Honestly, I’ve had clients regret skipping the water rough-ins more than anything else. Energy stuff—solar, insulation upgrades, even HVAC swaps—tends to be less invasive later. But if you suddenly want greywater or rainwater capture after the fact? That’s a headache and a half. I get why folks chase energy points first, but water’s the one that’ll have you cursing under your breath if you ignore it early. Anyone else ever try to retrofit a greywater line through a finished slab? Not fun...
Title: Choosing between energy efficiency or water savings for green building points?
I hear you on the water rough-ins—once the slab’s poured, it’s a nightmare to go back. But I’m curious, have you ever had a client actually prioritize water over energy from the start? In my experience, everyone’s obsessed with the energy scorecards and rebates, and water just gets tacked on if there’s budget left.
I get the logic—energy upgrades are more visible, and people like seeing lower bills right away. But when you’re designing, do you push for water infrastructure up front, even if it means cutting back on something like solar prewiring? Or do you try to balance both and hope for the best?
I’ve had a couple projects where we roughed in for greywater “just in case,” and the clients didn’t use it for years... then suddenly, drought hits and they’re grateful. Wondering if anyone’s actually convinced a client to skip some energy features in favor of future-proofing water systems, or is that just wishful thinking?
- Honestly, I lean toward water first, even if it’s not the “sexy” upgrade.
- Energy stuff’s easier to add later (solar panels, insulation tweaks).
- Retrofitting for rainwater or greywater? Total pain.
- Had family regret skipping rain tanks after last summer’s crazy dry spell… now they’re digging up landscaping.
- I get why everyone chases energy rebates, but long-term, water’s getting scarcer and pricier—future-proofing feels smarter to me.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
I hear you on the water side. Funny enough, I was all about the energy upgrades at first—solar, high-efficiency everything, the works. It felt like the “smart” move, especially with all those rebates dangling out there. But after living through that drought a couple years ago, when our neighborhood’s lawns went brown and folks were lining up for free mulch, my whole perspective shifted. There’s nothing like watching your rain barrel run dry in July to make you wish you’d put more thought into water storage.
We ended up adding greywater plumbing last year, and let me tell you, it was a circus. Ripping up tile, crawling under the house, figuring out codes... I lost track of how many times I muttered “should’ve done this from the start.” My buddy down the street just installed a rainwater tank, and he’s already talking about putting in another before prices go up again.
But here’s the thing—I still wonder if I overcorrected. Our utility bills dropped a ton with the energy upgrades, and there’s something satisfying about seeing that net-meter spin backward. Water’s unpredictable, but energy prices are creeping up too. Sometimes I feel like it’s a toss-up.
Curious—has anyone found a sweet spot? Like, is there a way to do both without blowing the budget or making life harder down the line? Or does it really come down to what hurts more in your area: the water bill or the power bill?
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
There’s nothing like watching your rain barrel run dry in July to make you wish you’d put more thought into water storage.
That hits home. I remember the first summer after our remodel—solar panels humming, new insulation in the attic, all that jazz. Felt pretty smug until the city slapped us with water restrictions and our fancy landscaping started looking like a dust bowl. Ended up dragging buckets from the shower to the garden just to keep a few plants alive. Not my finest hour.
Honestly, I don’t think there’s a perfect formula. We tried to split the difference: focused on energy first (since rebates made it a no-brainer), then circled back for water stuff as budget allowed. The trick for us was not overcommitting to one side and leaving room for upgrades later. Some of those “future proof” plumbing stubs and conduit runs paid off big time.
You’re right, it really does come down to what stings more in your area. For us, energy bills are predictable but water’s the wild card. Sounds like you’re finding your balance, even if it’s a bit of a juggling act.