[Insert Organization Name Here]

2013 Builder 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., “Construction of WaterSense Labeled New Homes”). 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. Construction of WaterSense Labeled New Homes (25 points)

What percentage of the new homes that you built to the WaterSense New Home Specification earned the 

WaterSense label in 2012? 

How many new homes that your organization built in 2012 were designed to meet the WaterSense New 

Home Specification? How many were certified as WaterSense labeled new homes?

Describe the water-efficient features of your WaterSense labeled new homes. Do any of these waterefficient features go above and beyond the new home specification? Do any of your labeled new homes 

use innovative technologies or designs to achieve water savings? If so, please describe how.

Describe which water-efficient landscaping options were employed (e.g., the WaterSense Water Budget 

Calculator or 40 percent turf option) for front yard landscaping.

Describe other efforts undertaken in 2012 to increase your offering of WaterSense labeled homes in 2012

and 2013.

2. Marketing, Advertising, and Consumer Education (25 points)

Describe how your organization promoted WaterSense and water efficiency and advertised WaterSense 

labeled new homes to consumers. Indicate how you used the WaterSense builder promotional label and/or 

partner toolkit materials to inform potential home buyers about the benefits of buying a WaterSense labeled 

new home.

Explain if/how the WaterSense label has made your new homes more marketable to potential customers.

Describe how and where you advertised your WaterSense labeled new homes (e.g., online, broadcast, or 

print media).

Describe any events or open houses you sponsored or participated in that helped spread the word about 

the availability and/or benefits of WaterSense labeled new homes.

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.
[Insert Organization Name Here]

3. Training/Employee Education (25 points)

Describe your efforts to train sales staff or better educate yourself on promoting the benefits of WaterSense 

labeled new homes to potential customers.

Describe your efforts to provide technical training or education to employees and/or subcontractors, 

including providing guidance on designing the hot water distribution systems, use of the water budget tool 

or other regionally appropriate outdoor watering/landscaping practices, and/or specifying WaterSense

labeled plumbing fixtures, etc.

Describe how you identified and utilized WaterSense trade partners (e.g. WaterSense irrigation partners, 

licensed certification providers, etc.) to meet the WaterSense specification requirements. 

4. Strategic Collaboration (25 points)

Describe how you collaborated with WaterSense and other WaterSense partners or stakeholders, such as 

licensed certification providers, realtors, manufacturers, local governments and utilities, landscape irrigation 

professionals, home builders associations, or other groups to promote WaterSense labeled new homes 

and general WaterSense messaging.

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

refinement of a WaterSense product or practice specification. (You may include specification support that 

began prior to but continued into 2012.)