That's interesting about the community garden idea... hadn't thought of that angle before. I've mostly dealt with low-flow installs, and even those can cause headaches if tenants aren't on board.
"once people got used to it, things smoothed out surprisingly well."
Curious though, how did your buddy handle tenant turnover? Did new tenants adapt quickly or was there another learning curve each time someone moved in?
Tenant turnover definitely adds another layer of complexity. I've seen this firsthand with low-flow fixtures—new tenants often come in expecting the same water pressure they're used to, and there's usually a bit of an adjustment period. One building I worked with had installed low-flow showerheads and toilets, and we found it helpful to include a quick orientation during move-in. Nothing fancy, just a brief explanation about why the fixtures were chosen and how they benefit everyone in the long run. It seemed to help tenants feel more invested in the idea.
"once people got used to it, things smoothed out surprisingly well."
This was pretty much our experience too. After the initial adjustment, complaints dropped significantly. But yeah, every new tenant meant revisiting that conversation. I imagine composting toilets would require even more upfront education, but probably worth it if tenants see the bigger picture. Has anyone else tried a similar orientation approach? Curious if it worked as well for composting setups...
Just moved into my first home and it came with low-flow fixtures already installed. At first, I was pretty skeptical—especially about the shower pressure—but after a week or two, I barely noticed the difference. A quick heads-up from the previous owner would've been nice though...
"At first, I was pretty skeptical—especially about the shower pressure—but after a week or two, I barely noticed the difference."
Yeah, low-flow fixtures have improved quite a bit in recent years. Curious though, has anyone here actually switched from low-flow to composting toilets? Wondering how the maintenance compares...
I've had a few tenants who've used composting toilets, and honestly, the maintenance isn't as daunting as it sounds. Once you get past the initial learning curve—figuring out the right balance of moisture and carbon-rich materials—it becomes pretty routine. Most tenants adapted quickly, though I did have one who struggled a bit with odor control at first. Turns out they weren't adding enough sawdust or peat moss regularly.
Compared to low-flow toilets, composting ones definitely require more hands-on attention. You're not just flushing and forgetting; there's periodic emptying and compost management involved. But on the upside, you're saving a ton of water and producing usable compost for gardens or landscaping. If you're comfortable with a bit more involvement, it's worth considering. Have you thought about how you'd handle the compost itself? That's usually the bigger adjustment for most folks...
