Homes Specification Background
The WaterSense Homes specification was first released in 2009. Version 1 was in effect from 2009 through 2021. Work to develop Version 2 of the specification began in 2018 and was completed in 2021. The sections below have more information about the homes specification development process for each version of the program, including final, draft specifications, public comments on the draft specification, EPA's response to the public comments, and questions and answers.
On this Page:
- Version 2.0 - Transition
- Version 2.0 - Draft
- Version 2.0 - Notice of Intent and Concept Paper
- Version 1.2 - Final
- Version 1.1 - Final
- Version 1.1 - Draft
- Version 1.1 - Notice of Intent
- Version 1.0 - Final
- Version 1.0 - 2nd Draft
- Version 1.0 - 1st Draft
- Landscape Water Budget Tool
Version 2.0 - Transition
The WaterSense Specification for Homes, Version 2.0 became available for stakeholders to use to earn the WaterSense label on homes immediately upon release in February 2021. EPA established a transition period during 2021 to allow stakeholders to prepare for full implementation of Version 2 of the WaterSense Labeled Homes Program. Stakeholders could pursue certification using the WaterSense New Home Specification, Version 1.2 for any projects with permits issued by June 30, 2021. Certification of those homes must have been finalized by December 31, 2021. After that date, all builders pursuing the WaterSense label for a home were required to meet the technical requirements of the WaterSense Specification for Homes, Version 2.0.
The document below provides more information about the transition.
Version 2.0 - Draft
On April 18, 2019, EPA released the WaterSense Draft Specification for Homes, Version 2.0.
The documents below provide more information about the draft specification and the supporting program.
- WaterSense Draft Specification for Homes Supporting Statement (16 pp, 497 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Draft Specification for Homes, Version 2.0 (4 pp, 234 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Draft Home Certification System, Version 2.0 (30 pp, 645 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Draft Technical Evaluation Process for Approving Home Certification Methods (38 pp, 730 K, About PDF)
EPA also developed a factsheet (2 pp, 424 K, About PDF) that summarized its proposed changes to the WaterSense labeled homes program.
On May 14, 2019, EPA held a teleconference and webinar with stakeholders to discuss the draft documents released as part of Version 2.0 of the WaterSense labeled homes program. Register to view a recording of the webinar. The presentation slides and a summary of the meeting are provided below.
- WaterSense Draft Homes Program, Version 2.0 Stakeholder Meeting Presentation (PDF) (89 pp, 6 MB, About PDF)
- WaterSense Draft Homes Program, Version 2.0 Stakeholder Meeting Summary (PDF) (12 pp, 357 K, About PDF)
Interested parties had the opportunity to submit comments on the draft WaterSense labeled homes program, Version 2.0 through June 18, 2019. The public comments EPA received by that date are provided below.
- Comments on the Draft WaterSense Labeled Homes Program, Version 2.0 (PDF) (73 pp, 3 MB, About PDF)
- Response to Public Comments Received on the Draft of the WaterSense Labeled Homes Program, Version 2 (PDF) (52 pp, 847K, About PDF)
Version 2.0 - Notice of Intent and Concept Paper
On February 15, 2018, WaterSense released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to develop version 2.0 of the specification and certification requirements for WaterSense labeled homes.
- NOI to Revise the Requirements and Certification of WaterSense Labeled Homes (PDF) (13 pp, 612 K, About PDF)
On March 14, 2018, EPA hosted a teleconference and webinar with stakeholders to discuss the NOI. The presentation slides and a summary of the meeting are provided below.
- WaterSense Labeled Homes v2.0 NOI Public Meeting Presentation (PDF) (53 pp, 1 MB, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled Homes v2.0 NOI Public Meeting Summary (PDF) (15 pp, 211 K, About PDF)
On October 24, 2018, WaterSense released a concept paper outlining possible updates that may be included in Version 2.0. The concept paper describes proposed changes to requirements for homes to earn the WaterSense label and for organizations to be eligible to oversee the certification and labeling of homes to earn the WaterSense label. The concept paper considered comments received in response to the Notice of Intent (NOI) to revise the WaterSense Specification for Homes and serves as an update to interested parties as WaterSense prepares a draft specification and certification system for release in 2019.
On November 13, 2018, EPA held a webinar with stakeholders to discuss the concept paper. Register to view a recording of the webinar.
Version 1.2 - Final Specification
Version 1.2 of the WaterSense New Home Specification went into effect July 24, 2014. Version 1.2 contains minor revisions to Version 1.1 that effectively expand the pool of eligible irrigation professionals who can design or install and audit the irrigation system to any irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program.
- Version 1.2 WaterSense New Home Specification (PDF) (19 pp, 250 K, About PDF)
- Summary of Revisions to the WaterSense New Home Specification (PDF) (7 pp, 176 K, About PDF)
- 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 Irrigation Audit Checklist (Version 1.2) (PDF) (3 pp, 176 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes Irrigation Audit Guide (Version 1.2) (PDF) (2 pp, 191 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)
- Water Budget Tool
- Builder Resource Manual (Version 1.2) (PDF) (75 pp, 1.4 MB, About PDF)
- Guide for Efficient Hot Water Delivery Systems (Version 1.2) (PDF) (28 pp, 854 K, About PDF)
- ws-homes-hw-volume-tool.xlsm(1 pg, 484 K)
- Information about having a home inspected and certified to the specification.
Version 1.1 - Final Specification
WaterSense released Version 1.1 of the WaterSense New Home Specification on August 30, 2012, which was effective through July 23, 2014. Version 1.1 revisions expanded the scope to enable homes in multi-family buildings to earn the label, updated product requirements, and adjusted landscape criteria. Below are the materials and documentation supporting this version of the specification.
- Version 1.1 WaterSense New Home Specification (PDF) (20 pp, 236 K, About PDF)
- Inspection Checklists and Guides:
- Inspection and Verification Guidance for WaterSense Labeled New Homes (Version 1.1) (PDF) (20 pp, 444 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes Inspection Checklist (Version 1.1) (PDF) (4 pp, 112 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes Irrigation Audit Checklist (Version 1.1) (PDF) (3 pp, 100 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Home Irrigation Audit Guide (Version 1.1) (PDF) (2 pp, 68 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes—Additional Information for Single-Family New Homes Covered by a Sampling Protocol (Version 1.1) (PDF) (3 pp, 64 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes—Additional Information for Units in a Multi-Family Building Covered by a Sampling Protocol (Version 1.1) (PDF) (3 pp, 56 K, About PDF)
- Builder Resource Manual (Version 1.1) (PDF) (76 pp, 904 K, About PDF)
- Guide for Efficient Hot Water Delivery Systems (PDF) (28 pp, 484 K, About PDF)
Version 1.1 - Draft Specification
On March 22, 2012, WaterSense issued the Draft Version 1.1 WaterSense New Home Specification. Below are the final draft documents, public comments, and EPA's response to comments on the draft.
- Draft New Home Specification (Version 1.1) (PDF) (21 pp, 1 MB, About PDF)
- Draft Appendix D: Summary of Additional and Adjusted Criteria for Multi-Family Buildings (PDF) (3 pp, 94 K, About PDF)
- Response to Public Comments Received on March 2012 Draft New Home Specification (Version 1.1) (PDF) (33 pp, 344 K, About PDF)
- Stakeholder Comments on Draft New Home Specification (Version 1.1) (PDF) (81 pp, 881 K, About PDF)
- Public Meeting Presentation on Draft New Home Specification (Version 1.1) (38 pp, 545 K, About PDF)
- Public Meeting Summary (PDF) (7 pp, 76.2 K, About PDF)
- Revised Inspection Checklists:
- Draft WaterSense Labeled New Homes Inspection Checklist (Version 1.1) (PDF) (4 pp, 74 K, About PDF)
- Draft WaterSense Labeled New Homes Irrigation Audit Checklist (Version 1.1) (PDF)(3 pp, 53 K, About PDF)
- Draft WaterSense Labeled New Homes—Additional Information for Units in a Multi-Family Building Covered by a Sampling Protocol (PDF) (2 pp, 49 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Statement on Proposed Modifications (PDF) (2 pp, 307 K, About PDF)
Notice of Intent to revise Version 1.0
On October 21, 2011, WaterSense released a notice of intent (NOI) to modify the 2009 WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification to gather comments on the proposed modifications and information on the outstanding issues. Below are the documents pertaining to this NOI.
- Notification of Intent (PDF) (5 pp, 99 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense New Homes NOI Public Meeting Summary (PDF) (14 pp, 102 K, About PDF)
- Comments on the Notification of Intent (PDF) (62 pp, 3.8 MB, About PDF)
Version 1.0 - Final Specification
Below are the final documents supporting the 2009 WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification (Version 1.0), which was effective through December 31, 2012.
- Final 2009 WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification (Version 1.0) (PDF) (15 pp, 120 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification Supporting Statement (PDF) (17 pp, 120 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes Inspection Checklist (Version 1.0) (PDF) (3 pp, 78 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes Inspection Checklist—Additional Information for New Home Covered by a Sampling Protocol (Version 1.0) (PDF) (2 pp, 78 K, About PDF)
- Guidelines for Irrigation Audits on WaterSense Labeled New Homes (Version 1.0) (PDF) (2 pp, 48 K, About PDF)
- WaterSense Labeled New Homes Irrigation Audit Checklist (Version 1.0) (PDF) (3 pp, 48 K, About PDF)
- Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance (PDF) (12 pp, 208 K, About PDF)
Version 1.0 - Second Draft Specification
WaterSense released the Revised Draft Water-Efficient Single-Family New Home Specification on May 8, 2009. Below is a list of documents supporting the second draft.
- Revised Draft Single-Family New Home Specification Cover Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 84 K, About PDF)
- Revised Draft Single-Family New Home Specification (PDF) (8 pp, 85 K, About PDF)
- Public Comments for the Revised Draft Single-Family New Home Specification and Related Materials (PDF) (419 pp, 1.7 MB, About PDF)
- Response to Public Comments for the Revised Draft Single-Family New Home Specification and Related Materials (PDF) (36 pp, 159 K, About PDF)
EPA held two public meetings to discuss the Revised Draft Water-Efficient Single-Family New Home Specification on June 10, 2009, in Washington, D.C., and on June 22, 2009, via webinar. For more information, please see the public meeting summary (PDF) (26 pp, 276 K, About PDF) and the public meeting presentation (PDF) (25 pp, 532 K, About PDF).
Version 1.0 - First Draft Specification
EPA released the original Draft Water-Efficient Single-Family New Home Specification on May 22, 2008. Below are the documents supporting this first draft.
- First Draft Single-Family New Home Specification Cover Letter (PDF) (2 pp, 84 K, About PDF)
- First Draft Single-Family New Home Specification (PDF) (8 pp, 85 K, About PDF)
- First Draft Single-Family New Home Specification Supporting Statement (PDF) (17 pp, 190 K, About PDF)
- First Draft Single-Family New Home Specification Inspection Guidelines:
- Draft Inspection Guidelines (PDF) (14 pp, 146 K, About PDF)
- Draft Irrigation Audit Guidelines (PDF) (4 pp, 56 K, About PDF)
- Public Comments by Author for the First Draft Single-Family New Home Specification (PDF) (205 pp, 893 K, About PDF)
- Public Comments by Subject for the First Draft Single-Family New Home Specification (PDF) (190 pp, 888 K, About PDF)
EPA held an online public meeting to discuss the first Draft Water-Efficient Single-Family New Home Specification on June 18, 2008. For more information, please see the public meeting summary (PDF) (5 pp, 241 K, About PDF).
Landscape Water Budget Tool
EPA’s Water Budget Tool supports Section 4.1.1 of the WaterSense New Home Specification.
WaterSense revised the Water Budget Tool to correspond with revisions to the WaterSense Home Specification. You can find previous versions of the Water Budget Tool and other supporting documents below.
- watersense-specification-waterbudget-tool-v1.01.xls(1 pg, 85 K)
- Water Budget Quick Start Guide (June 2010) (PDF) (4 pp, 792 K, About PDF)
- Water Budget Approach (December 2009) (PDF) (14 pp, 256 K, About PDF)
- watersense-specification-revised-waterbudget-tool.xls(1 pg, 73 K)
- Public Comments on the November 2008 Draft Water Budget Tool for New Homes (PDF) (128 pp, 576 K, About PDF)