Tauranga firm Sharp Tudhope's new office building on Devonport Road is the city's first Green Star office rating.

Green Star, New Zealand's rating tool for sustainable buildings, named the building as one of three buildings nationwide to be honoured with its 100th rating.

Tauranga's Sharp Tudhope building was awarded four Green Stars in sustainability.

The 4-storey building received the award for its unique ventilation system that recovers heat energy. It receives four Green Stars.

Green Star buildings on average use 66 per cent less electricity and 50 per cent less water than conventional counterparts. There is now 687,300 m2 of Green Star space in New Zealand - equivalent to around 99 rugby fields.

New Zealand Green Building Council CEO Alex Cutler says the 100th rating milestone marked another stage in the transition to Green Star as ‘the new normal'.

"The appetite for green buildings is growing. These three projects show the diversity of sustainable building - it's not just premium commercial space in our bigger cities.

'It's fantastic to mark our century with not one but three buildings which are each extraordinary, and leaders in their own way.

"Increasingly the industry is realising that to maximise value and performance, our buildings need to be designed and built with people, and the environment, in mind.

"Green Star is part of our landscape. It's been transforming New Zealand's built environment for seven years - creating healthy, efficient, sustainable spaces that are great to work, play and learn in.

A further 20 Green Star projects are expected to be certified during 2014.