If you want to "go blue," you are not just limited to WaterSense labeled products for your home. Going blue for a whole home is now a reality with the first WaterSense labeled new home in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The home meets EPA's WaterSense draft specification, includes water-efficient products inside and water-saving features and landscaping on the outside, and incorporates design features that save water.

gThrough the WaterSense New Homes Pilot Program, we can lay a strong foundation for environmental progress,h said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. gAs the program encourages installation of products that save water and money, homeowners are realizing first-hand the benefits of efficient water use.h

Vanguard Homes, one of seven builders participating in the WaterSense New Homes Pilot Program, finished the home to meet EPAfs draft new homes criteria for water efficiency and performance.

Homes built to the WaterSense draft specification are designed to use about 20 percent less water than conventional homes by including WaterSense labeled products and Energy Star qualified appliances, and using water-efficient features and practices. In turn, homeowners can reduce their water usage by more than 10,000 gallons per year and save on their energy bills.

Introduced in 2006, WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by EPA that makes it easy for Americans to save water and protect the environment by identifying water-efficient products, services and soon, new homes. The WaterSense label can be found on toilets and bathroom faucets.

Products that have earned the WaterSense label have been independently tested to meet water-efficiency specifications set by EPA. In 2007, WaterSense partners were responsible for labeling, selling and promoting more than 193,400 WaterSense labeled products, saving the United States more than 277 million gallons of water annually.

More information, visit EPA's WaterSense webpage.

11/29/2008