Home Innovation Expands Opportunity for Water Efficiency Certifications

Home Innovation has expanded building eligibility for certified Water Rating Index (WRI) scores and WaterSense certification,  Previously, the WRI and WaterSense labels were restricted to buildings that were seeking NGBS Green certification concurrently. Now, all new homes and multifamily buildings, regardless of whether NGBS Green certification is pursued, can seek these water efficiency certifications.

Since 2009, Home Innovation has served as national certification body for the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) ICC700 and has certified nearly 400,000 homes and apartments to date. The 2020 NGBS introduced the Water Rating Index (WRI) methodology, which assesses a 0 to 100 score for a property’s total indoor and outdoor water use, compared to baseline conditions. In February 2021, Home Innovation was recognized by the U.S. EPA WaterSense Labeled Homes program as an approved Home Certification Organization (HCO), with compliance pathways based on selected practices from the 2020 NGBS.

Especially in areas experiencing water shortages, water ratings offer residential builders a way to stay ahead of local regulation and offer consumers a way to distinguish between properties based on their total cost of ownership.

By pursuing these new offerings, partners access new tools that can help them consider various design choices and their impact on water use. Builders and developers can work with an NGBS Green WRI Verifier to guide them through the process and inspect the building(s) for compliance. These individuals are green building professionals who have undergone additional training related to water efficiency. 

Certified WRI and WaterSense buildings can access to market collateral, certification marks, and logos to highlight their water efficiency achievements. Visit our website to learn more and contact us with any questions.

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ABOUT: Home Innovation Research Labs, located in Upper Marlboro, Md., is a full-service research, testing, and consulting firm determined to improve the quality, durability, affordability, and environmental performance of single- and multifamily homes and home building products – in short, we aim to perfect the home. Founded in 1964 as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), our team has been integral in solving many of our client’s most difficult product and technology issues, and helping to introduce some of the most groundbreaking innovations in construction. Through an interdisciplinary research approach – including market research, building science analysis, laboratory testing, and standards development – we help to find a home for innovation in the construction industry.

NOTE TO EDITORS ON STYLE USAGE: To identify this company and its work correctly, first reference should be "Home Innovation Research Labs." In subsequent mentions, “Home Innovation” should be used; we are not identified by an acronym. Prior to February 12, 2013, the company was known as the NAHB Research Center.