USGBC honors KB Home's Primera Terra community in Playa Vista, California, with 2011 LEED for Homes award in Multi-Family category, commending low-cost energy-efficiency measures

Lorena Madrigal

LOS ANGELES , October 13, 2011 (press release) – KB Home's (NYSE:KBH) Primera Terra community has been honored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) with a 2011 LEED® for Homes award. The LEED Platinum project, one of the largest in California, was recognized as the best in the Multi-Family category.

Primera Terra, the name of which loosely translates to "earth first," is comprised of 52 luxury condominium homes equipped with energy- and water-saving features to make them all at least 40% more energy-efficient than typical new homes. The estimated heating and cooling costs of the homes in Primera Terra are as little as $57 per month in select models. Notably, this high level of efficiency was achieved without incorporating a solar power system or other renewable energy resource. Instead, the KB Home team focused on optimizing the building envelope and incorporating features like a cool roof to keep homeowners' monthly operating costs low.

"KB Home's Primera Terra should serve as an example to other builders that completing a LEED Platinum project does not have to mean a significant increase in construction costs," said Nate Kredich, Vice President, Residential Market Development, USGBC. "We commend KB Home for continuing to be an innovator through its commitment to building high-performing, healthy homes that save homeowners money."

Home buyers have their choice of six floor plans at Primera Terra, ranging in size from 965 to 1,504 square feet, with up to three bedrooms and two baths. Each home has a private patio or balcony as well as two parking spaces in a subterranean garage equipped with electric-vehicle charging stations. Built-in features contributing to the efficiency of each home include tankless water heaters, ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and lighting, high-efficiency windows and WaterSense® labeled faucets and toilets. All homeowners also receive an energy monitoring system that enables them to track their electricity usage on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, from any computer or web-enabled mobile device. Prices start in the low $500,000s.

"We are so pleased that the USGBC has recognized the incredible hard work and dedication that went into the creation of Primera Terra," said Steve Ruffner, president of KB Home's Southern California division. "Awards like these validate what the homebuying public is already telling us—that if you build smart, contemporary and efficient new homes in a highly desirable location like Playa Vista, people will want to live in them."

Primera Terra is part of Playa Vista, an established pedestrian-friendly master-plan community, approximately one mile from the beach and close to shops, restaurants, employers and schools. A private community center with a pool and spa are within walking distance of Primera Terra, and a network of walking and biking trails weaves throughout Playa Vista and its numerous community parks and recreation areas. Residents also enjoy community social events throughout the year as well as a weekly farmers' market.

Primera Terra is now open daily for tours. Visit primeraterra.com or call 888-KB-HOMES for more information.

About KB Home

KB Home is one of the largest and most recognized homebuilding companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1957, the company has built more than half a million quality homes. KB Home's signature Built to Order™ approach lets each buyer customize their new home from lot location to floor plan and design features. In addition to meeting strict ENERGY STAR® guidelines, all KB homes are highly energy efficient to help lower monthly utility costs for homeowners, which the company demonstrates with its proprietary KB Home Energy Performance Guide™ (EPG). A leader in utilizing state-of-the-art sustainable building practices, KB Home was named the #1 Green Homebuilder in a 2010 study by Calvert Investments and the #1 Homebuilder on FORTUNE magazine's 2011 World's Most Admired Companies list. Los Angeles-based KB Home was the first homebuilder listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and trades under the ticker symbol "KBH." For more information about KB Home's new home communities, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit www.kbhome.com.

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