National Office Furniture’s Santa Claus Facility is Indiana’s First LEED-Certified Office Furniture Manufacturing Facility

JASPER, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Office Furniture, a brand unit of Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB), announces that its casegoods and tables manufacturing facility in Santa Claus, IN, has been awarded LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED EB: O&M) Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The certification marks National’s seventh facility to earn a LEED green building rating. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) EB: O&M is a rating system for existing buildings; operations and maintenance.

“By targeting sustainability, National has raised the bar for manufacturing facilities everywhere. We commend them on this great achievement.”

National’s Santa Claus facility is the first LEED-certified office furniture manufacturing facility in Indiana and the 11^th location in the state to earn a LEED certification in the industrial manufacturing category. Of the more than 12,000 LEED-certified projects globally, only 540 reside under the industrial manufacturing category.

With an ISO 14001 registered Environmental Management System already in place, National pursued the LEED EB: O&M rating to increase the facility’s sustainable performance. National’s LEED Silver certification was based on a number of green design and maintenance implementations that positively impacted the project itself and the broader community. These include:

Increased recycling areas at individual workstations, break rooms and coffee stations where paper, plastics, metals, cardboard and other materials can be recycled.
Implemented a Green Cleaning Policy, 97% of cleaning products used meet LEED green cleaning requirements.
Carefully selected interior finishes and products with high recycled content including furniture components consisting of over 82% recycled content (by weight) and regionally manufactured within 500 miles.
Reduced water usage by 34% due to the installation of new low-flow water fixtures and fittings in restrooms.
Implemented exterior building cleaning and maintenance best practices which utilize only eco-friendly and minimal impact cleaners and supplies.
On-going maintenance of a roofing system that meets the Energy Star Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) requirement, California Title 24, and is LEED compliant. The maintenance plan calls for cleaning the roof every two years to ensure continued high reflectivity.
Diverted 90% of construction debris from office renovation project.
97% of on-going consumables (e.g. paper, toner cartridges, office supplies, batteries) contain sustainable attributes that meet the LEED requirements.
Prioritized on regional priority credits to support environmental improvement for the local environment.

“National Office Furniture has proved their leadership in the manufacturing sector through their LEED Silver certification,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “By targeting sustainability, National has raised the bar for manufacturing facilities everywhere. We commend them on this great achievement.”

“At National, we are never satisfied when it comes to safety, quality and sustainability. Our Santa Claus facility earned previous sustainable accolades, but we knew we could improve, and we did in achieving LEED Silver. We’re very proud to be a good corporate neighbor and operate a high-caliber, green certified facility in the community,” said Mendy Claridge, Director of Sustainability, LEED AP ID+C, National Office Furniture.

Constructed in the early 70’s to manufacture electronic entertainment equipment, today the Santa Claus facility produces wood and laminate office furniture solutions. The facility is ISO9001, ISO14001 and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certified. Products produced in Santa Claus meet stringent indoor air quality requirements and achieve the furniture industry’s highest sustainable product certifications, level® 2 and level® 3. In addition, the facility is a member of Indiana’s Environmental Stewardship Program and is an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program STAR (VPP) site.

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U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building program is the foremost program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. Nearly 46,000 projects are currently participating in the commercial and institutional LEED rating systems, comprising 8.8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 120 countries. In addition, more than 20,000 residential units have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 80,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified spaces save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce carbon emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. Learn more at usgbc.org.

National Office Furniture

National Office Furniture, a brand unit of Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB), is a Jasper, Indiana-based manufacturer of high-quality office furnishings. Since 1980, National has built a reputation for excellence with stylish furniture of exceptional value; a dedication to personalized service; product designs that reflect a passion for the user’s comfort and productivity; and a commitment to environmental responsibility. For more information about National and its products, visit: www.NationalOfficeFurniture.com

Kimball International, Inc.

Recognized with a reputation for excellence, Kimball International is committed to a high performance culture that values personal and organizational commitment to quality, reliability, value, speed, and ethical behavior. Kimball employees know they are part of a corporate culture that builds success for Customers while enabling employees to share in the Company’s success through personal, professional and financial growth.

Kimball International, Inc. provides a variety of products from its two business segments: the Electronic Manufacturing Services segment and the Furniture segment. The Electronic Manufacturing Services segment provides engineering and manufacturing services which utilize common production and support capabilities to a variety of industries globally. The Furniture segment provides furniture for the office and hospitality industries sold under the Company's family of brand names.

To learn more about Kimball International, Inc., visit the Company’s website on the Internet at: www.kimball.com

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