Walton couple win third place in contest for green home

Cali Bamboo, a premier manufacturer of sustainable, green building materials made primarily from bamboo, and the Surfrider Foundation gave a Walton County couple a third place nod for their net zero home.

Tony and Jennifer Butler were winners of the National “Green Home Challenge.” The Wilmington, N.C., couple captured the most online votes and will attend the Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Expression Session at the Malibu Surfing Association’s Classic on Sept. 11.

“We’re beyond impressed with the number of folks who entered the contest and are working towards a sustainable living environment in a creative and stylish way,” says Jeff Goldberg, CEO and president of Cali Bamboo. “The Butler’s home is a perfect example and we’re excited that they’ll be at the Malibu event surfing with a celebrity on one of our eco-friendly surfboards!”

Nearly 4,000 votes were cast by visitors to the Green Home Challenge website. Securing second place and winning a $500 Cali Bamboo gift certificate was Joe Hayes and Amy Humphrey from Bunceton, Mo., John and Shirley Leeper from Walton County locked up third place in the contest, and will receive a $250 Cali Bamboo voucher.

When it came to constructing their Santa Rosa Beach home, John and Shirley said no comfort or beauty was sacrificed to get to net-zero.

In fact, it was “a lot of fun.”

 “Energy conservation is sort of like a hobby, you have to be devoted to it,” John said. “It’s fun to go back there and watch the meter go backwards.”

Net zero status is determined by figuring in what energy you buy, against what you sell. The Leepers’ goal was to build an affordable medium-income home that lessened their fossil-fuel footprint.

The outcome far surpassed expectations.

“We originally counted on 50 percent reduction in utility use and we produced about 400 kilowatts more than we purchased,” John said.