WaterSense Labeled New Homes

Building a new home is a big investment for you and your family's future. But when you build a water-efficient home, you're investing in the future for your community and the planet as well. The WaterSense program is making it easy for buyers to identify new homes that save both water and energy. WaterSense labeled homes are independently inspected and certified to use 20 percent less water than typical new homes.

Residential water use accounts for more than half of publicly supplied water in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established WaterSense to protect the future of the nation's water resources and to promote water-efficient products and services with a simple, easy-to-identify label.

Single-family homes that are built to meet EPA's specification can earn the WaterSense label. EPA criteria include WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, efficient hot water delivery, systems, smart landscape design, and other features. WaterSense labeled new homes are independently inspected and certified to meet these criteria, giving home buys confidence that the home will really save water.

How Can Homes Save Water?

WaterSense labeled new homes save about 10,000 gallons of water per year, or enough water to fill a backyard swimming pool. In addition to WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, these new homes include ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers and clothes washers, if those appliances are installed when the home is built.

WaterSense labeled new homes also incorporate a hot water distribution system that decreases the amount of time it takes for hot water to reach the faucet or shower—so residents don't waste time, energy, and thousands of gallons waiting for hot water to reach the tap or tub.

Outdoors, WaterSense labeled homes feature water-efficient landscaping and irrigation (if an irrigation system is installed). Builders have the option of developing an outdoor "water budget" and planning the landscaping accordingly, or ensuring any area they landscape uses a variety of water-efficient plantings and feature, with less than 40 percent covered by grass.

Move Into an Efficient Home

WaterSense labeled new homes also provide families with significant energy savings, due to the reduced amount of hot water used. The energy saved by a WaterSense labeled new home is enough to power the home's television for 4 years.

Builders interested in constructing water-efficient homes can join the WaterSense program as partners and receive tools to support their water-efficiency efforts. Once they complete a home, an EPA licensed certification provider ensures the home is inspected and certified to meet the WaterSense specification. To learn more about the WaterSense new homes program or to find a WaterSense builder partner near you, visit www.epa.gov/watersense/meet_our_partners.html.

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