Owner
Ray Tonjes Builder
Emeritus Director
Ray Tonjes is the President and founder of Ray Tonjes Builder, Inc., a homebuilding company based in Austin, Texas which specializes in mainstream, high performance custom homes and renovations.
Ray has been a proponent of energy efficient construction since the energy crisis of the 1970’s. In 1985, he became one of the first “Austin Energy Star” builders in Austin as part of their initial aggressive conservation program. This program evolved into the nation’s first green building program (established 1991). Ray continues to advocate at all levels for the improvement of energy efficiency and participation in green building programs.
A 38-year veteran of the home building industry, Ray is Chair Emeritus of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Sustainable & Green Building Subcommittee, having served as the Chairman from 2001-2008, 2017, 2018 and a founding member since 1999. He also served (2008-2009) as a NAHB National Vice President and a member of the NAHB Green Building Task Force.
Ray was the founding Director/Chairman of the Board (2004-2014), Board of Directors, 2004-present, for the Green Building Initiative, a national non-profit organization (est. 2004). He has also served on the City of Austin’s “Zero-Energy Capable Home 2015” Task Force, Energy Efficiency Upgrades Task Force, and the State of Texas Residential Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (HB3070). He was the Vice Chairman of the ICC-700 (National Green Building Standard) Consensus Committee from 2011-2012
Ray was the 2005 President of the Texas Association of Builders(TAB), the 2003 Chairman of the NAHB Custom Home Builder Committee and the 1998 President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin. In 2009, Ray was a finalist for the inaugural Hanley Award for Vision and Leadership in Sustainable Housing. In November 2016, he was honored as the 20th inductee into the TAB Housing Hall of Honor.
A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Ray made Austin his home following his (1971-1977) service as a pilot with the United States Air Force. He and his wife, Rosemary, have two grown children, and granddaughter.