Langan Energy Solutions (LES), a leading solar integrator and energy efficiency company based in Elmwood Park, N.J., recently completed a 80-kilowatt rooftop solar system for an office building managed by Bukiet Building and Management Co. in Clifton, N.J.

Bukiet Building and Management Co. LLC, a leading residential building and management company, is the co-owner and property manager of the 64,000-square-foot, three-story building at 855 Valley Rd. The solar installation is expected to save $12,750 per year in electricity costs, offsetting 10 percent of the building's electricity load.

Furthermore, electricity gained from the 290 solar panels will offset approximately 28 tons of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of removing 10 passenger vehicles from the road.

"Bukiet Building and Management is yet another one of our clients that is taking advantage of generous federal and state incentives to install solar systems," said Joseph Langan, president and CEO of LES. "Office buildings account for around 66 percent of electric energy use in the United States and adopting solar technology allows companies to save money and become leaders in energy efficiency."

LES helps customers reduce energy expenses, generate investment income and preserve the environment through the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and energy-efficient technologies, and by providing energy procurement services to commercial, industrial, retail and non-profit customers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

"We do see this system as an investment for the future," said Michael Bukiet, principal at Bukiet Building and Management. "But for us, the major draw is that we are having a positive impact on our carbon footprint. Moreover, our building is now more attractive to prospective tenants because we can say that we are powering the building with clean technology."

Buiket Building and Management will recoup much of its upfront costs in the first year through several federal and state incentives, and the system payback is estimated at under five years. For example, the Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program covers 30 percent of the upfront costs and the 2011 bonus depreciation allows system owners to depreciate 100 percent of the system value in the first year of its operation.

The building owners will also benefit from the sale of SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates), a state incentive that represents the environmental benefit of solar. Solar suppliers are able to sell SRECs for 15 years from the date a system is commissioned. New Jersey's generous SREC incentives have made it a national solar leader, second only to California in solar capacity.

Many property owners are taking advantage of these generous incentives this year, because the Treasury Grant Program and the depreciation allowance are due to sunset at the end of this year.

An added benefit of installing a solar system is that the office building will be more attractive to prospective tenants, and current tenants are already showing pleasure with the installation. Montclair State University is one of the building's tenants.

The project partners, who are both clients of Sax, Macy, Fromm and Co., one of New Jersey's largest accounting and business consulting firms, were introduced to each other through George Livanos, principal in charge of the renewable energy practice at Sax, Macy, Fromm and Co.

"We are very proud that we are able to bring two clients together, both of whom will be benefiting from the solar energy incentives," said Livanos, principal in charge of the renewable energy practice at Sax, Macy, Fromm and Co. "New Jersey leads the nation in terms of solar incentives, and it is important that more office buildings adopt these solar technologies."

LES was pleased to find a client that wanted to learn more about improving the energy efficiency of its building and to reducing its carbon footprint.

"Working with Bukiet Building and Management has been a great experience," said Allan Paulson, account executive at LES. "We took the time to understand their business operations and their goals and they listened to our ideas and advice. Because Bukiet Building and Management considers us a trusted business partner, they were able to make important business decisions very quickly."

LES, which completed the project despite poor weather during installation, ensured that the building's pre-existing Firestone roof warranty remained intact, Langan said. The installation of a solar system can sometimes lead to the voiding of a roof warranty as a result of roof penetration or other roof damage, which makes it imperative that the system be properly installed under the oversight of the roofing company.

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