Homes Certification
On this Page:
- Benefits of Certification
- Approved HCOs
- Prospective HCOs
- Home Verifiers
- Verifying Homes Built to the Homes Specification
- Background Information
Benefits of Certification
The WaterSense Labeled Homes Program provides a system for certifying and labeling homes that meet the WaterSense Specification for Homes. WaterSense works with Home Certification Organizations (HCOs) and their designees to approve their certification method, oversee verification, provide quality assurance, and issue the WaterSense label for homes. Builders who have constructed homes to meet other green certification program criteria, such as ENERGY STAR® certified homes or homes that have received a HERS rating, will find the WaterSense certification process similar. WaterSense certification requires a single verification that can be done in a one-time visit after the home is completed.
- WaterSense Homes Certification System, Version 2.0 (PDF) (23 pp, 321 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Technical Evaluation Process for Approving Home Certification Methods (PDF) (39 pp, 495 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Program Guidelines (PDF) (33 pp, 492 K, About PDF)
Builders interested in having their homes verified may be able to contract directly with a verifier or HCO, depending on the business relationship. Discuss the WaterSense label with your existing verifier or certification provider—they might already be able to provide this additional service.
Approved HCOs
|
Home Certification Organizations (HCOs) |
Associated WaterSense Approved Certification Method (WACM) | Scope | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHEERS | CHEERS WaterSense (must achieve a score of 70 or lower) | California; new single family homes | Rob Starr (rstarr@cheers.org) |
| Water Efficiency Rating Score (WERS)® with WaterSense Baselines (must achieve a score of 66 or lower) | Nationwide; new and existing single-family homes | Mike Collignon (mcollignon@greenbuildercoalition.org) | |
| Home Innovation Research Labs |
(1) National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Green with WaterSense Prescriptive or Performance Path (2) Certified Water Rating Index (WRI) |
Nationwide; new and existing single and multifamily homes (additional restrictions depending on path) | Cindy Wasser (cwasser@homeinnovation.com) |
| RESNET | HERSH2O (must achieve a score of 70 or lower) | Nationwide; new and existing single family homes | Ryan Meres (ryan@resnet.us) |
Learn more about the approved HCOs and their WACMs.
- CHEERS – CHEERS WaterSense (pdf)
- Green Builder® Coalition (pdf)
- Home Innovation Research Labs - National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Green with WaterSense Prescriptive or Performance Path (pdf)
- Home Innovation Research Labs – Certified Water Rating Index (WRI) (pdf)
- RESNET – HERSH2O (pdf)
Prospective HCOs
HCOs interested in certifying homes in accordance with the WaterSense Home Certification System must apply for EPA approval and sign a licensing agreement. Prospective HCOs should review the certification system to understand the requirements associated with the role.
- Apply to become an HCO (DOC) if you are interested in certifying homes for the WaterSense program in accordance with the Certification System.
Home Verifiers
The required WaterSense verification is a simple process that can be done in a single visit, often in as little as one to two hours. For a home to earn the WaterSense label, it must be verified by a trained and approved WaterSense home verifier and certified by an EPA approved HCO. Verifiers are trained, evaluated, approved, and overseen by the EPA approved HCOs to ensure they have the capability and competence to verify homes in accordance with the WaterSense Specification for Homes. Verifiers must be trained on the most current version of the WaterSense Home Specification to continue to offer certification and verification services for WaterSense. Existing home certification professionals can inquire with HCOs about training to become a WaterSense home verifier.
Verifying Homes Built to the Homes Specification
Under the WaterSense Specification for Homes, a trained WaterSense home verifier will verify that a home meets the required efficiency threshold associated with the HCO’s WaterSense Approved Certification Method and that it includes all the features of the Mandatory Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes. The Mandatory Checklist requires that all toilets, bathroom sink faucets, and showerheads be WaterSense labeled, and that the home be free of water leaks from all fixtures, appliances, and water piping. Contact one of EPA’s approved HCOs to find out more about verification requirements to earn the WaterSense label.
Mandatory Checklist for WaterSense Labeled Homes
|
Item |
Requirements |
|---|---|
|
Leaks |
Pressure-loss test on all water supplies detects no leaks |
|
Free of visible leaks from toilet(s), as determined through visual assessment and by conducting a dye tablet test in each toilet to ensure the flapper is not leaking |
|
|
Free of visible leaks from bathroom faucet(s) |
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Free of visible leaks from showerhead(s) |
|
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Free of visible leaks from bathroom tub faucet(s), i.e., tub spout(s), when showerhead(s) are activated, as determined through visual assessment after showerhead(s) have been activated for one minute |
|
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Free of visible leaks from kitchen and other sink faucet(s) |
|
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Free of visible leaks from other fixtures or appliances (e.g., water heaters, clothes washers, dishwashers, hose bibbs, irrigation systems) at the point of use or point of connection to water distribution system |
|
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Toilets |
WaterSense labeled |
|
Bathroom sink faucets |
WaterSense labeled |
|
Showerheads |
WaterSense labeled |
Background Information
To find out more about the development of the WaterSense labeled home certification system, including previous versions, draft documents, public comments on the draft requirements, and EPA's response to the public comments, please visit the Homes Certification Background page.