[Insert Organization Name Here]

2013 Manufacturer Partner of the Year Written Statement Template

Please complete, save, and upload to your award application. Compose your written statement by addressing 

the evaluation criteria below based only on your activities in 2012, unless otherwise requested. Your written 

statement must be no more than six (6) pages in length. Organize and label your statement using the 

categories listed below (e.g., “Strategic Collaboration”). The point values following each category indicate the 

maximum potential value for all activities within that category. Some partners may not be able to address all of 

the evaluation criteria, but may be eligible for an Excellence Award if they exhibit outstanding accomplishments 

in one of the following categories.

Remember that Partner of the Year awards are based on activities that increase awareness about the 

WaterSense program, labeled products, new homes and services. General education on the importance of 

water efficiency is valued, but the focus of your application should be on activities that specifically integrated 

WaterSense. If you choose to submit supporting materials that complement your written statement, which is 

recommended, clearly reference each supporting material in your written statement (preferably with 

annotations).

Evaluation Criteria

1. Strategic Collaboration (40 points)

Describe how your organization collaborated with retailers, promotional partners (e.g., utilities, 

nonprofits, trade associations, state and local governments), builders or other manufacturers to further a 

common goal of increasing water efficiency. Provide quantifiable results, if possible, and describe how this 

collaboration relates to the WaterSense mission.

Describe how and when your organization collaborated with the WaterSense program and other 

stakeholders to develop technical specifications for new WaterSense labeled product categories. (You may 

include specification support that began prior to but continued into 2012.)

Describe research your organization conducted, funded, or reviewed that furthered the development of a 

WaterSense product or practice specification. (You may include research that began prior to 2012 as long 

as such research continued into 2012.)

2. Labeled Products in the Marketplace (30 points) 

Identify the number and types of WaterSense labeled products your organization brought to market. 

Include the percentage of your portfolio that has earned the WaterSense label and the number and/or 

percentage of markets in which your WaterSense labeled products were sold. If possible, provide the 

percentage of your total sales in various product categories (e.g., toilets, faucets/accessories, 

showerheads, urinals, WBICs) attributed to WaterSense labeled products and the percentage change over 

from the previous year. 

Describe your organization’s innovations in water-efficient design that were brought to market in 2012, 

especially considering where you innovated to meet WaterSense specifications. Identify any design-related 

awards for water-efficient products that your company received in 2012.

3. Promotion, Education, and Public Relations Activities (30 points)

Identify your organization’s target audience(s) for WaterSense-related outreach or advertising (e.g., 

consumers, plumbers, contractors, utilities).

Describe your organization’s efforts to promote the WaterSense program to target audience(s) in print, 

broadcast, and social media. Highlight how you used the WaterSense name and/or program marks and 

quantify results, if possible, by including the number of media impressions, direct mail pieces, or web page 

views.

Describe efforts used to train staff on the correct use of WaterSense program marks, especially the 

WaterSense label. 
[Insert Organization Name Here]

Describe how your organization promoted WaterSense labeled products, including to consumers, trade 

organizations, plumbers, contractors, home builders, or other relevant audiences. Include supporting 

materials and list the results of your efforts.

Describe how your organization participated in or promoted live or online events designed to increase 

public awareness of the WaterSense label or water efficiency in 2012 (e.g., Fix a Leak Week, We’re for 

Water, Shower Better Campaign, Earth Day activities).

Describe how your organization has promoted WaterSense via online activities. Online promotions might 

include correctly displaying the label on the company website, hosting blogs, frequently highlighting 

WaterSense on social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), initiating targeted email campaigns, or 

advertising online.