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
Housing Finance
Apr 07, 2026
Trump Seeks Nearly $11 Billion Cut to HUD ProgramsPresident Trump has proposed a budget that would cut non-defense discretionary spending by $73 billion for fiscal year 2027, which runs from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027. The spending reductions include a $10.7 billion cut — about 13% — for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Sustainability and Green Building
Apr 06, 2026
Emerging Green Building Professional Spotlights Innovative Takeaways from IBSThe NAHB IBS Sustainability and Green Building Scholarship aims to provide emerging green builders exposure to the world of high-performance homes and help them jump-start their professional journey by attending the International Builders’ Show (IBS). This year’s winner is Grace Weger, a green builder making a meaningful impact in the world of affordable housing.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 07, 2026
Rising Rates Weigh on Mortgage ActivityMortgage application activity decreased month-over-month as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, declined 4.3% from February on a seasonally adjusted basis but remained 30.8% higher than a year earlier.
Economics
Apr 06, 2026
Which States and Construction Trades Depend the Most on Immigrant Workers?Immigrants’ share of the construction workforce reached a record high in 2024, with foreign-born workers accounting for more than a quarter of the industry’s labor force (26.3%). The share is even higher among construction trades, for which one in three craftsmen is foreign-born.
Economics
Apr 03, 2026
Job Growth Rebounds in MarchThe U.S. labor market showed signs of a modest rebound in March following a weak February, as payroll employment increased and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3%. Job growth was led by healthcare, construction, and transportation and warehousing.