The National Kitchen & Bath Association announced it is renaming an award category in its design competition for 2009. The new “Best Sustainable Bath Award” will honor innovative approaches to water and energy savings in the bath. Formerly named the “Smartest Hot Water Award” in its 2008 competition debut, the new award goes beyond hot water delivery to recognize the expanding array of sustainable solutions being applied in today’s new and remodeled bathrooms.

The winner of this award will receive $5,000 and be recognized at the NKBA Design Competition awards ceremony during the 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Atlanta, which will be held from April 30 to May 3, 2009, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Rheem Water Heating will sponsor the new category.

“We’re very pleased to sponsor this innovative design category, and applaud the NKBA’s desire to expand its scope for 2009 to accommodate the growing range of sustainable design elements and product applications,” Bob Hitchner, director of Rheem tankless sales, said in a statement.

For the full press release, readhere.