Refinery Restaurant

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Restaurant blends aesthetics, efficiency with west coast flair

A market style eatery – and a room designed with the environment in mind. That’s what The Refinery , a restaurant in downtown Vancouver with a firm sustainability ethic, aims to deliver.

The restaurant is a member of Ocean Wise and Green Table  with a mandate to source locally and promote B.C. wines. So it stands to reason its owners worked hard to extend their credo elsewhere in their operations as well.

"Some of the most important business decisions we made came from Power Smart initiatives," says co-owner Ryan Newman. "The lifestyle of B.C. fits into green living – we wanted to help make this a standard as opposed to something that only a few people are doing."

The restaurant has used efficient lighting,  ENERGY STAR® appliances, used sustainable furniture and finishings, and cut its water use. Electric bill savings due to efficiencies are estimated at more than $700 per month.

"These are [decisions] we're going to see returns on for many years to come in terms of saving us a lot of money," says co-owner Peter Raptis. "It turned out fantastic to be able to use new technology and set the tone. Not only does it make the room look fantastic but it’s a great conversation piece."

For details on how The Refinery got Power Smart, view the video above.

Other success stories and related links:

• The Beagle Pub
• Provence Marinaside