WaterSense for Homes Celebrates its First Version 2.0 Certification
The WaterSense® label for plumbing products is one of the most highly recognized consumer labels in the residential construction industry, according to findings from NAHB's What Home Buyers Really Want, 2019 edition. The WaterSense for Homes program — a voluntary, above-code certification for both water savings and performance — can help assure home buyers in a competitive market where third-party certifications matter, provide them a choice in efficient homes, and help them save water, energy and money.
The new WaterSense 2.0 program allows whole-home performance-based water efficiency rating programs to be used in achieving the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WaterSense label for homes. NAHB member KB Home was recently awarded the first certification under this pilot program for a new home in its Inspirada master plan subdivision in Henderson, Nev.
"The Version 2.0 pilot is an important opportunity for WaterSense to gain feedback on how to best support the building industry as well as ensure that the needs of home buyers are being met," said Jonah Schein, national program manager for WaterSense labeled homes, in the press release announcing the certification.
The WaterSense program will also utilize that feedback to continue compiling estimates of the annual water, energy and utility bill savings derived from the use of WaterSense products. Those accomplishment reports and how they are created, along with myriad data sources used to carry out the program, have been compiled on a new user-friendly Data and Information EPA webpage. Data available may be useful in conversations with local jurisdictions about water policies that support residential building, and include per capita water use, water withdrawals, end uses of water, national building stock and energy use, and savings from avoided water heating.
For more information about NAHB's sustainable and green building programs, visit nahb.org/sustainability. And to stay current on the high-performance residential building sector, follow NAHB's Sustainability and Green Building team on Twitter.
Latest from NAHBNow
Legal
Mar 06, 2026
NAHB Commends Court Ruling Vacating HUD 2021 IECC MandateNAHB Chairman Bill Owens issued the following statement after the Eastern District Court of Texas issued its decision in a lawsuit brought by NAHB and 15 states challenging the legality of the HUD and USDA rule imposing the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and the 2019 ASHRAE 90.1 standard on certain housing programs.
Membership
Mar 06, 2026
Bill Truex Seeks Certification as a Candidate for 2028 NAHB Third Vice ChairmanThe NAHB Nominations Committee announces that Bill Truex, president, Truex Preferred Construction in Englewood, FL, has submitted his Letter of Intent to seek certification as a candidate for NAHB 2028 Third Vice Chairman.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Mar 06, 2026
U.S. Economy Loses 92,000 Jobs in FebruaryThe U.S. labor market weakened in February, as payroll employment declined and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. The cooling labor market could place the Federal Reserve in a challenging position as policymakers weigh slower job growth against inflation pressures from rising oil prices.
Economics
Mar 05, 2026
Builders Identify Key Long-Term Forces Shaping Housing Demand and Industry HealthHome builders are keenly aware of the complex long-term outlook ahead for the home building industry. A recent NAHB/Wells Fargo HMI survey asked builders to assess the impact of 14 major trends and forces on the health of the industry and housing demand over the next 10 years.
Economics
Mar 05, 2026
Affordability Posts Mild Gains in Second Half of 2025 but Crisis ContinuesThough new and existing homes remain largely unaffordable, the needle moved slightly in the right direction in the second half of 2025, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).