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Former Blufftonian wins HGTV Green Home

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A former Bluffton resident won a reason to move back: HGTV's "Green Home" located just up the road in Tradition Hilton Head.

Marsha Coulthard of Bradenton, Fla., left Bluffton to be closer to her parents two years ago.

The single mother was shown celebrating with her family in front of her ranch-style duplex -- possibly now, her former home -- after a knock at her door during the half-hour show that aired at 8 p.m. Sunday on HGTV.

She was at a loss for words.

"I'm so excited," said the 43-year-old medical billing clerk, a stunned look on her face. "I can't tell you. I entered almost every day trying to win the home."

Coulthard, who has a grown son and a granddaughter, is not yet sure whether she'll move into her new home. She hasn't yet seen it in person, but she will soon. She gets the keys later this month.

"I really can't wait to sit on the front porch," Coulthard said after the show aired. "That's one of the things I've always loved about South Carolina: all of those amazing front porches."

She moved from Bluffton in August 2006 after living in Westbury Park and briefly in Eagle's Pointe.

The mint-green home -- a 2,000-square-foot Lowcountry cottage -- was built to be eco-friendly. The $850,000 house has three bedrooms with two-and-a-half bathrooms.

Its primary environmentally sound features are on the outside. The house has solar panels on the roof that can keep the house powered for up to 72 hours during an outage. Excess energy generated by the panels is sold back to the electric company.

Rainwater is recycled into a 500-gallon underground cistern so it can be used for lawn irrigation and toilet water. A permeable patio and driveway allow rain to seep into the ground instead of into nearby waterways. Other rainwater is directed toward the lawn, which is effective in removing most pollutants.

Inside, the home uses energy-efficient lighting and appliances. The plumbing system is heavily insulated. Many of the materials used are recycled or organic. The home was constructed without the use of harsh chemicals.

The "green home" is one of just 30 structures either under construction or already occupied in the Hardeeville development that will eventually include 9,500 homes. Tradition Hilton Head has incorporated other green features into the community, including recycling centers and a golf course irrigation system that uses treated wastewater.

"We wanted to select a community that demonstrated that you can live responsibly in a desirable location with modern amenities," said Jim Samples, president of Home & Garden Television.

More than 10,000 people toured the home, which generated $94,000 for United Way of the Lowcountry.

Response to the first-ever Green Home Giveaway exceeded the network's expectations. More than 21 million entries were received by HGTV, the network said. People could enter online once a day.

HGTV announced it will build a second "green home" next year. The location has yet to be announced.

In addition to winning the home, Coulthard won a 2008 GMC Yukon hybrid SUV.

"Can I get in it?" an excited Coulthard asked the enthusiastic balloon-toting host after a mixture of screams and tears during the pre-recorded television show.

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