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ATLANTA, Jul 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Acuity Brands, Inc. AYI +0.12% , a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, is pleased to announce that it has been recognized by the United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) as one of nine companies honored with the 2011 Lighting Facts(R) Special Recognition. The honor was announced at the recent Solid State Lighting Market Introduction Workshop in Seattle, WA. Lighting Facts is a voluntary participation program from the DOE that includes LED products for general illumination from manufacturers who commit to testing products and reporting performance results according to industry standards. The program emphasizes consumer education, with the goal of enabling the appropriate comparison and selection of SSL products.

The partners who received the Special Recognition were honored for going above and beyond to integrate Lighting Facts into their everyday business practices, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to the program and to product evaluation. Acuity Brands supports the Lighting Facts program in the commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential markets. This support includes LM-79 testing of applicable products, as well as the prominent display of the Lighting Facts label on many solid state lighting (SSL) products or specification sheets.

“The DOE’s Lighting Facts program provides the framework for a consumer-friendly format to display LED luminaire performance,” said David Zizzi, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President, Decorative and Residential Products. “Our adoption of Lighting Facts across our LED luminaire portfolio helps communicate our on-going commitment to quality and performance that customers have come to expect from Acuity Brands,” Zizzi continued.

For additional information, please visit Acuity Brands on the web and Acuity Brands’ YouTube Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands on Facebook(R) and follow Acuity Brands on Twitter(R).

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI; “Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, is proud to announce its participation in a project to relight and renovate sections of downtown Chicopee, Massachusetts (“City”) using its Holophane®GranVille® LED luminaires. The Holophane brand has been a recognized leader in high-quality and lowest total cost of ownership lighting solutions for commercial, industrial, and outdoor applications for over 110 years.

The City recently began revitalization efforts in the downtown area, which included providing more uniform illumination and a brighter, more secure lighting environment in order to attract patrons back to its business district. An objective was to replace the City’s old 100W high pressure sodium fixtures that had been retrofitted years ago. These fixtures were spread throughout the downtown district, which comprises four city blocks containing city hall, office buildings, restaurants and nightclubs. Earlier in the year, the City received an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, part of which was designed to make the downtown area more energy efficient and sustainable, and the remainder of which was to be applied to the downtown relighting project. Because the funds for the relighting project were insufficient Chicopee Electric Light (“CEL”), the local utility, joined in and collaborated with the City on a financial plan to complete the funding, allowing it to fulfill the revitalization goals and maximize the energy savings.

Acuity Brands’Holophane team was brought into the project by CEL’s Engineering & Operations Manager, Jim Lisowski, to evaluate an energy-efficient relighting solution. The project required that the existing pole locations and poles be preserved. Holophane GranVille LED 58W and 116W luminaires were selected for a pilot program to evaluate performance and determine the effects of modernizing the lighting environment. Ultimately, the GranVille LED 58W luminaires were recommended. The City and CEL have now completed the relighting of the downtown business district and have been extremely pleased with the performance of the product, the impact on the appearance of the downtown area and the overall energy savings.

The HolophaneGranVille LED fixtures are offered with classic or premier optics and a variety of trims, luminaire shapes and uplight options. Asymmetric and symmetric distributions of light provide added flexibility for applications such as parks, city streets, residential areas, campuses, walkways and parking lots. The luminaire’s door assembly allows simple access to the electronic driver for ease of maintenance and its borosilicate glass optics never turn yellow or cloudy as they age, maintaining high lumen output efficiencies.

“The HolophaneGranVille LED luminaires are designed for areas that require a long system operating life combined with an aesthetically pleasing appearance that complements the environment,” said Jack Ries, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and General Manager, Holophane. “We are delighted to have helped the City of Chicopee implement a dramatic lighting renovation for its downtown business district,” Ries continued.

For more information about the Company’s high-quality LED lighting and controls, please visit the Acuity Brandsand Holophane GranVille LED websites and Acuity Brands’ YouTube Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands and Holophane on Facebook® and follow Acuity Brands on Twitter®.

 ATLANTA – April 26, 2011– Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI, “Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, is honored to have been named the recipient of multiple 2011 Product Innovation Awards (“PIAs”) by Architectural SSL Magazine, a leading lighting industry publication focused on the development, application, specification and design merit of LEDs and solid-state lighting throughout the built environment. The PIAs honor the best LED luminaires and components on the market and the companies behind them. In addition, the PIAs recognize leaders in cutting-edge research and development and advancement of industry standards, as well as advocates of LED lighting transformation. The Company will receive the awards at a press conference organized by Architectural SSL Magazine at LIGHTFAIR® International (“LightFair”) in Philadelphia, PA on May 17, 2011 at 3:00p.m. eastern time. LightFair is North America’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show.

Acuity Brands’ three products being honored are as follows:

The Lithonia Lighting® RTLED™ luminaire received Platinum Level honors in both the General Ambient Lighting and Most Innovative Optical Controls categories. The RTLED is a technologically advanced fixture that is intelligent and controllable, enabling an unprecedented level of design and user simplicity. Volumetric lighting, embedded controls and plug-and-play features make the luminaire ideal for various commercial applications, including office, retail, education, and healthcare facilities.

The Winona Lighting® Winline™ Submersible 607 Cool Core fixture received the Specialty Lighting Gold Level honor. The Winline Submersible Cool Core is an LED linear water-cooled submersible luminaire with very high light output. Its stainless steel and pure copper

UV construction, as well as its high impact and polycarbonate lens material, make it ideal for submersible landscaping applications.

The new Tersen® Ratio™ PG product was selected as the Silver Level honoree in the Low Bay/Garage category. It is an LED luminaire of contemporary architectural styling ideally suited for commercial parking garages. It has been designed to meet IESNA RP-20 standards and delivers up to 100 lumens per watt in multiple lumen output packages. Its modern “finned” housing serves as an efficient heat sink while making an architectural statement. Both the symmetric and asymmetric optical distributions deliver light with horizontal and vertical uniformity.

“Considered amongst more than 160 entrants, we are truly thrilled to receive multiple honors from one of the most prestigious lighting product award programs in North America,” said George Mcilwraith, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President, Luminaires and Lighting. “LED lighting solutions should be about delivering superior quality of light, energy-efficiency, and integration with intelligent controls to maximize return on investment. Being selected in multiple application categories makes a clear statement about the strength and breadth of Acuity Brands’ product portfolio and our ability to deliver complete lighting solutions for a broad array of applications,” Mcilwraith continued.

LightFair attendees can visit Acuity Brands booth, #1801, to see how the Company is “Expanding the Boundaries of Lighting™” through the integration of lighting technologies, intelligent controls and daylight harvesting.

For more information, please visit Acuity Brands and view the entire portfolio of Acuity Brands’ LED luminaires and intelligent control systems and Acuity Brands’ YouTube Channel on the web. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands, Lithonia Lighting, Acuity Brands Outdoor Lighting and Winona Lighting on Facebook and follow Lithonia Lighting on Twitter.

ATLANTA, April 20, 2011 – Acuity Brands, Inc., (NYSE: AYI; “Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, has announced a technology sharing and business collaboration agreement with Neonlite Electronic & Lighting (HK), Ltd. (“Neonlite”). The companies announced that their agreement is specific to the United States and Canadian lighting markets and that they are collaborating on a broad portfolio of high performance LED lamps targeted at commercial and institutional applications for a variety of vertical markets, including retail, hospitality and education.

When available, the initial line of products will offer lighting designers and specifiers a true replacement for halogen and metal-halide lamp sources by providing the highest quality illumination, directing light where it is intended, as well as delivering the full benefits and energy-efficiencies associated with LEDs.

Neonlite is a global leader in high-performance, energy-efficient lighting and an innovative leader in LED and CFL lamp design, with technology targeting eco-lighting solutions. Sold globally under the Megaman® brand, Neonlite’s products are widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America, covering more than 90 countries. By setting environmental management as one of the company’s highest priorities, Neonlite is focused on eco-friendly environmental processes from initial design, to manufacturing, research and development, and the disposal and recycling of their products.

“Acuity Brands is excited to enter into this strategic agreement with Neonlite,” said George Mcilwraith, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President, Lighting and Luminaires. “The demand for LED lighting is growing rapidly and many of today’s LED replacement lamps lack the performance required for effective illumination. Neonlite has impressive engineering capabilities in the areas of performance and control, as well as a strong brand outside of North America. Our collaboration is creating exciting opportunities,” continued Mcilwraith.

“Neonlite is pleased to work with Acuity Brands on the development of new LED lamp products designed for the North American lighting market,” said Foo Onn Fah, Chairman of Neonlite. “Megaman’s cutting edge technology delivers a range of LED products that set new levels of performance in the marketplace, replacing traditional light sources while satisfying demands for energy savings and sustainable lighting solutions. Our collaboration on LED lamp products is intended to expand Acuity Brands’ focus on bringing the best LED lighting solutions to customers and to leverage their overall market leadership throughout North America,” continued Mr. Foo.

  Drive, Park, Walk and View Product Families Provide Solutions for the Four Major Outdoor Lighting Applications

ATLANTA, Apr 12, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) (“Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient LED lighting and control solutions, has announced a major expansion of its outdoor LED lighting portfolio. Offered as Acuity Brands(R) LED Outdoor, the expanded portfolio includes existing and newly introduced luminaires from six of the Company’s leading lighting brands, Lithonia Lighting(R), Hydrel(R), Tersen(R), American Electric Lighting(R), Antique Street Lamps(TM) and Winona Lighting(R). The Company will provide additional details of its new products in follow-on announcements. The Company’s comprehensive outdoor LED luminaire product families are now grouped into customer-friendly and easy-to-find major categories that identify the four primary outdoor lighting experiences of DRIVE, PARK, WALK and VIEW as defined below:

DRIVE – encompasses roadway and street lighting, from freeways to boulevards;

PARK – includes parking garages and area lighting, from multi-level structures to open parking lots;

WALK – incorporates pedestrian, site, building and bollard lighting;

VIEW – consists of flood, in-grade, step, landscape and underwater lighting, enhancing every environment, from urban architecture and waterscapes to natural gardens and scenic spaces.

With over 100 different outdoor LED luminaires to meet the lighting needs of a changing society requiring better illumination and energy savings, the Acuity Brands LED Outdoor portfolio provides optimal lighting solutions for virtually any outdoor architectural, commercial or utility application. All products incorporate Acuity Brands’ philosophy of providing the highest quality lighting solutions, specifically designed to put light on task and to enhance safety, security and enjoyment within the four key outdoor experience categories.

Selected products in the expanded portfolio are compatible with Acuity BrandsROAM(R) system, the Company’s industry-leading intelligent control solution combining photo-control technology with wireless monitoring and control capabilities. Working together, LED lighting and intelligent control systems provide an integrated outdoor lighting solution enabling additional energy savings from day one.

“To support the introduction of multiple new products coming this spring, we worked with our customers to uniquely identify the major outdoor lighting application areas,” said Michael Naylor, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President and General Manager, Outdoor Products. “Using the DRIVE, PARK, WALK and VIEW categories makes it easy to select the optimal integrated lighting solution from our diverse brands and product choices. Our expanded portfolio of luminaires and intelligent controls delivers the breadth and depth in LED energy-efficient lighting solutions that customers have come to expect from Acuity Brands,” added Naylor.

All of the new Acuity Brands LED Outdoor luminaires will be on display at the LightFair International Tradeshow, booth #1801, May 17-19, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Acuity Brands(R) Outdoor portfolio is available nationally through Acuity Brands’ sales representatives and authorized distributors. For more information about the Company’s full line of LED lighting and controls, please visit the Acuity Brands, LED Lighting Solutions and ROAM web sites and Acuity Brands’ YouTube Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands and Acuity Brands Outdoor on Facebook(R) and follow Lithonia Lighting on Twitter(R).

Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI); (“Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, is proud to announce that Jeff Quinlan, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President, Technology, will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Solid-State Lighting Manufacturing R&D Workshop conference on April 12-13, 2011 in Boston.

 Quinlan will participate in and present during the “Home-Grown Manufacturing: Lessons from Companies Who Walk the Talk” panel discussion on Wednesday, April 13th, at 1:30 pm. This roundtable presentation will address the lessons that can be learned from companies who have made a commitment to establish and maintain a manufacturing presence in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is sponsoring this conference to bring together a diverse gathering of participants to share insights, ideas, and updates on the rapidly evolving solid-state lighting (SSL) market. In 2009, the DOE launched a new SSL research and development initiative designed to enhance the quality and lower the cost of SSL products through improvements in manufacturing equipment and processes. At that time, more than 350 industry-leading stakeholders joined DOE at two workshops to build a roadmap for SSL manufacturing in the U.S. The participants in the current workshop will re-examine roadmap priority topics and network with the nation’s leading manufacturing experts.

For more information, please visit Acuity Brands, and view the entire portfolio of Acuity Brands’ LED luminaires and intelligent control systems on the web and the Acuity Brands’ YouTube Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands and Lithonia Lighting on Facebook(R) and follow Lithonia Lighting on Twitter(R).

Provides Design Information for Specifying Engineers

ATLANTA, Apr 12, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Acuity Brands, Inc., (NYSE: AYI; “Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, is pleased to announce the release of its new and updated catalog for its nLight(R) system. nLight is Acuity Brands’ award-winning network lighting control system that combines multiple lighting control options, including time-based, sensor-based, daylight-based, and manual functionality.

The newly released nLight catalog contains comprehensive product information as well as a system architecture section that illustrates sample configurations for many types of customer applications, including retail, office, warehouse, and classrooms. The catalog also incorporates a design guide, a section detailing best practices, information about lighting coverage patterns, wiring diagrams and a Quick-Reference guide entitled nLight is/ is NOT, which condenses descriptions of the many features and benefits of the system into one simplified format.

The nLight systemconnects intelligent digital devices, including occupancy sensors, photocells, power/relay packs, wall switches, dimmers, relay panels and luminaires, to create an integrated lighting system with distributed intelligence that can be easily configured and customized to meet customers’ lighting requirements. Featuring advanced passive infrared and patented microphonics dual technology, nLight is a sophisticated, flexible, software upgradeable and energy-efficient system, which significantly shortens installation labor time while also reducing energy costs by up to 40% or more, making it both contractor and customer-friendly.

“We are pleased to release this updated comprehensive nLight catalog,” said Ben Hahn, Acuity Brands Lighting Vice President, Sensor Switch Product Value Stream. “It will be a tremendously useful tool for specifying and design engineers. The easy-to-use formats, clear, concise diagrams and illustrations will go a long way towards helping our customers design and build integrated systems that meet their lighting needs.”

Acuity Brands’Sensor Switch has also announced its introduction of QR barcodes in its 2011 print ads enabling mobile users to simply scan the code with their Blackberry(R), iPhone(R), or other smart device and immediately have access to additional product information.

Acuity Brands‘ Sensor Switch nLight intelligent controls solutions and other controls products will be on display at the Lightfair International Tradeshow, booth #1801, May 17-19, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pa.

For more information about the Company’s industry-leading line of lighting and controls solutions, please visit Acuity Brands and Sensor Switch on the web and Acuity Brands’ YouTube Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands and Sensor Switch on Facebook(R).