Just north of downtown San Antonio in the Pearl district, the Credit Human building is hard to miss. Its blue and green lettering, solar-paneled roof and sleek exterior are highly visible from U.S. 281 and strike an impressive pose for passersby on Broadway. But what can’t be seen from the outside is perhaps more notable.
Behind its energy-efficient windows and walls, the Credit Human building can store nearly 140,000 gallons of rainwater and condensate from its air-conditioning system to be used for irrigation, flushing toilets and cooling the building. The only water it buys from the San Antonio Water System is for consumption, resulting in the building using 97 percent less potable water than a typical building its size.
The building sets a lofty example of what’s possible in water efficiency and reduced utility expenses. But the costs of equipping buildings with such infrastructure, particularly for existing buildings, can discourage commercial property owners from doing so — Credit Human designed its headquarters with water reuse from the onset.
