Investing in the long-term success of the communities in which we build
Building strong communities goes beyond boosting its social fabric — it
requires physical and systems infrastructure to support current and future
residents. We are proud to partner with local governments, school districts
and utilities to contribute toward the development of schools, roads,
utilities and other key infrastructure. Each demonstrates to local
stakeholders that we are making a durable investment in their area, which we
believe makes us better citizens in the places where we build — and may also
be advantageous when land sellers and governments consider project
approvals.
We invest in our communities and their long-term success
In 2024, we made significant voluntary and required contributions to local infrastructure in many of the communities in which we build. Many of these are required, while others are voluntary aspects of our community development and design.
Supporting the wider communities we call home
KB Cares is our philanthropic program that builds relationships and
communities. We believe that every action we take, from how we build our
homes to how we care for our neighborhoods has the potential to create a
positive impact. Through KB Cares, our divisions make targeted local
investments in four key areas: shelter, community, sustainability and
environment, and construction skills and employment.
$2.97 million
combined donations in 2024 from both KB Home and our partners
7,013
total KB Home employee volunteer hours in 2024
Breathing new life into older communities
In many of the land-constrained areas where we build, we use our expertise
to reimagine the potential of underutilized land to revitalize older
neighborhoods with new housing that can attract new residents and bring
fresh energy. Land sellers and local governments know that we have the
experience to work collaboratively to design new neighborhoods that can
elevate a community’s overall surroundings.
Creating infill communities in established areas and participating in
redevelopment projects are among our considerations when evaluating
potential land investments. Our homes are often an area’s first new
residential construction in years, offering energy- and water-efficient
housing that can positively impact a community’s financial and environmental
resiliency.
A number of our neighborhoods have been built in established locations, including 11+ redevelopment and 34+ infill communities in
2024. We also strive to optimize use of limited land resources by designing high-density communities of greater than eight and up to 30
dwelling units per acre where permitted
Communities that sustain biodiversity
Using natural resources and building materials in the most efficient manner possible not only conserves precious natural resources
but also reduces costs for our business, helping to keep first-time homeownership attainable.
Our identified areas of nature-related risk and opportunities are:
Deforestation
KB Home has adopted responsible lumber standards that outline environmental standards for all wood products sourced, with a
goal of reducing deforestation and the loss of biodiversity
Water overuse
We see firsthand the growing concern around water availability in some of the regions in which we build. KB Home was the first
national homebuilder to join the EPA’s WaterSense program in 2010 and now builds every home at our new communities in Arizona, California and Nevada to this standard.
Water pollution
Homebuilding operations have the potential to contribute to water pollution from jobsite runoffs to nearby waterways. Our jobsite
management practices include Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) at each community. These mitigation efforts include dedicated concrete washouts, rain washouts, silt fencing and inlet drain protection.
We also take other steps to minimize our environmental footprint,
including:
Biodiversity protections
Wherever required and possible, we create conservation spaces; modify
or delay our activities to accommodate migratory cycles, and assist or
make financial contributions to nearby dedicated nature conservancy
zones and organizations.
Community revitalization
KB Home’s portfolio includes a mix of brownfields, greyfields and infill communities built on previously developed lands and that
are revitalizing older neighborhoods. With limited land resources available, we strive to maximize available housing stock by making
efficient use of land.
Strategic partnerships and innovations
We strive to cultivate technological innovations that reduce our impact on the environment and multiply our impact by selecting land developers and supplier partners who integrate sustainability into their own practices wherever possible.
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