At a recent ceremony in Seattle, former President Bill Clinton announced Acuity Brands Lighting would be a major partner for lighting products in the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI). The CCI, a unit of the world renowned Clinton Foundation, is working with the US Conference of Mayors (USCM) to assure US cities use environmentally sustainable lighting products in their infrastructure and municipal building applications. Additionally, over 40 of the world’s largest cities are working with the CCI toward climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Barry Goldman, Acuity Brands Lighting Senior Vice President, who attended the ceremony said “President Clinton told the Conference that this country can ensure more cities will have access to energy-efficient and clean-energy products as a result of the program. Over 1100 cities in the U.S. Conference of Mayors will now participate with the Clinton Climate Initiative, and nearly 800 mayors have specifically signed the USCM Climate Protection Agreement. This program is believed to pool together the largest public sector purchasing of green technologies in the world.”
Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman, President & CEO of Acuity Brands, expressed his agreement with the foundation’s objectives. Mr. Nagel commented, “We are extremely pleased to work with the Clinton Foundation. Acuity Brands Lighting is a long-time leader in the design and production of energy efficient lighting fixtures; for example, we’ve been designing products with LEDs for more than 15 years. As North America’s largest lighting fixture manufacturer with well-known brands such as Lithonia and Holophane and an installed base of both indoor and outdoor lighting products in U.S. cities greater than that of any other manufacturer; we can provide immediate help to the mayors to meet their goals.” One mayor commented that this new partnership with Mr. Clinton’s Climate Initiative “will take our collective efforts to the next level.”
Mr. Goldman concluded, “This partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative will be integrated with Acuity Brands Lighting’s ongoing drive toward sustainability in our manufacturing, design, and transportation practices. We are continuously developing innovative products and services to help our customers reduce their impact on the environment while enjoying a high quality lighting environment in their homes, businesses, and communities.”
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 services and includes brands such as Lithonia Lighting(R), Holophane(R), Peerless(R), Mark Architectural Lighting(R), Hydrel(R), American Electric Lighting(R), Gotham(R), Carandini(R), SpecLight(R), MetalOptics(R), Antique Street Lamps(TM), and Synergy Lighting Controls(R). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Acuity Brands employs approximately 7,000 associates and has operations throughout North America and in Europe and Asia.
