Water Conservation Certification Program – Florida Water Star
Florida Water Star is a voluntary water conservation certification program for residential homes and commercial buildings throughout Florida. The program sets standards and guidelines for water efficiency across three primary categories: indoor fixtures and appliances, landscape design, and irrigation systems. Its aim is to recognize buildings that meet defined water-saving criteria across these areas.
Certification follows a three-step process. Property owners engage Florida Water Star accredited professionals for landscape and irrigation work, hire an independent inspector to document compliance with all criteria, and then complete final certification through the Certified Ratings Program. Certified homes are reported to conserve up to 6,000 gallons indoors annually and up to 42,000 gallons outdoors annually. The program promotes site-appropriate, drought-tolerant turfgrasses rather than requiring specific varieties.
The initiative is designed to integrate with other major certifications, including ENERGY STAR, the Florida Green Building Coalition’s certification, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program. Many Florida local governments have adopted the program into their building codes to help meet water supply objectives, giving it a role in regional planning and construction standards.
Florida Water Star operates through partnerships with several water management districts. The St. Johns River Water Management District serves as the primary administrator, working alongside the South Florida Water Management District, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Green Building Coalition. Through these partners, the program coordinates standards and outreach across much of the state.
The program offers extensive resources, including technical manuals covering building site, indoor, irrigation system, and landscape criteria, a waterwise plant database, budget calculators, and a Green Building Registry. It also runs training and certification workshops and maintains directories of accredited professionals and inspectors. Inquiries can be directed to Robin Grantham or Deirdre Irwin by email, and additional support materials address codes, rebates, and integration with green building standards for property owners and builders across Florida.