PORTLAND, OR - Woodworker Jonathan Orpin, president of New Energy Works Timberframers, won the Best Craftsmanship award in the Green Builder Green Home of the Year competition - for a home he built for himself.

Over 60 U.S. homes were entered and evaluated for the use of green materials, sensitivity to local sourcing, sustainability, mechanicals, efficiency, and innovative design. A mudroom that keeps the home organized, a library that leads to a secret wine storage entry were built of reclaimed wood.

“This is a beautiful example of a timber frame; it’s cozy and well-built," said the Green Builder judges, noting it "showcases a good use of reclaimed wood on the interior with wonderful attention to detail.”

Orpin crafted his home, known as the Vermont Street Project, with cabinetry, doors, countertops, tables, stairs, and millwork hand crafted of various reclaimed wood species by NEWwoodworks fine woodworking group, and hand finished flooring custom milled from reclaimed wood by Pioneer Millworks. Both are sister-companies to New Energy Works Timberframers.

“The Vermont Street Project is a living example of greater sustainability in a design and craft intensive home," Orpin said in announcing the win. "It is the result of decades of custom timber work and environmentally sensitive construction.”

Other green features include a reclaimed Douglas fir timber frame; reclaimed elm and oak flooring; interior woodworking using reclaimed walnut on cabinets and interior doors; solid FSC wood framed windows; recycled redwood siding; and antique barn siding. New Energy Works Timberframers companies frequently provide reclaimed wood products among their offerings.

The Vermont Street Project was also awarded Fine Home Building’s Home of the Year, and Orpin recounts the steps in his home project in Fine Homebuilding's Winter 2012 edition. And it won Forest Stewardship Council Design + Build, first place. Oprin, whose firm is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, is seeking LEED Platinum cetification for his home.