Choosing between energy efficiency or water savings for green building points?

It’s not flashy, but sometimes boring is best... or at least the most practical.

Funny how the “boring” stuff ends up making the biggest difference. I’ve seen folks spend thousands on solar panels before sealing up their attic or fixing leaky ducts. Ever notice how much more comfortable a house feels after just tightening up insulation? Water savings are great, but if your place is drafty, you’ll feel it every day.

Funny how the “boring” stuff ends up making the biggest difference.

- I get where you’re coming from, but I wouldn’t call water savings “boring” - it can be creative too.
- Swapping in beautiful low-flow fixtures or a rainwater collection feature can actually add style and function.
- Energy upgrades matter, but water efficiency can be just as transformative, especially in drought-prone areas.
- Sometimes it’s not just about comfort - it’s about designing for the future. Why not do both if you can?

Title: Choosing Between Energy Efficiency Or Water Savings For Green Building Points?

I used to think energy upgrades were the “sexy” part of green building - solar panels, fancy insulation, smart thermostats. But after living through a couple of California droughts, I started paying a lot more attention to water. Funny thing is, the changes that made the biggest dent in my bills and day-to-day routine weren’t flashy at all.

A few years back, we swapped out our old toilets for dual-flush models and put in some low-flow showerheads. I expected complaints from the family about weak showers, but honestly, nobody even noticed after a week or two. The water bill dropped noticeably. Then we got a rain barrel setup - not exactly a showpiece, but it’s tucked behind some shrubs and feeds the veggie garden almost all summer.

I get why people say water savings seem boring compared to something like rooftop solar. But when you see how much you can save (and how little it actually changes your comfort), it starts to feel pretty clever. Plus, there’s something satisfying about knowing you’re not just burning less energy but also using less of a resource that’s getting scarcer every year.

If I had to pick one over the other for “points,” I’d probably lean toward water these days - at least where I live. Energy upgrades are great, but water is where I’ve seen the most practical impact. That said, if you can swing both, why not? Sometimes the stuff that doesn’t get much attention ends up being what you appreciate most once you’re living with it day in and day out.

I get why people say water savings seem boring compared to something like rooftop solar. But when you see how much you can save (and how little it actually changes your comfort), it starts to feel ...

I hear you on the water side being “boring” compared to solar panels and all that, but honestly, I’ve watched a lot of folks get way more bang for their buck with water upgrades - especially in places where droughts are hitting harder every year. I’ve built a few developments where we went heavy on low-flow fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping. It’s not flashy, but the long-term savings and just not having to stress about watering restrictions is huge.

Funny thing, people rarely notice those changes after a while, but they sure notice when their water bill drops or their lawn stays green through summer. Energy stuff is great, but in my experience, water’s where you really see the day-to-day difference.

Funny thing, people rarely notice those changes after a while, but they sure notice when their water bill drops or their lawn stays green through summer. Energy stuff is great, but in my experience, water’s where you really see the day-to-day difference.

Couldn’t agree more with this. People love the idea of solar panels because they’re visible - there’s something satisfying about seeing them up there, knowing you’re generating your own power. But honestly, the “boring” water upgrades are where I see the biggest quality-of-life improvements, especially in places where water rates keep creeping up and droughts are just a fact of life now.

I’ve worked on a few projects where we maxed out points for water efficiency - rainwater harvesting, graywater systems, drip irrigation, the works. At first, some folks were skeptical about things like low-flow showerheads or switching out their grass lawns for native plants. But after a year or two? The only thing anyone cared about was how much less they were paying each month and how they didn’t have to rip out half their landscaping every summer because of watering bans.

Don’t get me wrong, I like a good solar install as much as anyone, and it’s definitely valuable for green building points. But if you’re looking at cost vs. impact, water stuff is almost always faster payback and less maintenance in the long run. Plus, you don’t need to worry about panels getting dirty or inverters failing - your low-flow toilet isn’t going to suddenly stop working unless you do something really weird with it.

And there’s something kind of satisfying about knowing you’re not just cutting your own bills but also not contributing to the bigger problem. When cities start rationing water or putting out new restrictions, it’s the buildings with smart water systems that barely even notice.

I get why energy efficiency gets all the attention - there’s more tech and gadgets to show off. But for real-world comfort and reliability? Water wins it for me every time.