* WaterSense Labeled Homes Program Home Certification Organization: RESNET The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense® program works with Home Certification Organizations (HCOs) to certify and issue the WaterSense label to homes that meet EPA's criteria for both water efficiency and performance. What's in a WaterSense Labeled Home? All WaterSense labeled homes are independently certified to meet EPA's Mandatory Checklist and be at least 30 percent more water-efficient than a typical new home. MANDATORY CHECKLIST TO ENSURE QUALITY PERFORMANCE LEAKS Q Pressure-loss test on all water supplies detects no leaks o Free of visible leaks from all fixtures and appliances at point of use or point of connection to water distribution system O Toilets o Bathroom faucets O Showerheads o Bathroom tub faucets, i.e., tub spouts o Kitchen and other sink faucets o Other fixtures or appliances (e.g., water heaters, clothes washers, dishwashers) WATERSENSE LABELED PLUMBING FIXTURES O Toilets O Bathroom sink faucets O Showerheads EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENT VERIFIED EFFICIENCY O At least 30 percent more water-efficient than a typical new home (based on national standards and common design and landscape practices). What is a Home Certification Organization's Role in Labeling Homes for WaterSense? Wthin the WaterSense Labeled Homes Program, HCOs are responsible for quality assurance, verifier training and oversight, home verification protocols, and reporting. HCOs also maintain their own certification method (reviewed and approved by EPA) to evaluate a home's water efficiency and determine whether it meets EPA's efficiency requirement. This WaterSense Approved Certification Method (WACM) can include features such as water-efficient fixtures, appliances, and systems (e.g., irrigation and hot water delivery) that builders can include in homes to meet the efficiency requirement. Keep reading to learn more. © How Builders Can Get Involved: Are you a builder ready to get started? Partner with WaterSense and visit www.epa.gov/watersense/ watersense-labeled-homes to learn more. ------- HCO Profile: RESNET RESNET is a national non-profit organization founded in 1995. RESNET develops standards for the certification and oversight of home energy and water ratings and the certification of individuals who conduct those ratings. With its network of more than 2,500 active and certified Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Raters and Rating Field Inspectors, RESNET has a footprint in all 50 states. RESNET also accredits the software used to complete ratings and a network of quality assurance providers that are responsible for the oversight of energy and water ratings. Method for Labeling Homes: HERSH20 RESNET uses HERS H2o for WaterSense certification. HERSH2o is based on the nationally accredited standard ANSI/RESNET/ICC 850. To earn the WaterSense label through HERSmo, a home must achieve a score of 70 or less and adhere to the items on WaterSense's Mandatory Checklist. Since HERSH2o is a performance-based program, builders can use any combination of indoor and outdoor water efficiency measures to achieve the target score. Scope A HERSH2o rating can be done on both new and existing single-family and duplex homes, including townhomes. Homes in all 50 states in the United States, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are eligible for a HERSH2o rating. HERSh20 Alignment With Other Certification Programs Information for Verifiers HERSH2o was designed to be easily added to a HERS rating. HERS Raters and Rating Field Inspectors who have been trained and authorized as WaterSense Home Verifiers only need to complete a few additional testing and inspection reguirements during their final HERS inspection in order to issue a HERSmo rating and verify that a home has earned the WaterSense label. This process makes it easy for builders to use one Rater to obtain HERS and HERSmo ratings, the WaterSense label, and ENERGY STAR® certification. Certified RESNET HERS Raters, Rating Field Inspectors, and California HERS Raters are eligible to become HERSmo Raters and WaterSense Home Verifiers. They can do so by completing an online HERSmo Rater Training on the RESNETTraining Portal and viewing the WaterSense Labeled Homes Version 2 training video. HERSmo Raters are also reguired to work under a RESNET Accredited HERSmo Rating Provider. For more information about RESNET, visit: www.resnet.us/about/hersh2o/ &EPA APRIL 2022 ------- |