After living for years in an energy efficient log cabin in Alaska, Jay Gammell enjoyed the benefits of green living enough to have his new Austin home built to many of the specifications in the Austin Energy initiative. After living in the home for over a year, the benefits of adhering to the standards have already begun to show, according to a recent interview.

Gammell works for CG&S Design-Build and had major input in exactly how his new home was put together. He made many decisions about the materials, fixtures and hardware used in the building of his home based on the rating system set up by Austin Energy. Though his selections were a bit pricier than the less green alternatives, he knows that the choices will pay off in the future.

Upgrading to environmentally friendly and energy efficient materials and systems cost Gammell somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000. Though this may seem a major increase in the building price of the home, some of the choices will last longer than other alternatives and he has already seen proof of the energy efficiency through electric bills that remain in the $100 a month range.

Included in the upgrades chosen by Gammell was a metal roof, which will last approximately 20 years longer than a standard roof. He had foam insulation used throughout the home, rather than basic fiberglass. He also chose toilets and a heating and air conditioning system from an approved list put out by Austin Energy.