WaterSense

Notice of Intent to Revise the Requirements and
Certification of WaterSense Labeled Homes

Notice of Intent (NOI) to Revise the Requirements and
Certification of WaterSense Labeled Homes

I. Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) WaterSense® program released the first
version of its Final Specification for New Homes in 2009.1 EPA has since issued two
modifications based on updates to the WaterSense program, lessons learned from the building
industry, and additional feedback from stakeholders. In 2012, EPA broadened the scope to
enable homes in multifamily buildings to earn the label with Version 1.1,2 while also updating
product and landscape requirements. In 2014, EPA published Version 1.2 to reflect changes in
the relationship between WaterSense and irrigation professionals, which had the impact of
expanding the pool of eligible irrigation professionals who can design, install, and audit the
irrigation system for homes pursuing the WaterSense label.3

The intent of the WaterSense labeled homes program is to encourage the construction and
purchase of water-efficient, high performing homes that make use of efficient products and
advanced design. Further, the program incorporates audits and inspections to validate that
construction aligns with the intended efficient design. As summarized in Table 1, the
WaterSense specification achieves this by requiring: WaterSense labeled products; other water-
efficient appliances; sound design strategies in building systems (e.g., hot water distribution and
delivery, irrigation); and the use of trained professionals throughout design and construction
(e.g., inspection and certification process, professional requirements for irrigation system
design, installation, and audits). Through the WaterSense labeled homes program, EPA also
aims to encourage communities to use water efficiently to help extend the life of water and
wastewater infrastructure, serve as a value-added element for home builders and home buyers,
and improve the brand recognition of the WaterSense label to further encourage the purchase
of WaterSense labeled products and homes.

1	WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification. December 9, 2009.
www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-02/documents/ws-specification-home-v1.0.pdf

2	Version 1.1 WaterSense New Home Specification. Effective January 1, 2013.
www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-02/documents/ws-specification-home-spec-v1.1 .pdf

3	WaterSense New Home Specification Version 1.2. Effective July 24, 2014.
www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/20lt-01/documents/ws-homes-spec.pdf

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Notice of Intent to Revise the Requirements and
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Table 1. Summary of EPA's Indoor and Outdoor Water Efficiency Criteria From
WaterSense New Home Specification, Version 1.2

Indoor Criteria

Outdoor Criteria

Leaks

•	No visible leaks

Service Pressure

•	Service pressure < 60 psi

Hot Water Delivery

•	10-degree Fahrenheit temperature
change observed within < 0.6 gallons

Plumbing Fixtures

•	WaterSense labeled toilets, bathroom
sink faucets, and showerheads

Dishwashers and Clothes Washers*

•	ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher and
clothes washer

Landscape Design

•	Complies with WaterSense's Water
Budget Tool for water-smart design

Irrigation System*

•	WaterSense labeled irrigation controller

•	Designed or installed by an irrigation
professional certified by a WaterSense
labeled program

•	Audited by an irrigation professional
certified by a WaterSense labeled
program

•	Multifamily: Independently metered

•	Various technology restrictions and
requirements

Pools and Spas*

•	Single-family: Cover installed

•	Multifamily: Independently metered, gutter
or grate system used, sorptive media
(pre-coat) or cartridge filtration system
installed

* If included with the home at time of purchase/inspection.

EPA estimates that a WaterSense labeled home can save a family of four up to 50,000 gallons
of water and $600 per year when compared to a typical stock home. WaterSense labeled
homes also reduce the amount of energy required to heat water, further reducing utility costs for
the homeowner. Moreover, EPA has found that the WaterSense labeled homes program has
resulted in benefits beyond just the homes that are certified. WaterSense offers tools associated
with WaterSense labeled homes to builders as a resource on water-efficient product and design
strategies. These resources have benefits and result in lower water use, even in cases where
homes are not certified. WaterSense labeled homes have also proven to be a useful tool in
EPA's coordination with other certification programs. For example, the U.S. Department of
Energy's (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program requires single-family homes to
have hot water delivery systems that meet the efficiency requirements of the current
WaterSense New Home Specification. The ZERH program incorporating this important link
between water and energy use in their requirements further promotes WaterSense and water
efficiency within the building industry.

EPA aims to maintain these benefits moving forward, but in the eight years since the original
home specification's release, EPA has also observed several opportunities for improvement.
Based on feedback from stakeholders, years of programmatic operation, and changes in the
home building marketplace that have occurred over the last decade, EPA has decided to re-
examine the specification and certification process for WaterSense labeled homes. The goal is
to allow for more flexibility in the technical requirements, streamline the program requirements
and certification, adapt to a changing home building market, encourage the adoption of
emerging technologies and practices, and facilitate increased use of the specification.

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By adding flexibility to the technical requirements, as well as to the program and certification
structure, EPA seeks to increase the reach of the WaterSense homes program and make it
possible for more homes to earn the WaterSense label, while maintaining an equal (or greater)
level of water efficiency and performance. Additionally, changes to the certification process will
make earning the WaterSense label less onerous for both EPA and the industry and can be
done without compromising the certification process WaterSense employs to ensure labeled
homes in fact meet the requirements. Implementing a streamlined program that encourages
home builders and home buyers to build and select high-performing, water-efficient WaterSense
labeled homes will help advance WaterSense's mission of promoting a nationwide ethic of water
efficiency.

With this NOI, EPA seeks feedback on the existing WaterSense New Home Specification,
Version 1.2. and WaterSense New Home Certification System, Version 1.2. EPA also seeks
feedback on WaterSense's initial thoughts and potential approaches for revising the program,
including the topics and discussion identified in the following sections.

II. Technical and Efficiency Requirements and Implementation Methodology

The existing specification establishes a set of indoor and outdoor technical requirements that
must be included in the home design and verified by a trained inspector for the home to earn the
WaterSense label. Builders have indicated that this approach does not provide enough
flexibility, effectively precluding them from participating in the program. Specifically, some
requirements may not have applicability in certain regions and/or may not be cost-effective. For
example, outdoor water use may not be a focus in certain parts of the country, even though its
impact on total water use in other parts of the country is well-established. If builders are unable
to communicate the value of certain water-efficient features to homebuyers because those
features do not have regional significance, builders are unlikely to pursue WaterSense
certification in that region. Thus, industry professionals have indicated that a lack of flexibility
inhibits the ability of builders to choose cost-effective, water-efficient technologies to
differentiate their homes.

Wherever feasible, WaterSense specifications reference existing, voluntary, consensus-based
national standards as the basis for the water efficiency and performance testing protocols,
including standards that have been approved by the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI). In cases where a consensus-based standard does not exist or is deficient in meeting
WaterSense's criteria for specification adoption, EPA works with standards organizations and
industry stakeholders to develop the appropriate protocol for assessing water efficiency and
performance. With this specification, EPA will strive to reference all or part of existing standards
that address water efficiency for new homes.

WaterSense is considering alternative structures for the technical requirements of WaterSense
labeled homes, outlined below, to instill more flexibility into the program, evaluate potential
developments in water efficiency certification standards, and help achieve the program goals
and benefits described in Section I. WaterSense recognizes that these options do not represent
an exhaustive list and may not be mutually exclusive.

Points-Based Structure

Under a points-based structure, EPA would assign a pre-established number of points to certain
project elements. The builder would have the flexibility to select among the elements to achieve

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a total points threshold that is required for home certification. In some cases, certain critical
elements may be identified as prerequisites to achieve certification. There are many existing
national and regional home certification programs that implement this type of specification
structure (see Appendix A for example home certification programs).

Under this structure, EPA would assign points to criteria that, when met, improve a home's
water efficiency. Typically, the number of points assigned to a specific action item would reflect
potential water savings and other environmental benefits. In some cases, however, EPA could
assign higher point values to incentivize specific practices based on the difficulty associated
with them or to encourage a specific practice. Incorporating this approach would allow EPA to
encourage innovation and adoption of less common practices that are known to achieve greater
water efficiency and home performance.

Pursuing the points-based specification approach would provide several benefits over the
existing specification. First, this structure would provide home builders flexibility to better adapt
home offerings that address regional differences, specific demands of local customers, and/or
determine the most cost-effective and/or innovative methods to achieve the intended water
efficiency. Because the point values would be tied to water savings, WaterSense labeled homes
would still achieve the water efficiency that home buyers and program stakeholders have come
to expect from the program.

While a points-based specification structure provides some benefits over the current prescriptive
specification structure, there are a few considerations to take into account. Because builders
would be able to choose the water-saving elements they include, it is unlikely that all
WaterSense labeled homes would have consistent water efficiency features. While EPA would
plan to link point values to water savings, this may prove to be more challenging in practice.
Therefore, two homes that both achieve the WaterSense label could have differences in water
efficiency performance. This would also make it difficult for EPA to estimate water savings for
labeled homes.

Performance-Based Structure

A performance-based structure would use a modeling tool to establish predicted water
consumption for a home. A common application of this approach is via a performance rating
whereby a home's predicted water consumption is scored against a "standard" (or reference)
home with similar characteristics (e.g., number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, installed
appliances). This is done by comparing the model's prediction for the home (in gallons per day
[gpd] or gallons per year [gpy]) to a defined reference home's predicted consumption (also in
gpd or gpy). By choosing products, technologies, and design strategies that have been shown
to reduce water consumption, the predicted consumption for a home can be reduced relative to
the reference home (which does not change). As a result, builders can demonstrate that a home
is more efficient than its counterparts. Much like points-based ratings, performance ratings are
commonly used in the building industry as a measure of energy efficiency.

A simplified example of establishing a performance rating is shown in the equation below:

Performance Rating =

Rated Home Daily Water Consumption

x Reference Scale

Reference Home Daily Water Consumption

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For example, when using a modeling tool to compare the water consumption of a home that
uses WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures (Rated Home) versus a home that uses standard
plumbing fixtures (Reference Home), a performance rating reference scale from 1 to 100 could
be used. The modeling tool might predict that under normal operating conditions, the Rated
Home uses 60 gpd and the Reference Home uses 80 gpd.

Therefore, comparing the Rated Home to the Reference Home results in a score of 75. This
score signifies that the home that uses WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures is 25 percent, or
20 gpd, more efficient than a home with standard plumbing fixtures.

Performance ratings are a relatively new tool for determining water efficiency. EPA is aware of
two systems currently available or under development:

•	The Water Efficiency Rating Score® (WERS), developed by the Green Builder® Coalition,
in cooperation with Build Green New Mexico (BGNM), the Santa Fe Area Home Builders
Association (SFAHBA), and members of the City of Santa Fe Water Conservation
Committee (SFWCC).

•	The HERS water efficiency rating index (HERSH2Q). which is currently being developed
by the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).

A performance-based certification would provide a flexible format that is already familiar to the
building industry. Additionally, it would align more closely with the ENERGY STAR Certified
Homes program, which frequently uses RESNET's Home Energy Rating System (HERS) as an
efficiency measure. Providing consistency among the structures of these specifications and
certification systems could make it easier for home builders and home energy raters to
simultaneously build and inspect homes to both programs. Finally, this approach would allow
builders to leverage EPA's suite of home certifications, including EPA's Indoor airPLUS
certification program that aims to improve indoor air quality within new homes, which is also a
priority for the agency.

Request for Feedback

•	What criteria should WaterSense use for referenced standards or certification systems?
Should WaterSense require or prioritize programs that are ANSI-approved?

•	Do stakeholders prefer a points-based, performance-based, or hybrid (points-based and
performance-based) specification structure for a new WaterSense specification for
homes? Why (or, for options not chosen, why not)?

•	Which specification structure would provide the most flexibility to builders while also
ensuring that high levels of water efficiency and performance are met?

•	Do stakeholders have other ideas (in addition to modifying the specification
implementation methodology) to allow flexibility for home builders to meet the
specification criteria and to streamline the certification process?

Assumptions:

Rated Home Daily Water Consumption: 60 gpd
Reference Home Daily Water Consumption: 80 gpd
Reference Scale: 100

60 gpd

Performance Rating = —	,

y 80 gpd

x 100= 75

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•	WaterSense also requests feedback on which of these approaches would allow for the
most streamlined certification process.

•	To what extent has the current specification's lack of flexibility impacted regional
adoption of the specification?

III. Other Considerations for Technical and Efficiency Requirements

There are many potential benefits available to the WaterSense homes program from the
flexibility of the structures described above. However, WaterSense has identified additional
considerations, as listed below, that will need to be addressed regardless of which structure is
chosen.

Performance Requirements

In addition to representing water efficiency, the WaterSense label also stands for quality
performance. As such, WaterSense recognizes that regardless of the approach taken to
structure the technical requirements, it may be necessary to maintain a prescriptive checklist of
prerequisites that a home must include to earn the WaterSense label. For example,

WaterSense labeled plumbing products are independently certified for water efficiency and
performance. So, in addition to being among the easiest and most effective ways of improving a
home's water efficiency, requiring their installation will help ensure water savings and
homeowner satisfaction. The specification might therefore still require the installation of
WaterSense labeled plumbing products (which would contribute to an efficiency requirement as
well) as a requirement for any labeled home.

Potential Need for a Prescriptive Path

While many stakeholders desire more flexibility in the technical requirements, others may prefer
the simplicity a well-defined, prescriptive option. EPA's ENERGY STAR Certified Homes
program set a precedent for maintaining a performance path and prescriptive path
simultaneously, thereby giving builders options while ultimately achieving comparable levels of
efficiency and performance.

Certification Tiers

Either of the options identified in Section II could be applied in a binary pass/fail method (as
WaterSense currently does), or via a tiered structure that grants a basic certification to homes
that meet minimum efficiency requirements and a higher status to homes that go beyond. While
a tiered program could have benefits—such as recognizing the most efficient homes and
encouraging emerging technologies—tiers could have the effect of diluting the brand or
confusing the market. Neither the WaterSense product labeling system nor other comparable
government programs (e.g., ENERGY STAR) make use of tiers; however, this is a common
practice in other home certification programs (see Appendix A).

Certification of Muitifamiiy Units

Currently, WaterSense allows for units in some muitifamiiy buildings to earn the WaterSense
label.4 At this time, it is unclear how appropriate a points- or performance-based structure would

4 Under the WaterSense New Home Specification, Version 1.2, residential units in muitifamiiy buildings
that are three stories or less in size OR residential units in muitifamiiy buildings that have independent
heating, cooling, and hot water systems separate from other units are eligible to earn the WaterSense
label.

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be for a multifamily setting and whether it would require additional sampling protocols.
Additionally, WaterSense has specific concerns about applying a performance rating to a
multifamily irrigation system and landscape. In October 2017, WaterSense, in collaboration with
ENERGY STAR, released the EPA Water Score for multifamily buildings. The score is a 1 to
100 rating of how efficiently an existing multifamily building (of 20 units or more) uses water
compared to similar properties nationwide. The EPA Water Score is only available for existing,
occupied multifamily properties, as it requires at least 12 months of actual tracked water use. As
such, it is likely that the EPA Water Score for multifamily buildings will have limited use for those
seeking an "as built" certification.

Request for Feedback

•	Would either a points-based structure or performance rating adequately address
performance issues, or should WaterSense include a supplemental set of requirements
or a checklist in a specification?

•	If WaterSense pursues a points-based or performance rating option, should a
prescriptive specification option also be maintained?

•	What are the potential benefits or considerations for incorporating a tiered certification
system? Are there downsides?

•	Are there any performance models currently available or in development that could
assess a multifamily property's water efficiency performance at the design and
construction stages?

•	How important is it that WaterSense retain certification eligibility for units in multifamily
buildings?

IV. Certification System and Requirements

The certification system for WaterSense labeled homes, which defines how homes are verified,
professionals are trained, and quality assurance is conducted, is as important as the technical
requirements in the specification itself. Some stakeholders have raised concerns about barriers
within the certification system that impede participation of the inspector and rater community
and limit coordination with other certification programs. Stakeholders have noted that elements
of the inspection require a disproportionate amount of time relative to their impact on water-
saving potential or add an unnecessary administrative burden that does not contribute to the
homes' overall quality. Because barriers within the certification structure can prove just as
difficult to overcome as technical criteria, EPA intends to reexamine the necessary elements of
the WaterSense New Home Certification System, Version 1.2 to determine how it can be
improved and streamlined. An overview of the current certification process is provided in
Figure 1.

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Notice of Intent to Revise the Requirements and
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Figure 1. New Home Certification Process Under the WaterSense New Home Certification

System, Version 1.2

EPA Program Admin Provider	Inspector Home Builder

Develop
requirements*
approve program
admin.

*¦

*¦

f

Submit application
and supporting
documentation

-»

Submit agreements
and supporting
documentation







Sign agreement

Sign MOA

Develop provider
requirements

Approve providers

Provide certificate
and other materials to
approved providers







~

Develop training
requirements

Train
providers/oversee
inspector training

Approve inspectors/
conduct training

Complete training
* requirements







Sign WaterSense
partnership
agreement

Sign WaterSense
partnership
agreement







Verify

















Oversee providers

partnership '
agreement



Devetop
spectfi cation







Build homes to
specification











Inspect home



Develop
inspection
requirements

Oversee
inspections/ re-
inspect 1%







Notify p
insp

'ovider of
action

Submit home for
inspection



Issue ce
builder

rtificate to



Begin advertising
homes

partner





Develop new home
notification
form/maintain registry

Submit quarterly
report

Maintain file of
inspected homes











Expanding Access Within the Existing Inspector/Rater Community

RESNET has served as the sole program administrator since the inception of the WaterSense
homes program in 2009. However, many HERS rating providers and other RESNET community
stakeholders have experienced challenges with WaterSense's inspection and certification
requirements. For example, while a rater must complete training before being able to inspect a
home attempting to earn the WaterSense label, the rater does not receive a certification or
professional designation as a result of the training, making it less marketable. Further, many
independent raters (those that contract with other companies to provide quality assurance) find
it difficult to add WaterSense as a service if the program is not offered by their specific rating
provider. Making WaterSense certification a more accessible and marketable tool to the entire
RESNET stakeholder group could, in turn, result in more homes being certified as meeting the
WaterSense specification, and therefore more available to home buyers.

Addling Flexibility for New and Existing Program Administrators/Verification Organization

The current certification system outlines specific roles for various participants in the certification
process (as illustrated in Figure 1) with the intent of creating adequate quality assurance
controls. WaterSense considers the independence of the certification/verification process a
foundational philosophy of the program. WaterSense has received multiple inquiries from

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Notice of Intent to Revise the Requirements and
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WaterSense

organizations that wish to support the certification of homes. Just as added flexibility would have
a benefit within the technical requirements without diluting the underlying goal of identifying
high-performing, water-efficient homes, there may also be opportunities to add flexibility to the
certification system while maintaining the independence of the certification/verification process.
For example, could a robust quality assurance structure be implemented directly by a program
administrator or other verification organization, rather than through an intermediary such as a
provider as is the case in the current certification system (see Figure 1)?

EPA sees the incorporation of additional verification organizations into the WaterSense program
as a way of expanding the program's reach. Additional verification organizations might take the
form of other water efficiency programs (often local or regional) or of home certifications that
address water efficiency along with other sustainable design and construction principles.

Request for Feedback

•	How can WaterSense's inspection and certification process be more accommodating
and streamlined?

•	What is the importance of providing a professional identifier for raters?

•	What would be appropriate requirements for quality assurance and how should they be
implemented?

•	WaterSense is seeking feedback from the administrators of other building certification
programs on their interest in qualifying to issue the WaterSense label to homes.

V. Summary of Information Requests

WaterSense is requesting feedback on all aspects of this notice; summarized below are the
specific outstanding issues, questions, and concerns about which WaterSense is seeking input
prior to revising its specification for homes.

Technical and Efficiency Requirements and Implementation Methodology

•	What criteria should WaterSense use for referenced standards or certification
systems? Should WaterSense require or prioritize programs that are ANSI-
approved?

•	Do stakeholders prefer a points-based, performance-based, or hybrid (points-based
and performance-based) specification structure for a new WaterSense specification
for homes? Why (or, for options not chosen why not)?

•	Which specification structure would provide the most flexibility to builders?

•	Do stakeholders have other ideas (in addition to modifying the specification
implementation methodology) to allow flexibility for home builders to meet the
specification criteria and to streamline the certification process?

•	WaterSense also requests feedback on which of these approaches would allow for
the most streamlined certification process.

•	To what extent has the current specification's lack of flexibility impacted regional
adoption of the specification?

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Other Considerations for Technical and Efficiency Requirements

•	Would either a points-based structure or performance rating adequately address
performance issues, or should WaterSense include a supplemental set of
requirements or a checklist in a specification?

•	If WaterSense pursues a points-based or performance rating option, should a
prescriptive specification option also be maintained?

•	What are the potential benefits or considerations for incorporating a tiered
certification system?

•	Are there any performance models currently available or in development that could
assess a multifamily property's water efficiency performance at the design and
construction stages?

•	How important is it that WaterSense retain certification eligibility for units in
multifamily buildings?

Certification System and Requirements

•	How can WaterSense's inspection and certification process be more accommodating
and streamlined?

•	What is the importance of providing a professional identifier for raters.

•	What would be the appropriate requirements for quality assurance how should they
be implemented.

•	WaterSense is seeking feedback from the administrators of other building
certification programs on their interest in qualifying to issue the WaterSense label to
homes.

VI. Schedule and Next Steps

WaterSense is requesting input, supporting information, and data from all interested parties on
topics discussed in this NOI and otherwise related to the WaterSense homes program.
Interested parties can provide input to WaterSense regarding any of the issues presented in this
notice by submitting written comments to watersense-programs@erg.com. Comments and
information on the issues presented in this NOI are welcome and will be taken into
consideration as WaterSense develops the technical and certification requirements for Version

In addition, WaterSense will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, from 1:00
p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern. WaterSense will discuss the information presented in this NOI and
any stakeholder feedback received as part of the NOI review. Please register for the webinar for
access information.

As WaterSense has done in the past, EPA will issue any Version 2.0 documents as draft and
make them available for public comment prior to releasing final versions.

2.0.

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VII. References

DOE, 2017. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home National Program Requirements (Rev. 06). April
20, 2017. energv.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/doe-zero-energy-readv-home-national-program-
reguirements-rev-06

ENERGY STAR, 2015. National Program Requirements. ENERGY STAR Certified Homes,
Version 3 (Rev. 08). December 14, 2015.

www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/bldrs lenders raters/downloads/ES%20NPR%20v84%202015-
12-09 clean 508.pdf?8ee2-71a1

EPA, 2009. EPA Executive Summary. November 16, 2009.

www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/bldrs lenders raters/downloads/EPA Executive Summary.pdf
?3e30-fc2d

RESNET. "Draft RESNET Water Efficiency Rating Index Technical Guidelines Open for Public
Review and Comment." www.resnet.us/blog/draft-resnet-water-efficiency-rating-index-technical-
guidelines-open-for-public-review-and-comment/

RESNET. "What Is the HERS Index?" www.resnet.us/hers-index

Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS). www.wers.us/

WaterSense, 2014. WaterSense New Home Specification, Version 1.2. July 24, 2014.
www.epa.gov/watersense/homes-specification

WaterSense, 2014. WaterSense New Home Certification System, Version 1.2. July 24, 2014.
www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-01/documents/ws-homes-certification-system.pdf

WaterSense, 2017. Water Score for Multifamily Housing, www.epa.gov/watersense/water-
score-multifamilv-housing

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Notice of Intent to Revise the Requirements and
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Appendix A: Summary of Other Residential Certification Programs

Table A-1 provides a summary of other residential certification programs, both national and
regional, that WaterSense considered during the development of this NOI. The table is not
meant to be encompassing of all energy, water, or green construction related residential
certification programs, but a sampling of some of the more prominent programs with which
WaterSense has had experience. WaterSense welcomes feedback on programs not included in
the table below that should be considered for insight or as a model for some aspect of a
WaterSense labeled homes program.

Table A-1: Summary of Other Residential Certification Programs

Certification
Program

Organization

Certification
Territory

Implementation
Methodology (e.g.,
Prescriptive; Points-
Based; Performance-
Based)

Tiered
Rating

Website

ENERGY
STAR
Certified
Homes

EPA

National

Prescriptive or
performance-based

No

www.eneravstar.
aov/newhomes

ENERGY
STAR
Multifamily
High Rise
Program

EPA

National

Prescriptive or
performance-based

No

www.eneravstar.
aov/index.cfm?c=
bldrs lenders rat

ers.nh multifamil
v hiahrise

Indoor
airPLUS

EPA

National

Prescriptive

No

www.eoa.aov/ind
oorairolus

Zero Energy
Ready Home

DOE

National

Prerequisites plus
performance-based

No

enerav.aov/eere/
buildinas/zero-
enerav-readv-
home

LEED for
Homes

U.S. Green
Building
Council
(USGBC)

National

Prerequisites plus
points-based

Yes

new.usabc.ora/ce
rt-auide/homes

National

Green

Building

Standard™

/ICC-700

(NGBS)5

Home
Innovation
Research
Labs

National

Prerequisites plus
points-based

Yes

www.homeinnova
tion.com/Green

Green
Globes

Green

Building

Initiative

National

Prerequisites plus
points-based

Yes

www.theabi.ora/a

reen-alobes-

certification/

5 American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved.

A-1

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Certification
Program

Organization

Certification
Territory

Implementation
Methodology (e.g.,
Prescriptive; Points-
Based; Performance-
Based)

Tiered
Rating

Website

Home

Energy

Rating

System

(HERS)

Index

RESNET

National

Performance rating

N/A

www.resnet.us/h
ers-index

HERSh2o
Index

RESNET

National

Performance rating

N/A

www.resnet.us/or
ofessional/about/r
esnet to develoD
water efficiency
ratina svstem

Water

Efficiency

Rating

System

(WERS)

Green Builder
Coalition/
Build Green
New Mexico
(BGNM)

National

Performance rating

N/A

www.wers.us/

Florida Water
StarSM

St. Johns
River Water
Management
District

Florida

Prescriptive (for Silver
tier); prescriptive plus
points-based (for Gold
tier)

Yes

floridawaterstar.c
om/

Water Smart

Home

Program

Southern
Nevada Water
Authority
(SNWA)

Southern
Nevada

Points-based

No

www.snwa.com/b
iz/oroarams hom
e.html

EarthCraft™

Southface

Energy

Institute

Southeastern
U.S.

Points-based

Yes

www.earthcraft.or

aL

GreenPoint
Rated

Build It Green

California

Prerequisites plus
points-based

Yes

www.builditareen.

ora/areenooint-

rated

Built Green®

Master
Builders
Association of
King and
Snohomish
Counties

Washington

Prerequisites plus
points-based

Yes

www.builtareen.n
et/

Build Green
New Mexico

Build Green
New Mexico

New Mexico

Performance-based
plus points-based

Yes

www.buildareenn
rn.com/

A-2

February 15, 2018


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