Manatee County Florida's leading active adult community, Mirabella has received their second Silver Aurora Award for displaying environmental stewardship in energy efficient homebuilding. Mirabella was the first local home builder to ever be nominated.

"Mirabella's ongoing efforts surrounding energy efficient homes and commitment to the environment has brought only the most positive level of attention to the community," said Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston.

The awards program is presented by the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) and the Florida Home Builders Association (NAHB). Last year, Mirabella also captured a Silver Aurora in the same category plus the Grand Aurora in the category "Water-wise Home."

Mirabella is an innovatively designed, eco-conscious neighborhood of 160 paired villas created for active adults. Earlier this summer the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the owners of the first 70 completed and occupied Mirabella homes in Bradenton, Florida the highest LEED certification level, Platinum. The certification acknowledges Mirabella as a unique and healthy environment for active adults and makes it one of the few residential communities to achieve this level of certification across the country.

"This recognition is the direct result of our designing and building the best and most energy efficient, high-quality homes that make a positive impact on our active adult community and the environment," said Marshall Gobuty, President & developer of Mirabella. "We're honored to be the only home builder in all of Bradenton to be recognized in this year's list."

The Aurora Awards included entries in 58 categories for attached and detached housing designs, including interior design, detailing, custom and reuse and renovation work. Also honored are various commercial, recreational and specialty buildings, as well as land planning achievements.

Judge Sarah Breen of CDC Designs, said this year's competition was exceptionally diverse coming from across the Southeast. "Creative ideas in design do not know boundaries," she said. "We found the variety and level of excellence to be particularly heartening this year."