Totally agree about the smart irrigation controllers—made a bigger difference for me than low-flow toilets ever did. But I will say, when it comes to energy upgrades, don’t underestimate the impact of good insulation and air sealing. The comfort level is night and day, especially if you’re in an older house with drafty spots. I get why some folks focus on water, but if you’re already tearing things apart, combining both systems upgrades just makes sense long-term. Less patching up later, fewer regrets.
- Love this take. I’ve seen way too many people obsess over fancy fixtures and then totally ignore the draft coming from their 1920s windows.
- Insulation is like the cozy sweater your house didn’t know it needed—seriously, it changes everything for comfort.
- If you’re already opening up walls, why not tackle both? It’s way less hassle (and dust) than doing it all twice.
- Water savings are great, but if you’re freezing in January, you’ll care more about that insulation... trust me, learned that the hard way during a reno last winter.
- Honestly, sometimes the “points” chase misses the big picture—comfort and long-term savings matter just as much.
I get where you’re coming from about insulation—totally agree it’s underrated, especially in older homes. But I do think water savings deserve a little more love in this conversation. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked on a few projects in places where drought is a real issue, but sometimes the “comfort” factor isn’t just about temperature. If you’ve ever had to deal with water restrictions or crazy high bills because of leaky plumbing or inefficient fixtures, it can be just as disruptive as being cold.
Not saying skip the insulation (I’m all for it), but I think there’s a balance. For example, swapping out old toilets and showers when you’re already renovating doesn’t add much to the hassle or dust, but it can make a big dent in your water use long-term. Plus, some of the newer fixtures are actually pretty sleek—no more sad trickle showers like the early low-flow days.
Also, chasing points can feel silly sometimes, but I’ve noticed that those “points” can help prioritize stuff that might not seem urgent until you’re living with it every day. It’s easy to forget about water savings when you’re not in a pinch, but if you ever are...you’ll wish you’d paid attention.
Anyway, just my two cents from seeing both sides. Comfort matters, for sure—but so does making sure your house isn’t guzzling water or leaking money down the drain.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
You nailed it about water being disruptive when things go wrong. I used to think energy upgrades were always the first priority—probably because I’ve spent years in drafty houses and felt the pain of high heating bills. But a few years back, I worked on a duplex in a city with regular summer water bans. The owner was focused on insulation and windows, but we convinced him to swap out the ancient toilets and fix some sneaky leaks while we were at it. He called me a couple months later, genuinely surprised by how much his water bill dropped. Didn’t expect it to be that noticeable.
What really stuck with me was how little extra effort it took. The plumber was already there for other stuff, so adding efficient fixtures barely changed the schedule or budget. And honestly, the tenants cared more about having reliable showers and not worrying about leaks than they did about the new insulation in the attic.
I do think energy upgrades get more attention because they’re easier to “feel”—like, you notice right away if your house is warmer or your AC isn’t running as much. Water issues are sneakier until they hit your wallet or you’re told you can’t water your garden for weeks.
One thing I’ve learned: if you’re already opening up walls or doing a reno, it’s almost always worth tackling both sides—energy and water. Waiting until there’s a crisis just means more hassle and expense down the line. And yeah, those green building points can seem arbitrary, but sometimes they’re a good nudge to do what you’ll end up appreciating later.
Funny how priorities shift depending on where you live, too. In some places, water savings are just as critical as keeping the heat in. Kind of makes you rethink what “comfort” really means.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
I’ve been going back and forth on this exact thing since we started planning our house. Everyone kept telling me to focus on insulation and windows first—like, “you’ll regret it if you cheap out on those.” And, yeah, I definitely notice the difference in drafts compared to rentals I’ve lived in before. But the water side snuck up on me. Didn’t really think about it until we hit our first summer and the city started talking about rationing.
Funny thing is, I got all excited about our fancy heat pump, but my partner was more pumped about the low-flow showerhead and dual-flush toilet. Honestly, I rolled my eyes at first. But then our water bill dropped enough that even I had to admit it was worth it.
If I’m being honest, the green points thing feels kinda like a game sometimes… but it did push us to look at both sides instead of just picking one lane. If I had to do it over, I’d still lean energy first because of comfort (and I hate being cold), but I wouldn’t ignore water again. It’s just too easy to fix some of that stuff while you’re already making a mess with renovations.