Title: Choosing Between Energy Efficiency Or Water Savings For Green Building Points?
You’re spot on about water being the sleeper issue, especially in high-end builds where people expect everything to just work without thinking about it. I’ve seen folks drop serious cash on solar panels and insulation, but then get blindsided by water bills or restrictions—especially in places like California or Arizona.
Here’s how I look at it: energy upgrades are easier to brag about and you can see the numbers move on your utility bill pretty fast. But water systems, especially greywater or rainwater catchment, are more of a long game. They need a bit more TLC, but if you’ve got someone who’ll actually maintain them (or you don’t mind paying for service), they can be a real asset.
Honestly, I think you’re right—LEED could do more to push water innovation. It’s not as flashy, but with climate change, it’s only going to get more important. Don’t let anyone tell you water isn’t worth the hassle... sometimes the less obvious upgrades make the biggest difference down the line.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’m not convinced water systems are always worth the extra hassle, at least for a first build. I looked into rainwater catchment and greywater setups, and the upfront costs plus maintenance just seemed like a lot for not much payoff—especially if you’re not in a drought-prone area. Energy upgrades, on the other hand, felt more straightforward. You see the savings right away, and there’s less to worry about breaking down or needing special care.
Maybe it’s different if you’re in California or somewhere with crazy water restrictions, but in my case, the numbers just didn’t add up. I’m all for being green, but sometimes the “invisible” upgrades end up being more trouble than they’re worth. Maybe I’ll regret it if water prices spike, but for now, I’d rather put my money into insulation and solar where I know I’ll see a return.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
Honestly, I kind of get where you’re coming from. I went down the rabbit hole with greywater and rain catchment too—spent a few weekends sketching out systems, pricing tanks, all that jazz. By the time I added up the cost of pumps, filters, and the extra plumbing, it felt like I was building a submarine, not a house. And yeah, if you’re somewhere with cheap water and no restrictions, the ROI just isn’t there.
What made more sense for me was focusing on insulation and air sealing first. That’s where you get the biggest bang for your buck, especially if you’re DIY-ing. Solar was next—plug and play compared to running a bunch of pipes through your crawlspace. Less stuff to leak or clog up down the line.
That said, I did put in some low-flow fixtures and a dual-flush toilet. Super easy swap, barely any extra cost, and at least you’re not flushing money down the drain (literally). If water prices go nuts later... well, maybe I’ll wish I had that rain barrel army in the backyard, but for now, I’m with you—energy upgrades just feel more practical.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
I totally get the submarine vibes—when I first looked into greywater setups, my spreadsheet started looking like a NASA checklist. Ended up spending more time researching pumps than actually building anything. In the end, I went with beefing up insulation and sealing all those weird little air leaks (the ones you find by accident when you drop your phone behind the dryer). It’s not glamorous, but our first winter in the new place, the heating bill was shockingly low, which felt like a win.
I did get a bit of water-savings FOMO after seeing a neighbor’s rain barrel setup, but honestly, our water bill is still pretty tame. Swapping to a low-flow showerhead was painless—my teenager complained for about a week, then forgot all about it. If I had to pick just one, I’d go energy first too, just because it’s so much easier to see the payoff. Maybe someday I’ll go full mad scientist and try rain catchment, but for now, I’m happy not having a second plumbing system to babysit.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
I hear you on the “NASA checklist” feeling—every time I look at greywater diagrams, my brain just checks out. I’ve worked with a few clients who wanted to go all-in on water savings, but honestly, the maintenance and upfront cost can be a headache unless you’re really committed. Energy upgrades, on the other hand, are usually more straightforward and less disruptive to daily life.
Here’s how I usually break it down: start with insulation and air sealing (like you did), then tackle windows if they’re ancient or leaky. After that, swap out lighting for LEDs and check your appliances—sometimes just replacing an old fridge makes a bigger dent than you’d think. Water-wise, low-flow fixtures are a no-brainer, but I’d hold off on anything that needs extra plumbing unless your water bills are wild or you’re in a drought-prone area.
Funny enough, I once had a client who insisted on a rain barrel... then forgot to use the water for months because it was “out of sight, out of mind.” Sometimes simple wins.