"It's great to see a company in the energy efficiency space practicing what they preach," said Gaurav Naik, principal at Old Bridge, N.J.-based GeoGenix. "A lighting provider who designs and manufactures energy efficient lighting products with renewable energy — it doesn't get any greener than that."
GeoGenix designed, engineered and installed the PV system on the roof of Starfire's one-story, 50,000-square-foot manufacturing and design facility at 7 Donna Drive. The system consists of 585 SunPower solar panels, which offset approximately 85 percent of the electricity consumed at the facility, equating to about $25,000 in savings on electricity costs annually.
GeoGenix is an industry leader with a proven track record in residential and commercial solar installations. It has been installing solar since 2001 and has the experience and expertise that have made it one of the region's most trusted solar installers.
Starfire funded the system through the New Jersey utility Public Service Electric & Gas' (PSE&G) solar loan program. The loan is being repaid with the Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) that the system generates.
SRECS are a performance-based financial incentive representing the environmental benefits of solar, each of which is the equivalent of 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. SRECs are financial instruments that are purchased by utilities from solar producers such as homeowners and businesses in order to meet a state-mandated requirement for the generation of electricity from solar sources.
The company was one of the last to take advantage of PSE&G's solar loan program, which expired at the end of 2011. Starfire's loan covered about 60 percent of the cost of the PV system, with the remainder of the system being financed independently.
"The federal mandate to phase out incandescent bulbs has created an extremely competitive environment in the lighting industry," said Craig Newman, co-owner and principal of Starfire. "By bringing down our operating costs and providing protection against the inevitable rising cost of electricity, our solar system gives us a competitive edge."
Family-owned and established in 1975, Starfire Lighting designs, engineers and constructs high-quality linear, recessed, decorative and custom lighting products for high-end corporate interiors and retail spaces, serving the architectural, commercial, institutional, residential and entertainment industries.
"We're thrilled to announce the completion of our solar system," said Newman. "At Starfire, energy efficiency is always top of mind when we are designing lighting products — we're constantly striving to maximize efficiency. With our solar system, we're now able to maximize energy efficiency in the manufacturing of our products as well."
In addition the solar PV system, Starfire uses high intensity discharge (HID) lighting or fluorescent lighting throughout its facility.
The power generated by Starfire's solar PV system equates to the reduction of about 205,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per year, which is the equivalent of offsetting the power demand of 23 homes for one year, planting 6,600 trees or removing 17 cars from the road every year.
