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National Office Furniture Earns Membership in Indiana?s Environmental Stewardship Program

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  Published in House and Home on Tuesday, February 24th 2009 at 11:10 GMT, Last Modified on 2009-02-24 11:11:06 by Market Wire
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JASPER, Ind.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--National Office Furniture, a brand unit of Kimball International, Inc. (NASDAQ: KBALB) announced today that it has been accepted into the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEM) Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) for demonstrating long-term compliance with environmental laws and voluntarily agreeing to implement continuous improvements in sustainability.

National's Indiana-based manufacturing facilities in Jasper and in Santa Claus, Indiana earned this recognition by going above and beyond IDEM's environmental regulatory guidelines, which are modeled after the EPA's National Environmental Performance Track. All of National's manufacturing facilities are registered to the ISO 140001:2004 standard, a fact that played a key role in receiving ESP membership.

"This membership adds to our rich heritage of environmental stewardship and keeps us moving toward a sustainable future," said Don Van Winkle, Vice President and General Manager, National Office Furniture. "We are proud of this recognition as it is the result of the strong commitment from our people striving to do what is best for the environment."

"These businesses are models for other Hoosier companies and show that sound environmental management is good for business," said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly, referring to the program's eight new members. "ESP members voluntarily eliminate waste, preserve resources and protect Hoosiers and the environment. They deserve recognition for going beyond the basic requirements of the law."

This is the third year of the ESP program, and there are 46 members participating in this initiative. To become an ESP member, a business must maintain an exemplary compliance record, certify that it has adopted and implemented an approved environmental management system, and commit to specific measures for continued improvement in its environmental performance.

ESP members qualify for expedited permit review, flexibility in permitting, reduced reporting frequencies, and coordination of compliance inspections. To maintain ESP membership, companies must report on their environmental initiatives every year and reapply for ESP membership every three years.

About National Office Furniture:

National Office Furniture, a brand unit of Kimball International, 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 ]

About Kimball International:

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. (NASDAQ: KBALB) 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 ]

"Kimball International…We Build Success!"