Reflective gold on the outside, the 30-year veteran of the Vancouver skyline has been retro-fitted using leading edge technology and is now green to the core. A new state of the art building management system and real-time energy monitoring system helped 999 West Hastings achieve energy savings of 20 per cent in 2009 over 2008 with a further 15 per cent so far this year.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson congratulated Polaris Realty and 999 West Hastings. “It’s great to see a Vancouver building win this year’s Earth Award. At City Hall, we’re working hard to promote and expand green building technology throughout our city. It’s encouraging to see a local business take a leadership role on energy efficiency, recycling, and water conservation – we need more businesses to take that kind of initiative.”

BC Hydro Senior Manager Murray Bond stated: “It’s wonderful to see key industry players take a lead role, improving the built environment while reducing the building’s environmental footprint. This is the type of building we all want to work in.”

Paul LaBranche, Executive Vice President of the Building Owners and Managers Association, described 999 West Hastings as “a role model to the industry for demonstrating effective environmental initiatives and building practices.”

“One of the impressive green features is the rain water harvesting process currently being installed,” said Polaris Energy and Sustainability Manager Toli Sidiropoulos. “It will provide 100 per cent of the building’s irrigation needs.” 

999 West Hastings' recycling facilities have been expanded to include lobby recycling stations. And, the tower has a tenant “Green Team.”

“Establishing a Tenant Green Team has generated a high level of awareness amongst tenants and is promoting energy saving behaviour at the workplace and at their homes,” Sidiropoulos says.

Sidiropoulos and BC Hydro consultant Jennifer Davis (TurnLeaf Consulting) have also organized a 999 West Hastings "Eco-fair" held this past summer to further encourage tenant involvement in energy conservation.