Acuity Brands' Lithonia Lighting Named 2008 ENERGY STAR(R) Partner of the Year.

Lithonia Lighting earned award for protecting the environment through energy-efficient lighting fixtures

ATLANTA -- Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy have named Lithonia Lighting, an Acuity Brands Lighting business, as a 2008 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. The award recognizes Lithonia Lighting for its outstanding contribution in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its energy-efficient lighting fixtures and its efforts to educate consumers about those fixtures. Lithonia Lighting's accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on April 1, 2008.

Lithonia Lighting, an Energy Star partner since 1994, was honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the Energy Star, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. In 2007, Lithonia Lighting introduced 84 new Energy Star qualified products including three complete fixture families. Acuity Brands believes sustainable business practices are fundamental to success, as demonstrated by Acuity Brands Lighting's active participation in the U.S. Green Building Council. Additionally, Acuity Brands Lighting's new products are designed to have minimal environmental impact, and four of its facilities are LEED certified. In November of 2007, Acuity Brands Lighting announced its partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, thereby solidifying the Company's emphasis on sustainability and innovation in energy-efficient technology.

"Our customers are more concerned than ever about protecting the environment and they recognize the value that Energy Star products offer," said Ed Weaver, Vice President of Lithonia Lighting's Consumer Products Group. "Through our partnership with Energy Star we are able to manufacture and promote products that not only save our customers money, but also help protect our planet from the risks of global warming."

The 2008 Partner of the Year Awards were given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver Energy Star qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners were selected from more than 9,000 organizations that participate in the Energy Star program. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $16 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles.

"By producing and promoting products that have earned the Energy Star, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lithonia Lighting are educating consumers about the importance of energy efficiency," said Robert J. Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Air & Radiation. "Their efforts in manufacturing products that earn the Energy Star make them a leader in demonstrating that consumers can have quality products that also protect the environment."

Acuity Brands, Inc. owns and operates Acuity Brands Lighting. With fiscal year 2007 net sales of approximately $2.0 billion, Acuity Brands Lighting is one of the world's leading providers of lighting fixtures and related products and services and includes brands such as Lithonia Lighting[R], Holophane[R], Peerless[R], Mark Architectural Lighting[TM], Hydrel[R], American Electric Lighting[R], Gotham[R], Carandini[R], SpecLight[R], MetalOptics[R] and Antique Street Lamps[TM]. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 7,000 associates and has operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 9,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).