KB Home Publishes 2024 Sustainability Report
KB Home, one of the most recognized and trusted names in U.S. homebuilding, has proudly published its 2024 Sustainability Report—marking the 18th consecutive year the company has detailed its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The report is the longest-running and most detailed of its kind within the homebuilding industry, and it reaffirms KB Home’s leadership in sustainable development and responsible home construction.
In an industry where environmental stewardship is often perceived to be at odds with economic accessibility, KB Home has consistently proven otherwise. By weaving sustainability into the fabric of its business model, the company continues to show that environmentally conscious homebuilding can go hand in hand with affordability, offering solutions that benefit not only homeowners but also communities and the environment at large.
Aligning Sustainability with Affordability
KB Home’s mission from the outset has been rooted in a simple but powerful idea: make homeownership more accessible to first-time buyers through innovation. Since its founding in 1957, the company has focused on building quality homes that lower the total cost of homeownership. In the last 18 years, this vision has evolved to include an expansive commitment to sustainability—resulting in homes that are not only affordable to purchase but also less expensive to operate, thanks to reduced utility bills and enhanced energy performance.
“Innovation has always been at the core of KB Home,” said Jeffrey Mezger, Chairman and CEO. “What began as a drive to make homeownership more accessible has grown into a broader mission—building high-performance homes that help lower the total cost of ownership, reduce environmental impact, and support the American dream.”
2024: A Year of Milestones
KB Home’s 2024 Sustainability Report highlights several major accomplishments, reinforcing the company’s role as an industry trailblazer. Among the key achievements:
- ENERGY STAR Leadership: In 2024, KB Home built its 200,000th ENERGY STAR® certified home—more than any other U.S. builder. This milestone not only showcases the company’s consistent performance but also solidifies its #1 ranking in energy-efficient construction nationwide.
- Best-in-Class HERS Scores: The average Home Energy Rating System® (HERS) Index score for KB homes in 2024 was just 45—well below the industry average. This score means a KB home is 55% more energy-efficient than a typical home built as recently as 2006. Impressively, this target was achieved a full year ahead of the company’s original goal set in 2020.
- Water Conservation Impact: KB Home has cumulatively built over 26,000 homes certified under the WaterSense® and Water Smart programs. The company has installed more than 1.2 million WaterSense-labeled fixtures, contributing to the conservation of an estimated 2.1 billion gallons of water annually.
- Financial Savings for Homeowners: Since the year 2000, KB Home has helped its customers save approximately $1.3 billion on utility bills. In 2024 alone, a newly built KB home delivered an estimated $1,800 in annual utility savings per household when compared to a typical resale home.
A Legacy of Innovation
KB Home’s history of sustainability stretches back nearly five decades. The company’s first energy-efficient home debuted in 1976, and in 2000, it built its first ENERGY STAR certified residence. By 2008, KB Home made the forward-thinking decision to ensure that all homes would meet ENERGY STAR criteria—a commitment that has since defined its development strategy.
Beyond energy efficiency, KB Home has driven innovation across other sustainability fronts. In 2010, it became the first national builder to offer WaterSense labeled homes. In recent years, the company has gone even further, adopting the EPA’s most rigorous water-efficiency standards in drought-prone regions and building two all-electric, solar-powered microgrid communities.
The company is also pioneering climate resilience. In a notable recent move, KB Home unveiled the first neighborhood in the U.S. officially designated as “wildfire-prepared” by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), adding another dimension to its holistic view of sustainable living.
Recognized by the Nation’s Leading Publications
KB Home’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. The company continues to earn accolades from some of the most respected voices in media and sustainability:
- Newsweek: KB Home was named to Newsweek’s 2025 America’s Most Responsible Companies list for the fifth consecutive year. It also appeared on the America’s Greenest Companies and America’s Most Trustworthy Companies lists in 2024.
- USA Today: For the second year in a row, KB Home made America’s Climate Leaders list, ranking in the top 5% of all companies included and achieving the highest position of any homebuilder.
- TIME Magazine: The company was featured in TIME’s 2024 America’s Best Midsize Companies list for the second consecutive year, highlighting its role as a performance-driven and socially responsible business.
- Forbes: KB Home also appeared in Forbes’ 2024 America’s Best Midsize Employers list for the third time, reinforcing its reputation as a great place to work.
Built for Tomorrow
With climate change and water scarcity becoming increasingly urgent challenges, KB Home’s long-term strategy is more relevant than ever. By staying ahead of regulatory shifts and consumer expectations, the company ensures that its homes are not only compliant but future-ready.
Importantly, sustainability at KB Home isn’t just about reducing carbon footprints—it’s about creating real-world value. From energy savings to improved indoor air quality and long-term resilience, every decision the company makes ties back to a broader commitment to well-being, environmental protection, and affordability.
As new technologies emerge and sustainability standards evolve, KB Home remains poised to lead the charge. The company’s transparent reporting, innovative design practices, and data-backed performance metrics provide a model for others to follow in the transition toward a greener, more equitable future.
