WaterSense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009



EPA Releases Final Specification for WaterSense New Homes

This will help homeowners increase water efficiency and save on their
utility bills

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its
final WaterSense single-family new homes specification today, creating
the first national, voluntary, water-efficiency specification for an
entire new home.

"Home builders can now partner with EPA and earn the WaterSense label
for their newly built homes, helping to create livable communities and
quality homes that are easy to maintain," said Peter S. Silva, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Water. "These homes will save
homeowners as much as $200 a year on utility bills compared to their
current homes."

EPA worked with hundreds of stakeholders over the past three years to
develop this specification, which was designed to complement existing
green building programs. WaterSense labeled new homes, which will be 20
percent more efficient than typical new homes, must be independently
inspected and certified by an EPA licensed certification provider to
meet the WaterSense criteria for water efficiency and performance.

The new homes will feature WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, Energy
Star qualified appliances (if installed), water-efficient landscaping,
and hot water delivery systems that deliver hot water faster, so
homeowners don't waste water-or energy-waiting at the tap.

By investing in WaterSense labeled homes, American home buyers can
reduce their water usage by more than 10,000 gallons per year-enough to
fill a backyard swimming pool-and save enough energy annually to power a
television for four years.

If the approximately 1.27 million new homes built in the United States
each year were WaterSense labeled, it would save more than 12 billion
gallons of water.

With this announcement, EPA is inviting home builders to join the
WaterSense program and commit to building water-efficient new homes.

WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the
future of our nation's water supply by offering people simple ways to
use less water.

More information on WaterSense labeled new homes:
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/spaces/new_homes.html

To see a video message about the WaterSense new homes specification:
http://www.epa.gov/multimedia/playercontents/video/watersense/index.html