Homes Certification Background

WaterSense has established a system for certification and labeling of homes that meet the WaterSense homes specification. Draft versions of the systems were typically released with the draft specification. Information on the specification can be found on the Homes Specification Background page. 

Certification System – Version 2.0 

EPA released Version 2.0 of the WaterSense Home Certification System in February 2021 to correspond with the WaterSense Specification for Homes, Version 2.0.

• 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)

Certification System - Version 1.3

EPA released Version 1.3 of the WaterSense Home Certification System in May 2020 to respond to changes in the building industry.

• WaterSense Home Certification System (Version 1.3) (18 pp, 437 K, About PDF)
• Explanation of Revisions to the WaterSense Home Certification System (4 pp, 660 K, About PDF)

Certification System - Version 1.2

EPA released Version 1.2 of the certification system in July 2014, concurrent with version 1.2 of the homes specification. 

• WaterSense New Home Certification System (Version 1.2) (27 pp, 520 K, About PDF)

In order to earn the WaterSense label under version 1.2, all homes were inspected to ensure they meet EPA's criteria. The following documents provide detailed information on how the homes were tested and what information the builder was required to supply to the verifier.

• Inspection Checklists and Guides:
  • Inspection and Verification Guidance for WaterSense Labeled New Homes (Version 1.2) (PDF) (20 pp, 487 K, About PDF)
  • WaterSense Labeled New Homes Inspection Checklist (Version 1.2) (PDF) (4 pp, 221 K, About PDF)
  • WaterSense Labeled New Homes—Additional Information for Single-Family New Homes Covered by a Sampling Protocol (Version 1.2) (PDF) (3 pp, 150 K, About PDF)
  • WaterSense Labeled New Homes—Additional Information for Units in a Multi-Family Building Covered by a Sampling Protocol (Version 1.2) (PDF) (3 pp, 150 K, About PDF)
• Irrigation Audit Checklist and Guide (for new homes with an irrigation system installed):
  • WaterSense Labeled New Homes Irrigation Audit Checklist (Version 1.2) (PDF) (3 pp, 176 K, About PDF)
  • WaterSense Labeled New Home Irrigation Audit Guide (Version 1.2) (PDF) (2 pp, 191 K, About PDF)

Certification System - Version 1.1

EPA revised the WaterSense New Home Certification System to correspond with revisions to the WaterSense New Home Specification in 2012. You can find the final documents, drafts, and public comments related to the revisions of the WaterSense New Home Certification System below.

• WaterSense New Home Certification System (Version 1.1) (PDF) (27 pp, 471 K, About PDF)

Certification System - Version 1.0

• WaterSense New Home Certification System (Version 1.0) (PDF) (26 pp, 156 K, About PDF)
• Response to Public Comments Received on December 2008 Draft New Home Certification System (PDF) (10 pp, 55 K, About PDF)
• Public Comments on the December 2008 Draft Inspection and Certification Systems for New Homes (PDF) (32 pp, 157 K, About PDF)
• Draft WaterSense New Home Certification and Labeling System (December 18, 2008) (PDF) (22 pp, 132 K, About PDF