East Windsor, N.J, USA: Shiseido Cuts Electricity Costs By 40 Percent

Cosmetics manufacturer, Shiseido America Inc. and SunPower Corporation are today dedicating a 699-kilowatt solar-electric power system installed on the roof of Shiseido's East Windsor, New Jersey facility. The project is one of the largest single-roof solar power installations in New Jersey.

In addition to the solar-power system, SunPower also assisted Shiseido in implementing energy-efficient lighting upgrades at the facility. Shiseido estimates that by combining improved energy efficiency with solar power, the company will reduce its electric utility costs by greater than 40 percent, or more than $100,000 per year.

"As a company that promotes environmentally conscious practices across all aspects of our business, we were very interested in using solar energy to power our operations. But we needed to know that the economics of solar would also make sense," said Ed Houlihan, vice president of Shiseido America Inc. "SunPower worked with us to ensure the technological and financial success of the project. The payback period is expected to be less than six years -- a solid return on investment for equipment that will last more than 25 years."

SunPower also assisted Shiseido in the sale of solar renewable energy credits to New Jersey's load serving utilities (LSEs), helping the LSEs meet renewable portfolio standards required by the State. The Shiseido installation utilizes the SunPower(R) T10 Solar Roof Tile, which is a non-penetrating, lightweight system that tilts at a 10-degree angle to increase energy capture.

"Shiseido's decision to maximize the size and efficiency of its solar system underscores the company's commitment to sound business practices and preserving the environment," said Tom Leyden, managing director of SunPower Corporation Systems' East Coast operations. "We are very pleased that Shiseido is now generating its own clean, renewable power, and enjoying the financial benefits of that decision."