The National Kitchen & Bath Association releases its official statement on the importance of green design and building practices.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association articulated its commitment to sustainability and preserving the environment through a statement Nov. 11. It expresses the importance the NKBA places on sustainable design, building practices and materials. It also conveys its position on green products and practices, while outlining some of the steps the NKBA is taking to lead the industry in this area.

The statement was developed by the NKBA’s Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee, chaired by 2008 NKBA Vice President Mark L. Karas, CMKBD, who said, “This statement on sustainability is just one step in the NKBA’s leadership of the kitchen and bath industry toward environmentally responsible building and remodeling practices.”

“The NKBA realizes the special importance that the kitchen and bath have in sustainable design, as each consumes more water and electricity and has a greater impact on health and safety than any other rooms in the home,” said 2008 NKBA President Sara Ann Busby, CKD. “As President of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, my primary goal has been to increase awareness of sustainability in kitchen and bath design, and I’m very excited that the NKBA is leading the industry toward ecologically sound products and procedures.”

The complete text of the NKBA’s statement on sustainability is as follows:

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the largest association exclusively dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry. With 11 various industry segments, the NKBA’s greatest strength is the diversity of its members. The National Kitchen & Bath Association is thoroughly committed to sustainability and our responsibility to the global environment, and we actively encourage our members to contribute to the integration of green practices in the kitchen, bath and related industries.

The kitchen and bath are two rooms that consume much of the energy and water used in the home. The NKBA is committed to helping its members understand and learn the environmental impact that the creation and use of these rooms can have on energy, water, air quality, health, safety and welfare in the home and the environment.

In addition, to realize a return on investment for practicing sustainability, the NKBA urges its members to look for shared values between business and environmental initiatives.

Understanding of Terms: Green is to be earth friendly. Sustainability, in the context of the environment, is to make use of processes and materials that can be maintained, reused, or recycled for an indefinite period in order to reduce and eliminate toxins while minimizing the negative impact on the environment. For a more extensive list of terms: see NKBA.org/Green.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association promotes sustainability on a number of fronts:

Mission of the Board: To educate our members to be better stewards of the environment for today and for future generations.

National Headquarters: Adopted practices, policies and training for employees to “live and work” in a sustainable organization.

Working towards greening its major conferences, such as K/BIS, by recycling and exploring methods to conserve water and energy use.

Encourages members to make every attempt to teleconference, carpoo, and use e-mail notices in lieu of paper mailings.

Education and Networking: To provide current educational programs on sustainability. The NKBA provides networking opportunities to share best practices through chapter programs and meetings. For current educational courses and chapter meetings, visit NKBA.org/Courses.

Members’ Responsibility: To educate clients on sustainable practices in the selection and specification of materials for every product within their homes.

Partnering: To create alliances with like associations in order to provide resources and opportunities that help to educate our members.

For more information on the NKBA’s position on sustainability, visit www.nkba.org.