EPA Names KB Home a 2012 WaterSense Partner of the Year

For second consecutive year, builder achieves highest possible EPA recognition for its water conservation efforts

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KB Home (NYSE: KBH), one of the nation’s largest and most recognized homebuilders, has been honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a WaterSense® Partner of the Year for the second time in as many years. The Built to Order™ builder was the first to partner with the WaterSense program in 2009 to include WaterSense labeled fixtures as standard features in its new homes, and is the only homebuilder to be recognized as a WaterSense Partner of the Year. KB Home has constructed the most WaterSense labeled new homes in the country, including net-zero energy homes that also met the WaterSense program certification requirements. Additionally, all KB homes built today include WaterSense labeled faucets, showerheads and toilets.

“The 2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year were exceptional in their efforts to support innovative approaches to help people and companies save water and money on utility bills nationwide.”

“We are pleased that our extensive water conservation initiatives have again been recognized by the highest government authority,” said Dan Bridleman, senior vice president of sustainability, technology and strategic sourcing for KB Home, who was presented the award at last week’s WaterSmart Innovations Conference held in Las Vegas, Nevada. “KB Home remains committed to water efficiency and our other sustainability-related initiatives that increase the value of the homes we build. We intend to continue to lead the way in this area as we believe it is the right thing to do as a homebuilder for our customers and the planet.”

The EPA’s WaterSense program offers a national label for water-efficient new homes that helps Americans identify homes that save water, energy and money on utility bills. According to the EPA, WaterSense labeled homes use 20 percent less water when compared to typical new homes. For a family of four, that translates to a savings of 50,000 gallons of water per year, and about $600 in annual utility bills.

“WaterSense is proud to partner with these champions of water efficiency who share our mission to protect the future of our nation’s water supply,” said Nancy Stoner, EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. “The 2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year were exceptional in their efforts to support innovative approaches to help people and companies save water and money on utility bills nationwide.”

About KB Home

KB Home is one of the largest and most recognized homebuilding companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1957, the company has built more than half a million quality homes. KB Home's signature Built to Order™ approach lets each buyer customize their new home from lot location to floor plan and design features. In addition to meeting strict ENERGY STAR® guidelines, all KB homes are highly energy efficient to help lower monthly utility costs for homeowners, which the company demonstrates with its proprietary KB Home Energy Performance Guide® (EPG®). A leader in utilizing state-of-the-art sustainable building practices, KB Home was named the #1 Green Homebuilder in the most recent study by Calvert Investments and the #1 Homebuilder on FORTUNE magazine's 2011 World's Most Admired Companies list. Los Angeles-based KB Home was the first homebuilder listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and trades under the ticker symbol "KBH." For more information about KB Home's new home communities, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit www.kbhome.com.