CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
Totally hear you on the “shiny points” trap—it’s way too easy to get sucked into the checklist vortex. I’ve seen people pick high-efficiency toilets for the points, but then keep their old drafty windows… and guess what, the place is still freezing in winter. From my end, I usually lean toward energy stuff first, just because it impacts comfort so much—nobody wants to sit in a sauna in summer or an icebox in January. Water savings are great, but unless you’re somewhere with real shortages, the day-to-day impact just isn’t as obvious. Sometimes I wish the points system gave more weight to what actually matters for the people living there, not just what looks green on paper.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
You nailed it about the points system sometimes missing the mark. I’ve been going through this exact debate for our build, and honestly, energy upgrades just seem to make more sense for daily life—especially in a colder climate. We looked at low-flow everything, but it’s hard to notice the difference unless you’re tracking gallons. Comfort and lower bills are way more obvious when you invest in insulation or better windows. It’s easy to get distracted by what looks good on paper, but living with the choices really puts things in perspective.
Comfort and lower bills are way more obvious when you invest in insulation or better windows.
- Totally get where you’re coming from. In colder climates, energy upgrades like insulation and high-performance windows really do pay off—both for comfort and your wallet.
- Water savings are great, but unless you’re in a drought-prone area, the impact can feel pretty minimal day-to-day.
- I’ve seen clients regret skimping on envelope upgrades, but rarely the other way around.
- That said, sometimes low-flow fixtures are easy wins if you’re close to a points threshold... just depends how much hassle you want.
- You’re right—living with the choices is a whole different story than just chasing points.
I’ve seen clients regret skimping on envelope upgrades, but rarely the other way around.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I once tried to save a few bucks by going for cheaper windows—regretted it every winter. Drafts everywhere, and my heating bill was a joke. Water-saving fixtures are cool, but unless you’re in California or somewhere bone-dry, you just don’t feel the impact as much. If you want to actually *feel* the upgrade every day, envelope improvements are where it’s at. Chasing points is one thing, but living with your choices is what really matters.
I totally get where you’re coming from—after moving into our place, I realized just how much difference a solid envelope makes. We splurged on insulation and better doors, and honestly, it’s the one upgrade I notice every single day. But I keep wondering if there’s a sweet spot? Like, is there a point where you’re just overdoing envelope stuff and should maybe shift focus to water or something else? Sometimes it feels like chasing diminishing returns...