On September 26, 2024, the 2024 WaterSense Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence Award winners were announced during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference. WaterSense and its more than 2,000 utility, manufacturer, retail, builder, and other organizational partners make it possible for consumers and businesses to save water, energy, and money by producing and promoting water-efficient products, homes, and programs. Since 2006, WaterSense partners have helped save 8.7 trillion gallons of water and $207 billion on consumer utility bills.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is pleased to recognize 19 Sustained Excellence Award winners, 10 Partner of the Year Award winners, and 22 Excellence Award winners for their support of WaterSense and water efficiency in 2023 and contributing to annual savings of 1.2 trillion gallons of water!

For the second year in a row, Fulton Homes has earned a WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for its dedication to building WaterSense labeled homes. In 2023, Fulton closed on over 350 homes, all of which were WaterSense certified, and Fulton has committed to continue to build 100 percent WaterSense labeled homes in all new communities. In addition to WaterSense labeled toilets, faucets, and showerheads, Fulton Homes feature WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, high-efficiency tankless water heaters, water recirculation systems, and leak detection systems. Fulton communities also use reclaimed water for common spaces; residents must limit front yard irrigation, and Fulton meets regularly with homeowner associations (HOAs), going beyond the WaterSense homes specification to encourage conservation outdoors.

To take sustainability a step further, the Learning Academy, Fulton's online training facility, provides courses on efficient building and energy practices, required for all construction and customer care personnel. Their online education program is also available to all of their contractors and sales associates. Fulton Homes educates those outside the company by maintaining a large presence within the Energy Environmental Builders Alliance, where they advocate for WaterSense labeled homes and fixtures.

In 2023, Fulton achieved what they call the "EPA Triple Crown," winning an ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award, Indoor AirPlus Leader Award, and WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award. Fulton Homes was featured in an article and case study by Arcxis Energy Inspectors highlighting the collaboration of the two organizations promoting water and energy-saving homes.

To learn more about the WaterSense program, visit the EPA's WaterSense website at: www.epa.gov/watersense .