CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
You’re spot on about that sweet spot—there’s definitely a point where packing in more insulation or going for the highest R-value doors just doesn’t give you the same bang for your buck. I’ve seen folks obsess over every last air leak, but at some stage, you start seeing smaller gains compared to what you’re spending. Have you looked at blower door test results? Sometimes it’s eye-opening to see how tight is “tight enough.” At that point, I usually suggest shifting gears—maybe to water efficiency or even indoor air quality. Curious if you noticed a change in comfort or bills after your upgrades? That’s usually my measuring stick.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
I totally get what you mean about hitting that point of diminishing returns. We just finished our build last year, and honestly, I got a little obsessed with sealing up every crack, too. After the third round of caulking and another blower door test, our builder kind of laughed and said, “You’re good, trust me.” Turns out, he was right. Our energy bills dropped a bunch after the first few upgrades, but after that, the changes were barely noticeable.
What really surprised us was how much of a difference the water-saving stuff made. We went with low-flow fixtures and dual-flush toilets, but the real game changer was the rainwater harvesting for irrigation. Didn’t think it’d matter much, but our summer water bill was half what it used to be in our old house. Plus, it was way cheaper to set up compared to the high-end insulation.
Here’s what worked for us, step by step:
1. Started with basic insulation and sealing (attic, exterior walls, windows).
2. Did a blower door test—didn’t chase perfection, just aimed for “very good.”
3. Shifted focus to water: swapped out showerheads, faucets, and toilets for WaterSense models.
4. Added a rain barrel system for the garden.
If you’re stuck choosing, I’d say get your house “tight enough” for comfort and reasonable energy savings, then go after the water points. It’s easier to see a payoff, especially if you’re in a spot with high water rates or drought worries. And honestly, I haven’t noticed any drop in comfort since we stopped fussing over every draft.
Hope that helps a bit. Sometimes it’s just about picking the low-hanging fruit first and not sweating the tiny stuff too much.
CHOOSING BETWEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OR WATER SAVINGS FOR GREEN BUILDING POINTS?
Funny, I went down the same rabbit hole—spent way too much time and money chasing that last bit of air sealing. At a certain point, you’re just paying for bragging rights, not real savings. What really moved the needle for me was swapping out the old irrigation system for drip lines and a smart controller. Water bill dropped fast, no noticeable impact on comfort, and way less hassle than re-insulating everything again. I’m still a fan of tight envelopes, but after “good enough,” water’s where I saw the most bang for the buck.
I get where you’re coming from—chasing diminishing returns on energy upgrades can be a money pit. But I’d argue it depends a lot on your local climate and utility rates. In my last project, energy costs were brutal, so tightening up the envelope paid off fast. Water savings are great, but if your area’s got cheap water and expensive electricity, the math shifts. It’s all about context... sometimes the “obvious” answer isn’t so obvious once you crunch the numbers.
Honestly, I get the math, but I’ve seen folks regret skipping water upgrades when droughts hit. Our city hiked rates overnight a few years back—nobody saw it coming. Sometimes the “cheap” resource turns expensive real fast. Just something to chew on.