Final Specification for New Homes

EPA released its Final Specification for Single-Family New Homes on December 10, 2009. This specification establishes the criteria for new homes labeled under the WaterSense program and is applicable to newly constructed single-family homes and townhomes of three stories or less. Note that WaterSense has issued a Draft New Homes Specification (Version 1.1) (PDF) (21 pp, 1MB, About PDF)

Draft New Homes Specification (Version 1.1)

On March 22, 2012, WaterSense issued a Draft New Homes Specification (Version 1.1) (PDF) (21 pp, 1MB, About PDF) that modifies the Final Specification for Single-Family New Homes issued in 2009. The proposed modifications would expand the scope to enable homes in multi-family buildings to earn the label, update product requirements, and adjust landscape criteria.

Draft New Homes Specification (Version 1.1) (PDF) (21 pp, 1MB, About PDF)
Draft Appendix D: Summary of Additional and Adjusted Criteria for Multi-family Buildings (PDF)
(3 pp, 94K, About PDF)
Revised Inspection Checklists:

WaterSense Statement on Proposed Modifications (PDF) (2 pp, 307K, About PDF)
Comment template (MS Word)

New Homes Public Meeting

WaterSense hosted a public meeting on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 to gather comments on the proposed modifications or information on the outstanding issues described in the Notification of Intent (PDF) (5 pp, 90K, About PDF) to modify the Specification for Single Family New Homes.

WaterSense New Homes NOI Public Meeting Summary (PDF) (14 pp, 102 K, About PDF)
Notification of Intent (PDF) (5 pp, 99K, About PDF)
Comments on the Notification of Intent (PDF) (62 pp, 3.80MB, About PDF)

Final Specification & Supporting Materials

Final Specification for Single-Family New Homes (PDF) (15 pp, 120K, About PDF)
WaterSense Single-Family New Home Specification Supporting Statement (PDF) (17 pp, 196K, About PDF)
Water Budget Tool (Option 1 in section 4.1.1 of the Specification for New Homes)
Resource Manual for Building WaterSense Labeled New Homes (PDF) (66 pp, 540K, About PDF)
Information about having a home inspected and certified to the specification.

Additional Background on Specification Development

Research Report on Turfgrass Allowance (PDF) (12 pp, 208K, About PDF)
The Single-Family New Home Specification Background Information page has more information about the single-family new homes specification development process, including the draft specifications, public comments on the draft specification, EPA's response to the public comments, and questions and answers.