Texan by Nature is excited to recognize Build Native as a 2025 TxN 20 honoree for their leadership in conservation and sustainability. Build Native‘s commitment to conservation, their projects, programs, best practices, and lessons learned are an example and inspiration for us all.

Honoree Name: Build Native 

Honoree Industry and Size: Construction, Small

Company Overview:
Build Native was founded in 2007 by Nick Ryza and Lloyd Lee with the goal of building high-performance, net-zero energy homes. Based in Austin, we also build throughout the Central Texas area. From the start, our building and operational practices have been guided by our belief that sound engineering, renewable energy systems, and sustainable water collection can be incorporated into single-family homes as a standard business model. Every home we construct follows a clear process that ensures materials and systems work together for comfort, efficiency, and long-term performance. This approach allows us to deliver homes that consistently exceed conventional building standards. To date, we have built over 100 homes, 80% powered by solar and 55% with whole-house, potable rainwater systems.

What is Build Native’s conservation and sustainability mission and why is it important to its culture?
Our mission is to create homes that stand the test of time, conserve resources, and empower their owners to lead more sustainable, independent lives. This commitment shapes our design collaborations, material selections, and client partnerships. By making sustainability a core value from the outset, we have built it into our standard practices, rather than treating it as an upgrade.

In a state where water scarcity and grid reliability are pressing concerns, our projects deliver dependable electricity and independent water supplies. As a result, conservation and sustainability become practical, attainable outcomes embedded in the everyday performance of each home.

What steps is Build Native taking to address global natural resource challenges, and how are these efforts integrated into its overall business strategy?
Our building practice looks at a house and its future occupants holistically, resulting in an integrated system that addresses resource challenges from the ground up. Every choice, from framing method to final fixture selections, is a part of an overall strategy designed to benefit both the homeowners and the environment. 

It starts with a whole-house approach tailored to the geography and climate of the Austin area. Advanced framing, along with durable materials like metal roofing, Hardie siding, ZIP System sheathing, and open-cell spray foam, creates a tight building envelope, minimizing the excessive movement of heat and promoting energy efficiency. In other words, a well-built house with readily available materials keeps the hot Texas air out in summer and cold air out in winter. This helps homeowners stay comfortable while keeping energy costs down. 

Beyond building an efficient home, solar panels provide our clients with energy independence while reducing their carbon footprint and reliance on fossil fuels. When paired with passive design principles and Building Science, they can offset 100% of annual electricity needs. Since our beginning, Build Native homes have totaled 766kW of solar capacity, 1,149,000 kWh annually.

Most of our homes also include whole-house, potable rainwater harvesting systems that ease strain on local aquifers. A 30,000-gallon storage tank supplies all potable water needs for a family of four. Because water is not a renewable resource like solar, this feature encourages our conservation-minded clients to be water-conscious while providing them with an independent water supply. Since inception, we’ve installed 1,652,200 gallons of rainwater storage capacity.

With this consistent, focused building approach, big impacts can be felt by each family and our efforts can add up in larger, measurable ways.

These building practices have earned Build Native multiple LEED certifications, outstanding Austin Energy Green Building and Home Energy Rating System designations, and awards, including Best Energy Smart Home of the Year, Green Home Builder of the Year, and the Intel Environmental Responsibility & Sustainability Award.

In the short term, we aim to help clients navigate the evolving landscape following the expiration of federal residential tax credits after 2025 with proactive education on future sustainable homebuilding solutions and cost-effective strategies. 

In the future, we hope to expand our outreach through speaking engagements and industry events to educate consumers and builders on Build Native’s unique approach to homebuilding.

Who in Build Native is leading your conservation and sustainability efforts? What are some examples of employee engagement in conservation and sustainability at Build Native?
Our conservation and sustainability efforts are led by co-founder and CEO Nick Ryza, who has guided the company from the beginning, when green building was niche, to today, where high-performance, healthy homes are a growing expectation. Nick’s leadership is grounded in common-sense application of theory to practice, by adapting Building Science to each project for maximum conservation impact without compromising durability or client budgets. For example, we may advise against geothermal systems in areas lacking dependable maintenance providers, prioritizing solutions that are more easily serviced.  

Nick also analyzes and explains the economics of installing solar panels and whole-house rainwater collection, demonstrating that clean, renewable energy and water harvesting are not only good stewardship but also sound investments. This perspective drives our high adoption rate of both systems.

On the operations side, Operations Manager Les Wilcox ensures every project embodies our conservation ethos. Structured internal processes and tools keep our team aligned on project guidelines, building specifications, and the client’s vision.  As a small custom builder, our hands-on approach means every employee plays a direct role in delivering quality outcomes, from material selection to site management. 

Together, Les and Nick continually evaluate new products, technologies, and certifications against our high standards. Their assessments ensure we meet or exceed green building codes while maintaining pricing comparable to conventional custom homes.

What conservation and sustainability programs and projects does Build Native lead and participate in?
Case study spotlight: Leander Net-Zero Energy Home
Our most recent build is a 2,100-sqft home in Leander that produces 100% of its annual energy, captures all the water the owners require, and embraces outdoor living. With their grown children out of the house, the couple sought a home with a smaller footprint, designed to support remote work and imbued with the self-sufficient spirit of Texas living. 

We paired the couple with one of our preferred designers and stayed actively involved throughout the design phase. By consulting with them on how their custom floor plan and exterior would function using our building standard, and providing ongoing budget updates as we collaborated with them and the designer, we ensured the project stayed aligned with their vision and resources. The resulting home includes: 

• A floor plan with two offices, no unnecessary guest rooms, and an upstairs laundry room next to the primary suite. 
• Passive Green Design elements like 16-inch roof overhangs and strategically placed, appropriately sized windows to reduce heat gain while maximizing natural daylight. 
• A resilient building envelope with materials including  Hardie siding, metal roof, Zip sheathing, advanced wood framing methods, and spray foam for a tight energy-efficient seal. 
• Indoor comfort and efficiency with variable-speed HVAC, AprilAire indoor air system, Energy Star®, appliances, and Water Sense® plumbing fixtures to conserve electricity and water. 
• A large outdoor living area that includes a 795 sq ft of covered back patio for cooking, lounging, and eating. Their outdoor space also includes 2,000 sq ft of garden beds and crushed granite for impervious cover. 
• A relatively simple footprint and rooflines for a controlled budget and efficient build time.
• An 8kw solar array, designed to produce 12,000 kWh AC annually to offset 100% of electric consumption. A separate electric panel for critical loads to enable easy future battery integration.
• A 30,000-gallon integrated rainwater collection system for potable, whole-house use, reducing demand on the Edwards Aquifer. The tank is large enough to irrigate the garden, which they will use to grow their own food. The semi-buried, domed roof tank makes the large tank possible in the chosen location. 

This home exemplifies the “Build Native Standard”, proving that small builders can make a big impact with measurable conservation efforts.

“For almost two decades, Build Native has championed green building practices to bring our customers a healthy and sustainable home.  We’re thrilled to be recognized as a 2025 TxN 20 Honoree. This award reflects the passion and hard work of our team, our partners, and the homeowners who share our vision for a better way to build.”

– Nick Ryza, Founder & CEO, Build Native

What strategies does Build Native use to educate and raise awareness among employees, customers, and stakeholders about the importance of conservation and sustainability?
Educating clients on sustainability is integral to our values and business model. Our proprietary Build Native Protocol guides customers through five key stages. The stages include the Initial Consultation, Design Collaboration, Pre-Construction Planning, Construction Execution, and Handover & Support. Through this process, every client becomes an active participant in conservation, understanding the environmental benefits of design and system choices from the very beginning.

We educate clients on the long-term benefits of sustainable living and options that make sense for their new home. This empowers them to build a home that aligns with their lifestyle and values. For example, most people don’t think rainwater collection is a viable water source in Texas. However, with annual rainfall of around 34 inches in Austin, it’s possible to fill a 30,000-gallon rainwater tank twice each year.  Given an estimated water need of 54,000 gallons for a family of four, rainwater capture can provide sufficient water to meet their needs. 

Internally, our team is trained on our building and conservation standards using our custom-made, detailed specification and operation manuals, which outline green considerations at every construction step. We dedicate 30 minutes of our weekly meetings to reviewing green building principles and regularly invite vendors and subcontractors to share their expertise on enhanced energy, material, and water efficiency. Employees are encouraged to pursue external certifications such as Austin Energy’s Green by Design online courses and attend industry events like the International Builders Show. This culture of continuous learning drives innovation and best practice conversations.

Can you share specific examples of successful partnerships or innovative collaborations Build Native has formed with other organizations to enhance sustainability and conservation outcomes?
In our early years, there were few specialty contractors capable of supporting a truly green home build, so we installed renewable systems like solar in-house. That experience and expertise sparked the founding of our sister company, Native Solar. Native Solar integrates renewable energy systems for homeowners and businesses all across Texas. Through shared roots and values, Native Solar provides our clients with access to exceptional pricing for solar arrays and battery backup solutions. This partnership ensures we are getting the best quality with industry-leading expertise, innovation, and value.

Lloyd Lee, Native Solar CEO, shares, “Native Solar and Build Native collaborate on projects that enable their customers to live a more sustainable lifestyle by providing solutions to address one of the single largest contributors to greenhouse emissions: homes. Build Native designs and builds energy-efficient and resilient homes powered by renewable energy systems designed and installed by Native Solar. Many of Team Native’s customers not only produce enough energy to power their homes, but also car charging to cover their transportation needs.” 

How does Build Native quantify investment and return on conservation and sustainability?
Our clients make a monetary investment in their home that translates to energy saved, electricity produced, and water harvested. Their home investment is a choice to create an active system that will work for them for decades to come. On average, our customers will save between $2,000-$3,000 per year on their water and electricity utility bills.

Build Native does not have a physical office or showroom, which allows us to save on energy costs, waste, and materials for maintenance. Our weekly meetings are at a co-working office in Austin, which we rent, as needed, for conference room space only. Our decision to work remotely has saved us hundreds of thousands of dollars and leaves a smaller carbon footprint.

How does Build Native see the future of conservation and sustainability evolving, and what role will it play in that progress?
With climate change driving severe weather events, water scarcity affecting local aquifers, and increasing grid strain, we see more Texans wanting homes built with resilience and renewable systems included. We see Texans driving a paradigm shift in the market on home performance expectations. Production and custom builders can expect informed customers who want a home built responsibly and made to work for them.

We would like to lead the way with education on how Build Native’s 18 years of experience demonstrates how this way of building is attainable as a business model. Our building standard is a proven, replicable framework that can be applied to other small, custom builders.

What is the one lesson that Build Native has learned from its conservation and sustainability efforts that others can take back and think about applying within their own space?
We like to think of ourselves as a common-sense green builder. When we look at a home and its owners, we see a bigger picture that goes beyond individual features. For example, we value green solar design alongside active solar electric generation. We aim for a tight building envelope paired with healthy ventilation. When the focus is placed too heavily on just one aspect (like resiliency or building science), other important elements can be overlooked, throwing the home out of balance. We still call what we do green building because it’s the only term that captures the full scope of our approach.

We’ve learned that balance is the key to creating long-lasting sustainability. We’re balancing the client’s desire for their dream home and a green home.

Why is Texas an important home or base of operations for Build Native?
Texas is a state defined by diversity of people, industries, and ideas. It is where the legacy of oil and gas coexist with renewable energy, and where every resident feels a deep sense of connection to its vast and varied landscapes. It is also where two native Texan tech guys could reimagine their careers and embark on a new path in homebuilding and solar energy. Texas has long valued self-reliance and celebrated bold vision. Building here allows us to contribute to that enduring spirit with every home we bring to life.

Find out more about Build Native’s conservation and sustainability efforts here.