The trick for us was not overcommitting to one side and leaving room for upgrades later.
Yeah, I get that. We ran into a similar situation—went heavy on energy stuff first because the rebates were just too good to pass up, but looking back, I kinda wish we’d prioritized some water-saving upgrades earlier. Toilets and showerheads were easy swaps, but rainwater storage is a whole project by itself. The “future proof” thing is key. If you can rough in for greywater or even just leave space for a tank later, it makes life way easier (and cheaper) down the line. Water prices here are creeping up every year, so I’m starting to rethink what actually saves us more money long-term...
If you can rough in for greywater or even just leave space for a tank later, it makes life way easier (and cheaper) down the line.
That’s the part I wish I’d thought about earlier. We did all the “easy” energy stuff—insulation, windows, heat pump—because the incentives were too good to ignore, but now I’m staring at my water bill and kicking myself for not at least running a line for future greywater. Honestly, the payback on some of the water-saving stuff is starting to look better than solar, at least where I am. But yeah, rainwater tanks are a whole different beast... not sure I’d call that an “easy swap.”
Honestly, I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally convinced water-saving stuff always beats out energy upgrades. Where I am, water’s still pretty cheap, so the payback’s slow. Plus, greywater setups can get weird with code and resale. Maybe it’s just my area, though...
“greywater setups can get weird with code and resale. Maybe it’s just my area, though...”
That’s a fair point—local codes can really throw a wrench in the works, especially with anything involving greywater. I’ve run into that too, and honestly, sometimes the permitting process takes longer than the install itself. As for water being cheap, you’re right: the ROI just isn’t there in some markets. It’s a different story in places where water rates spike or restrictions kick in, but if you’re not seeing that, I get why you’d lean toward energy upgrades.
If you’re after green points, though, it might be worth checking if your certifying body weighs energy and water equally. Some programs let you rack up more points for one over the other, depending on the local context. I usually run a quick cost-benefit analysis—line up the upfront costs, check the rebates (sometimes there are surprise incentives), and estimate payback periods. Sometimes it’s surprising how a small tweak, like low-flow fixtures, can add up over a portfolio even if it’s not dramatic in one unit.
Long story short: you’re not wrong to be cautious. Local context is everything.
Honestly, I’ve seen resale value actually *increase* in some markets with greywater systems, especially where droughts are common. Sure, codes can be a pain, but sometimes it’s just about finding the right inspector or plumber who’s done it before. Energy upgrades are great, but I wouldn’t write off water savings too quickly—future buyers might care more than you think.