Water Star Certification
Water efficiency certification for Florida homes, buildings, and developments
RunBrook helps builders, developers, owners, municipalities, and project teams pursue Florida Water Star certification with practical guidance, documentation support, field verification coordination, and building performance expertise.
Florida Water Star is a voluntary water conservation certification program for homes and commercial buildings that use less water in landscapes, irrigation systems, and indoors. The program is designed specifically for Florida projects and helps support more efficient water use, lower operating costs, and better environmental stewardship.
Why Water Star certification matters
Build for water savings, lower costs, and Florida’s future
Florida Water Star certification gives project teams a structured way to reduce water use inside and outside the building. For Florida projects, where water supply, landscaping, irrigation, and long-term operations are important considerations, the program can help demonstrate responsible design and construction practices.
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Florida Water Star focuses on indoor fixtures, appliances, landscape design, and irrigation systems that help reduce unnecessary water consumption.
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Water-efficient homes can save money over time by reducing both indoor and outdoor water use.
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The program encourages landscape and irrigation practices that are better suited to Florida’s climate and water resources.
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Certification can help builders and developers communicate the value of water efficiency to buyers, renters, owners, and stakeholders.
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Some local governments have incorporated Florida Water Star into local building code or water conservation requirements, so it is important to confirm requirements with the applicable jurisdiction.
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Florida Water Star can be integrated with other programs such as ENERGY STAR, FGBC, and LEED to support broader sustainability goals.
What is Florida Water Star certification?
Florida Water Star is a water conservation certification program for new and existing homes, commercial buildings, and developments. The program includes standards and guidelines for water efficiency related to indoor fixtures and appliances, landscape design, and irrigation systems.
Certification provides assurance that a home or building meets criteria for a higher standard of water efficiency. The program can be used for a broad range of projects, from single-family homes and multifamily developments to commercial and institutional properties.
Florida Water Star is especially valuable because it focuses on the water use areas that matter most in Florida, including irrigation design, outdoor water demand, landscape choices, plumbing fixtures, and long-term maintenance practices.
RunBrook’s role
Certification guidance from experienced water efficiency professionals
RunBrook can help project teams determine whether Florida Water Star, FGBC, LEED, NGBS, ENERGY STAR, or another certification path is the best fit for the project’s goals, location, budget, and schedule. If Florida Water Star is selected, our team can help guide the project through the certification process and coordinate documentation, inspections, and verification requirements.
RunBrook’s past Water Star page noted that there are relatively few Florida Water Star inspectors in Florida and that RunBrook’s team has experience with multifamily, production home, commercial, and institutional projects. Our role is to help applicants reduce costly mistakes, understand compliance criteria, and coordinate the certification process efficiently.
RunBrook can support your project with:
Florida Water Star certification strategy
Rating system comparison and guidance
Design-phase water efficiency review
Documentation coordination
Indoor fixture and appliance review
Landscape and irrigation coordination
Field inspection coordination
Certification readiness review
Coordination with builders, developers, owners, landscape teams, irrigation teams, and municipalities
Final documentation and certification support
What Florida Water Star evaluates
Key areas of water efficiency
Florida Water Star focuses on the major areas of water use in Florida homes, buildings, and developments. Together, these categories help project teams reduce water demand, support environmental goals, and create projects that are better suited to Florida’s climate and water resources.
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Florida Water Star encourages efficient plumbing fixtures and appliances that help reduce indoor water use while supporting occupant comfort and function.
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The program promotes site-appropriate landscapes that reduce unnecessary irrigation demand and support responsible outdoor water use.
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Florida Water Star evaluates irrigation system design and performance so water is applied efficiently and not wasted through overspray, poor zoning, inefficient equipment, or unnecessary watering.
Program pathways
Certification support for homes, buildings, and communities
Florida Water Star includes criteria for different types of construction and development. The program can apply to residential, commercial and institutional, and community-scale projects.
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Florida Water Star residential certification can apply to new homes, existing homes, condominiums, townhomes, production homes, and residential communities. Residential certification may include Silver, Gold, or Retrofit tiers depending on the project type and performance goals.
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Commercial and institutional criteria focus on performance-based water conservation and documentation for maintaining landscapes, irrigation systems, and indoor fixtures. This pathway can support a range of nonresidential project types.
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Florida Water Star community criteria focus on water efficiency and reducing water pollution at a community-wide level. This pathway can support low impact development strategies and water efficiency across multiple lots or larger development areas.
Water savings and market value
A practical certification for Florida buyers and owners
Florida Water Star certification can help builders and developers communicate the practical value of water efficiency. According to Florida Water Star program information, certified homes can save up to 6,000 gallons indoors and up to 42,000 gallons outdoors annually. The Southwest Florida Water Management District notes that an average Florida Water Star homeowner can save up to 48,000 gallons of water and up to $530 on annual utility bills each year.
For residential projects, this can create a competitive edge by helping buyers understand that the home was designed and verified for more efficient water use. For commercial and institutional properties, reduced water consumption can also support lower operating costs and broader sustainability goals.
Accredited professionals and inspections
Verification by trained Florida Water Star professionals
The Florida Water Star certification process involves project documentation, inspection, verification of compliance, and final certification coordination. Florida Water Star inspectors must be accredited and are responsible for reviewing documentation, inspecting the project, and coordinating with the program administrator regarding the final certification decision.
Florida Water Star also encourages the use of Florida Water Star Accredited Professionals for landscape and irrigation work. Accredited Professionals receive training and testing related to water conservation, landscape design, and irrigation design principles.
RunBrook can help project teams understand these roles, coordinate the inspection process, and keep certification requirements aligned with the design and construction schedule.
Project types we support
Water efficiency support for Florida projects
RunBrook supports Florida Water Star certification for a range of project types, including:
Single-family homes
Multifamily developments
Production home communities
Townhome projects
Build-to-rent communities
Apartment communities
Commercial buildings
Institutional buildings
Mixed-use projects
Land developments
Residential communities
Existing homes and renovations
Municipal or locally required water conservation programs
Related RunBrook services
Coordinated support for broader sustainability goals
Florida Water Star certification often connects with other green building, energy, and performance services. RunBrook can help coordinate Water Star requirements alongside other certification or compliance goals.
Related services may include:
Certification process
A clear path from planning to certification
Step - 1 Define project goals
We begin by reviewing the project type, location, water efficiency goals, certification requirements, timeline, and whether Florida Water Star is voluntary or required by a local jurisdiction.
Step - 2 Develop the certification strategy
RunBrook helps identify applicable criteria, documentation needs, landscape and irrigation coordination needs, and potential risks.
Step - 3 Coordinate documentation and inspections
Our team works with the project team to organize required documentation and coordinate inspection or verification steps.
Step 4 - Support final certification
RunBrook helps support the final certification process so the project can move toward approval and recognition.
Why choose RunBrook?
Florida water efficiency guidance backed by project experience
RunBrook brings green building knowledge, field coordination, and Florida project experience to Water Star certification. Because our team also supports FGBC, LEED, NGBS, ENERGY STAR, DOE Efficient New Homes, HERS ratings, energy modeling, and quality assurance inspections, we understand how water efficiency fits into the broader sustainability and building performance picture.
Project teams choose RunBrook for:
Florida Water Star certification guidance
Water efficiency documentation support
Experience with multifamily and production home projects
Commercial and institutional project support
Coordination with landscape and irrigation teams
Familiarity with Florida-focused certification programs
Strategic comparison with FGBC, LEED, NGBS, and ENERGY STAR
Clear communication with builders, developers, owners, and municipalities
Practical certification support from planning through final documentation
Frequently asked questions
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Florida Water Star includes criteria for residential, commercial and institutional, and community projects. It can apply to new construction, existing homes, renovations, commercial buildings, and developments.
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The program focuses on indoor fixtures and appliances, landscape design, and irrigation systems. These areas are major drivers of water use in Florida projects.
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Florida Water Star is generally voluntary, but some local governments have incorporated it into local code or water conservation requirements. Project teams should confirm local requirements with the applicable jurisdiction.
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Yes. Florida Water Star can be integrated with other programs, including ENERGY STAR, FGBC, and LEED.
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A Florida Water Star inspector reviews project documentation, inspects the project, verifies compliance with program criteria, and coordinates with the program administrator regarding the final certification decision.
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Yes. RunBrook can help compare Florida Water Star with FGBC, LEED, NGBS, ENERGY STAR, DOE Efficient New Homes, or other certification options based on the project type, goals, location, timeline, and requirements.
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Yes. RunBrook can support commercial, institutional, multifamily, and residential projects pursuing Florida Water Star certification.
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Call us at 1-833-RunBrook
(1-833-786-2766)
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Discuss Your Next Project
If your project requires energy modeling, certification support, HERS ratings, blower door testing, or other building performance services, RunBrook can help keep the process moving from design through final verification.