BETHLEHEM, PA — The mainstreaming of practical and appealing sustainable design practices represents an important shift that “will fundamentally change the kitchen and bath industry,” according to a major new report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association.
Insights presented in the NKBA’s newly released 2024 Sustainability in Kitchen & Bath Design report, based on a survey of 300+ design professionals, reveals that while sustainability has been relatively slow to take root in residential construction and design, “the opportunity for future growth is undeniable.”
“There is consensus about the importance of sustainable design practices among industry pros and consumers alike,” said the Bethlehem, PA-based NKBA. “However, there is still considerable work to be done to further educate and inspire enthusiasm among both groups about the many tangible benefits of sustainability.”
According to the NKBA, only 51% of surveyed industry pros said that sustainability is “extremely” or “very” important to them professionally. Surveyed respondents noted, however, that they don’t consider themselves especially well-informed on the subject, which makes it difficult to pass the necessary knowledge along to their clients.
Design professionals cited five significant barriers to further integrating sustainability into their designs. Homeowners’ buy-in was most frequently cited, followed by expense and the need for more affordable sustainable solutions (54%). Many also pointed to a lack of attractive sustainable solutions and the long payback period for sustainable practices as sources of lingering skepticism about the benefits of sustainable design, the NKBA said.
Sustainable design is being integrated, but it’s happening slowly, the association added, noting that almost half (48%) of surveyed design pros say they are integrating sustainable solutions into their designs somewhat more than just two years ago, while ten percent are doing so much more compared to two years ago.
Demand for sustainability in kitchen and bath design is expected to grow in the next two years, according to the NKBA, noting that nearly three-quarters of survey respondents said demand for sustainability in kitchen design will increase in the next two years, while nearly as many said the same about bath design.
Just one-third (32%) of surveyed designers feel that sustainable design is a “must have,” although 54% expect that sentiment to shift in the coming years, the NKBA said.
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