By Eric S. Cavallo, Founder/President, Earthly Infrastructure® Building and Infrastructure Development Inc. | Virginia Licensed Contractor (Commercial Building) | Member, International Code Council (ICC) | Alternate Member, Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals | Stakeholder Advisor, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), SB195 Stakeholder Advisory Committee
As the Commonwealth of Virginia prepares for the next generation of housing development, water resource management has emerged as a central concern for local governments, regulatory agencies, and the building industry alike. Against this backdrop, WaterSense® labeled homes represent a critical advancement in sustainable residential construction—one that aligns environmental performance with code compliance, affordability, and long-term infrastructure planning.
Developed and administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the WaterSense® program establishes rigorous standards for residential water efficiency. To earn the WaterSense® label, a home must be verified by a licensed certification provider to use at least 30 percent less water than comparable new construction, without sacrificing performance or occupant comfort. This includes the installation of high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, pressure-regulated irrigation systems, and conservation-oriented site design strategies—all subject to field verification and performance testing.
At Earthly Infrastructure®, we view WaterSense® compliance not as a marketing distinction, but as a baseline requirement for ethical and forward-looking development. In a coastal state like Virginia—where groundwater depletion, saltwater intrusion, and stormwater system overload are persistent concerns—integrating water-efficient housing into the broader regulatory framework is no longer optional. It is essential.
To that end, Virginia’s housing future must reflect a coordinated policy shift. This includes potential updates to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) to more explicitly support EPA-recognized standards, enhanced guidance to local plan review officials, and the development of municipal incentives that reward certified water-efficient developments. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is uniquely positioned to lead these efforts by encouraging localities to integrate WaterSense® adoption into comprehensive planning, utility coordination, and affordable housing strategies.
As a licensed commercial contractor and a sitting member of the Virginia Beach Board of Zoning Appeals, I have witnessed firsthand how zoning decisions, infrastructure burdens, and permit review processes can either facilitate or hinder sustainable progress. WaterSense® labeled homes offer municipalities a practical, performance-based pathway to reduce utility demand, mitigate environmental risk, and meet housing targets without compromising public health or safety.
Virginia has the opportunity to set a national precedent—one that links regulatory excellence with environmental responsibility. By prioritizing WaterSense® standards within housing policy, zoning reform, and builder education, we can deliver measurable gains in sustainability, public trust, and long-term cost savings.
The future of housing in Virginia must be built not just to shelter—but to sustain.
Built safe. Built in compliance. Built for Virginia.