The 2024 research highlights millennials, consumers on the coasts and professional Associations as influential
By NKBA | KBIS Editorial Team
The demand for incorporating sustainable design practices in kitchen and bath renovations is slowly and steadily gaining strength. Industry professionals who participated in NKBA’s 2024 Sustainability in Kitchen & Bath Design report say demand for sustainability in kitchen and bath design has been on the rise over the past two years. More than half (52%) said that demand for sustainability in kitchen design has grown during that period, while a similar number (47%) said the same about bathroom design.
NKBA’s 2024 Sustainability in Kitchen & Bath Design report includes new data about influences that are making sustainability a greater priority than ever before.
Professional Associations, Homeowners & Media are Key Drivers
K&B professionals cite associations (58%) as the most influential drivers of sustainable practices in the industry, especially the US Green Building Council/ LEED. Next most influential are homeowners (56%) and the media (50%).
Interestingly, designers/specifiers claim that they have limited influence over their clients’ sustainability decisions. Only 23% of designers say their perspectives on sustainability were extremely/very influential in terms of homeowners’ end results.
Millennials are Leading the Way
Among homeowners, millennials (ages 27-42) are the consumer segment most interested in sustainable design in their kitchens and baths. Sixty-three percent of millennials are interested in including sustainable design elements in their kitchen remodels, and nearly as many (60%) in their bath projects. This is especially true among millennials who have children, indicating that they are most likely to associate sustainability with the health and well-being of their families. Least interested, by far, are baby boomers (ages 59-77), with fewer than five percent saying they are interested in including sustainable design elements in their kitchens or baths.
Geography Plays a Role
Awareness of and interest in sustainable design varies by region. It’s highest in the West Coast, Pacific Northwest and Northeast regions due to more stringent building codes and the implementation of sustainability-focused policies.
The Conversation Must Start with Designers
K&B professionals say homeowners rarely initiate conversations about sustainability. More than half of homeowners (53%) rarely or never proactively bring up sustainability when discussing their kitchen or bath project. Designers indicate they will have to lead these conversations about sustainable design practices and products, moving forward.
Read more about the future of sustainable design by downloading the full 2024 Sustainability in Kitchen & Bath Design report here.
