certification from the Florida Green Building Coalition.

Inspired by the atrium homes of ancient Rome, Tradewinds features an open courtyard facing Lake Susannah, formed by three wings that surround the pool. The “U” shaped architecture harnesses wind energy as a cooling alternative to air conditioning. The orientation of the house on its lot optimizes solar heat gain, natural lighting and shading opportunities. The upstairs utility room contains an energy monitor and small touch-screen panels to control everything in the house from sound and lighting to the pool and home air conditioning. Tradewinds is equipped with the latest technology to combine efficiency and convenience.

“It’s hard to put into words just how thrilled we are to receive an award of such a high caliber, especially given that we were up against many of the best builders in the Southeastern United States,” said Charles Clayton, president of Charles Clayton Construction, which builds custom homes throughout Central Florida. “The Golden Aurora Award further confirms that Tradewinds is truly a powerful offering of design efficiency and green technology.”