Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI; “Company”), a market leader in innovative energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, is pleased to announce that it has supported a major lighting renovation project at Virginia Commonwealth University (“VCU" and the “University”) in its Office of Special Services for Students/Testing Center and Division for Health Science Diversity. The Company’s award winning Lithonia Lighting® RTLED™ luminaire was the primary fixture used in the project.

The RTLED is a high-quality, volumetric recessed luminaire that delivers ambient white light uniformly throughout an entire space while reducing energy and maintenance costs and a building's environmental footprint. Powered by an advanced LED light engine, the RTLED luminaire delivers an expected 50,000 hour system life and a superior lighting environment, including high color rendering (80+ CRI), 3500K color temperature, and full range dimming with 0-10V DC control. The RTLED comes factory-enabled with an interface to the Company’s Sensor Switch® portfolio of sensors and control systems, which can complete an intelligent, cost-effective and integrated lighting and controls solution for a wide range of applications.

Initially, VCU’s modernization plans included upgrading only lamps and ballasts, but an analysis revealed that the more cost-effective and energy-efficient solution was to renovate with completely new lighting. The University challenged the electrical engineers at Hurd & Obenchain, Inc. to investigate the viability of ambient LED lighting as a means to further reduce energy use and maintenance costs.

“We chose to evaluate the Lithonia Lighting RTLED based on our previous success with the Lithonia Lighting RT5™ for office and general ambient lighting,” said Chad Nixon, electrical engineer at Hurd & Obenchain. “The RT5 is an exceptional fluorescent luminaire with an energy efficiency that enabled us to meet the new International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) watts per square foot requirements, recently adopted by the State of Virginia, while retaining high foot candle levels. As the RTLED uses the same volumetric lighting technology as the RT5, with an LED light source, it was a natural consideration. The volumetric lighting delivered by the RTLED was a perfect fit for the space. Additionally, the product outperformed all competitive LED luminaires we tested with Hurd & Obenchain’s photometric software,” continued Nixon.

“We installed LED lighting in the past, but the quality was lacking,” said Carl Beckelheimer, CEM, CRM, Virginia Commonwealth University Physical Plant energy manager. “The Lithonia Lighting RTLED is an attractive fixture and the lighting quality is exceptional. With the RTLED meeting the University's needs, the first phase of the renovation has been completed and a second phase is currently underway.

We are very pleased with our decision,” continued Beckelheimer.

The Lithonia Lighting and Sensor Switch portfolios are available nationally through Acuity Brands’ sales representatives and authorized distributors. For more information, please visit the Acuity Brands and Lithonia Lighting websites and Acuity Brands’ YouTube® Channel. You can also become a fan of Acuity Brands and Lithonia Lighting on Facebook® and follow Acuity Brands and Lithonia Lighting on Twitter®.

About Acuity Brands
Acuity Brands, Inc. is a North American market leader and one of the world’s leading providers of luminaires, lighting control systems and related products and services with fiscal year 2010 net sales of over $1.6 billion. The Company’s lighting and system control product lines include Lithonia Lighting®, Holophane®, Peerless®, Mark Architectural Lighting™, Hydrel®, American Electric Lighting®, Gotham®, Carandini®, RELOC®, Antique Street Lamps™, Tersen®, Winona® Lighting, Synergy® Lighting Controls, Sensor Switch®, Lighting Control & Design™, Dark to Light®, ROAM®, Sunoptics® and acculamp™. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 6,000 associates and has operations throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

About Virginia Commonwealth University
One of the nation’s top research universities, VCU enrolls more than 32,000 students on two Richmond, Virginia campuses, the Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus. The VCU Medical Center, including the university’s health and sciences schools, offers state-of-the-art care in more than 200 specialty areas and serves as the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center.

About Hurd & Obenchain, Inc.
Hurd & Obenchain, Inc. specializes in engineering design and commissioning services of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and information technology systems for K-12 educational facilities, higher educational facilities of all types, health care facilities, commercial buildings, retirement facilities and local governments. Hurd & Obenchain provides these planning, design and commissioning services to owners, architects and other engineers.