Solis Partners has completed a 757 kilowatt rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) installation for Carlstadt, N.J.-based Pictorial Corp., one of the nation's fastest growing graphic communications companies.

Solis Partners designed, engineered and constructed the solar PV system on the roof of Pictorial Corp.'s 197,000-square-foot headquarters facility. The solar array consists of 2,968 panels that will generate approximately 782,200 kWh in the first year or more than 20 percent of Pictorial's annual electricity usage. Over the life of the system this equates to the reduction of more than 1,189,100 pounds of CO2 emissions - roughly equivalent to the impact of taking 106 cars off the road.

"Pictorial provides a strong example of how to develop and incorporate sustainable practices into a business in order to become more efficient and competitive," said Jamie Hahn, co-founder and managing director of Solis Partners. "They continually look for ways to improve their business and its effect on the environment, and solar was the perfect next step. In addition to fulfilling the company's environmental goals, the solar installation will lower operating costs and serve as a hedge against future rate increases."

Family owned since 1938, Pictorial Corp. is the country's largest and fastest growing privately owned single-facility commercial printer. Servicing many Fortune 500 corporations, Pictorial Corp. employs over 300 people and has a strong history of environmental initiatives, including recycling, electricity conservation and water usage reduction.

Additionally, Pictorial recently upgraded its lighting to an energy-efficient fluorescent lighting system that is also equipped with motion sensors. The company also installed a white reflective cool roof, which will help to keep the building envelope cooler, cutting down on the cost of air conditioning.

"Pictorial Corporation's commitment to environmental stewardship is one of our principal business objectives," said Donald Samuels, managing partner. "We have incorporated what are now considered 'green' business practices since the 1980's. As an environmental leader in the printing industry, installing solar was an affirmation of our commitment to sustainable operations that will positively impact our bottom line for years to come."

The system was financed in part through a solar loan from the local utility, Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE and G), which will be repaid with Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). Pictorial completed its solar installation under PSE and G's second Solar Loan program. The N.J. Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the utility regulator, is currently reviewing a potential third round of the program.

"Helping a business customer like Pictorial Corporation meet their goal of generating onsite renewable energy is a main objective of our Solar Loan program," said Todd Hranicka, Director-Solar Energy for PSE and G. "We're happy to add Pictorial Corporation to the ranks of New Jersey businesses that have embraced solar power and we remain committed to helping to finance more successful projects for our business and residential customers."

Pictorial was the first company in the world to receive dual International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001:2004 and 9001:2008 certifications. ISO is the world's largest developer of voluntary quality and environmental process standards, which provide specifications for products, services and good practices with the goal of helping to make business more efficient and effective.

The company was also the first to participate in the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) chain-of-custody registry. Pictorial was amongst the first commercial printers to offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified printing paper. FSC is a global nonprofit organization that protects forests by helping consumers identify products sourced from responsibly managed forests.