Our Environmental Impact
Building operations and construction account for an estimated 37% of annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We’re combining the brilliant minds of our people with the scale of our businesses to solve this problem, decoupling our growth from our GHG emissions.
EarthLIGHT
Report
Estimated percentage of Acuity Brands revenues that come from energy efficient products and services.
100 million metric tons of carbon avoidance
as a result of our projected 2020–2030 sales of LED luminaires, lighting controls, and building management systems replacing older technologies in existing buildings
Our Operations are 100% Carbon Neutral
Our commitment to reducing carbon emissions for our customers extends to our own operations. As we reduce our energy consumption in our offices, production facilities, and distribution centers, we also explore renewable energy options. We have begun to offset our emissions by investing in projects that reduce atmospheric carbon.
What does this mean? We are tackling our Scope 1 and 2 emissions head on.
How are we doing this? With investments that improve the environment.
Bold Actions
to Solve Big Problems
Carbon Sequestered By
acres of U.S. forest in one year
5,800,000 +
passenger vehicles driven for one year
1,380,000 +
Greenhouse Gas Emission From
homes for one year
870,000 +
CO2 Emissions From
Our long track record of
environmental sustainability
While climate action has taken center stage in recent years, energy efficiency is a part of our DNA.
The energy efficiency of our products is reflected in their ability to meet the requirements of a variety of energy programs.
Energy Certifications
Acuity Brands has more than 650 products that are currently ENERGY STAR certified. Check them out.
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Our products meeting the standards for certification are listed in the CA T20 Appliance Efficiency Database or Modernized Appliance Efficiency Database System (MAEDBS).
Find out
Find out which Acuity Brands' products are listed on the DLC Qualified Products List.
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Learn more about Acuity Brands products that can be used to meet California Title 24 requirements.
Check out
Check out Acuity Brands products that meet T24 JA8 high efficacy LED light source requirements.
Find the right certifications
We have thousands of DLC® Qualified products. Find the right one for you using our tool! Our search tool assists you in finding the type of product you are looking for and the estimated lighting rebate dollars available in your area!
Sustainability Stories
Redesign of Turgeon Street in Sainte-Thérèse
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Eclypse® from Distech Controls®: Helping to Transform Sporting Venues in Paris
Building a Culture of Sustainability
at Washington and Lee
What "carbon neutral in operations" means
company facilites
Scope 1
INDIRECT
company vehicles
INDIRECT
Scope 2
from purchased energy
INDIRECT
Scope 3
INDIRECT
Scope 3
purchased goods and services
capital goods
fuel and energy related activites
transportation and distribution
waste generated in operations
business travel
employee commuting
leased assets
company vehicles
company facilities
DIRECT
Scope 1
INDIRECT
Scope 2
from purchased energy
INDIRECT
Scope 3
purchased goods and services
capital goods
fuel and energy related activities
transportation and distribution
waste generated in operations
business travel
employee commuting
leased assets
INDIRECT
Scope 3
Acuity Brands
Upstream activities
Downstream activities
transportation and distribution
processing of sold products
use of sold products
end-of-life treatment of sold products
investments
leased assets
1940s
1950s
Sunoptics installs first skylights
1978
Acuity Brands becomes market leader in “energy-efficient” fluorescent lighting
2000s
Lithonia Lighting phases out incandescent fixtures
1950s
Sunoptics installs first skylights “There’s no greater efficiency than off®.”
1978
in “energy-efficient” fluorescent lighting
Acuity Brands becomes
market leader
Acuity Brands becomes North American
market leader in “energy-efficient” LED lighting, controls, and building controls
2000s
market leader in “energy-efficient” LED lighting, controls, and building controls
BuildingOS launches
launches
2017
60% revenue
60% revenue from LED luminaires
EarthLIGHT program launched
EarthLIGHT program launched
First ESG Annual Report produced
First carbon footprint targets established
2019
86% of revenues
86% of revenues come from energy-efficient products & services
2020
2023
Discontinue the manufacture of less efficient fluorescent and HID luminaires
Products sold offered customer energy savings of 13.3 billion kWh annually
energy savings of 13.3 billion kWh annually
customer
There’s no greater efficiency than off
®
Acuity Brands’ flagship brand, Lithonia Lighting, begins manufacturing “energy-efficient” fluorescent lighting fixtures
®
1
1
United Nations Environment Programme, & Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (2024). Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction Beyond foundations: Mainstreaming sustainable solutions to cut emissions from the buildings sector. https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/45095.
North American
®
controls and fixtures to maximize energy savings
Acquisition of SensorSwitch, incorporating both controls and fixtures to maximize energy savings
2009
EarthLIGHT Handprint Report
Lighting the Way Toward Net-Zero
2024 Handprint Progress Update
We have enabled an estimated 34 million metric tons of GHG avoidance from fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2024 through the use of our put-in-place products and services, putting our customers on course for an estimated 113 million metric tons of GHG avoidance by fiscal 2030.
Access the Report
90
%
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1
as a result of our transition to digital installation instructions. That’s equivalent to:
259 tons of carbon emissions avoided
sheets of paper saved per year
19,000,000 +
miles of passenger vehicle travel per year
642,000 +
pounds of coal burned per year
286,000 +
By going digital, we will save
over 150,000,000 sheets of paper per year.
That's about 10,000 trees.
Acuity Brands now offers digital installation instructions for a number of select products.
Click Here to See Which Products Are Going Digital
By going digital, we will save
over 150,000,000 sheets of paper per year.
That's about 10,000 trees.
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
LEARN MORE
Download the Handprint Report
While our corporate carbon footprint assesses the environmental impact of our products and processes, we also estimate environmental benefits of removing older, less-efficient technology from a building, which we refer to as a carbon ‘handprint’. Details of how we calculate carbon avoidance can be found in our white paper entitled, “Lighting the Way Toward Net Zero.”
Helping customers reduce their carbon footprints is one way that we make a measurable impact on minimizing climate change.
Lighting the Way Toward Net Zero
2023 Handprint Progress Update
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2030
2029
2028
2027
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
ACTUAL
PROJECTED
Metric
Tons
2MMT
4MMT
6MMT
8MMT
10MMT
12MMT
14MMT
The estimated cumulative impact of Acuity's contribution to reducing carbon emissions by 2030 is shown in the graph below. Future year contributions diminish due to the Grid Emission Factor, increasing efficiency of buildings undergoing renovation, and the expected leveling-off of LED efficiency.
The sum of years 2020–2030 is projected to be 107 million metric tons of CO avoidance
2
MMT
>100
95
89
85
80
76
69
63
55
41
18
Reach net-zero by 2040
2040
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2030
2029
2028
2027
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
The estimated cumulative impact of Acuity’s contribution to reducing carbon emissions by 2030 is shown in this table. Future year contributions diminish due to the Grid Emission Factor, increasing efficiency of buildings undergoing renovation, and the expected leveling-off of LED efficiency.
ACTUAL
PROJECTED
Metric
Tons
2MMT
4MMT
6MMT
8MMT
10MMT
12MMT
14MMT
The sum of years 2020–2030 is projected to be 107 million metric tons of CO₂ avoidance
MMT
>100
95
89
85
80
76
69
63
55
41
18
Acuity Brands’ flagship brand, Lithonia Lighting, begins manufacturing “energy-efficient” fluorescent lighting fixtures
2023
Discontinue the manufacture of less efficient fluorescent and HID luminaires
86% of revenues come from energy-efficient products & services
Products sold offered customer energy savings of 13.3 billion kWh annually
2020
EarthLIGHT program launched
First ESG Annual Report produced
First carbon footprint targets established
2019
60% revenue from LED luminaires
2017
Acquisition of SensorSwitch, incorporating both controls and fixtures to maximize energy savings
2009
BuildingOS launches
®
Acuity Brands becomes North American
market leader in “energy-efficient” LED lighting, controls, and building controls
2000s
®
1950s
259 tons of carbon emissions avoided
as a result of our transition to digital installation instructions.
Thats’ equivalent to:
That’s equivalent to:
tanker trucks' worth of gasoline
5,800 +
railcars' worth of coal burned
2,400 +
homes' energy use for one year
55,000 +
(ESG) Report
FY 2022
EarthLIGHT
Click here to read about our commitment to LED and our phase out of fluorescent and HID fixtures.
Fluorescent and HID Discontinuation
Committing to LED Decreases our Carbon Footprint by 440,000 Metric Tons
Learn more about our methodology >
Read our Plan
This report is our opportunity to share our thinking, our analysis, and our approach to meeting the ambitious target of Net Zero emissions by 2040. We are very clear that our Company cannot reach Net Zero alone, so sharing our plan with our partners across the value chain, as well as with investors, governments, and the general public is an important step on the journey.
Minimizing the Impacts of Climate Change
Acuity Climate Action Plan
Read our Plan
This report is our opportunity to share our thinking, our analysis, and our approach to meeting the ambitious target of Net Zero emissions by 2040. We are very clear that our Company cannot reach Net Zero alone, so sharing our plan with our partners across the value chain, as well as with investors, governments, and the general public is an important step on the journey.
Minimizing the Impacts of Climate Change
Acuity Climate Action Plan
Learn more about our methodology >
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
Our Focus on Net-Zero
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has verified our net-zero science-based target – to reach net-zero GHG emissions across our value chain by 2040. This goal is in alignment with our goal of selling more products and solutions to help save energy and reduce GHG emissions while reducing our own operating costs.
We reduced our Scope 3 Emissions Intensity* covering use of sold products by 32.0% per USD value added in fiscal 2023, and by 69.3% per USD value added from fiscal 2015 to fiscal 2023.
Reduce Scope 3 Emissions Intensity* Covering Use of Sold Products by 66.3% per USD value added between fiscal 2015-2030.
(This target has been verified by the SBTi.)
We decreased our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 6.2% in fiscal 2023, and by 25.6% overall from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2023.
Reduce Scope 1 & 2 Emissions by 42.8% between fiscal 2019-2029. (This target has been verified by the SBTi and is in line with a 1.5°C trajectory.)
Our Estimated Progress in 2023
Our Goals
company vehicles
company facilities
DIRECT
Scope 1
INDIRECT
Scope 2
from purchased energy
Upstream activities
INDIRECT
Scope 3
purchased goods and services
capital goods
fuel and energy related activities
transportation and distribution
waste generated in operations
business travel
employee commuting
leased assets
Downstream activities
INDIRECT
Scope 3
transportation and distribution
processing of sold products
use of sold products
end-of-life treatment of sold products
investments
leased assets
Acuity Brands
Sustainability Recognition
In fiscal 2024, we received a Partners in Performance in Sustainability award from W.W. Grainger, Inc. This award recognizes suppliers who achieve excellence in several categories, including sustainable products, customer experience, product quality, and commitment to responsible business practices in all aspects of ESG.
Newsweek, in partnership with market data research firm Plant-A and data and analytics provider GIST Impact, identified the top 500 companies in the U.S. based on environmental sustainability for their 2024 ‘America’s Greenest Companies’ list. Acuity was selected for the second year in a row due to our progress on greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, waste generation and sustainability data disclosure and commitments.
(ESG) Report
FY 2024
EarthLIGHT
Bringing Data and Visibility to a University’s Sustainability Journey
Reinvigorating an Urban Library with Unexpected Lighting
Sustainability Stories
company vehicles
company facilities
DIRECT
Scope 1
INDIRECT
Scope 2
from purchased energy
Upstream activities
INDIRECT
Scope 3
purchased goods and services
capital goods
fuel and energy related activities
transportation and distribution
waste generated in operations
business travel
employee commuting
leased assets
Downstream activities
INDIRECT
Scope 3
transportation and distribution
processing of sold products
use of sold products
end-of-life treatment of sold products
investments
leased assets
Acuity Brands
Net-Zero 2040
Net-Zero 2040
We reduced our Scope 3 Emissions Intensity* covering use of sold products by 32.0% per USD value added in fiscal 2023, and by 69.3% per USD value added from fiscal 2015 to fiscal 2023.
Reduce Scope 3 Emissions Intensity* Covering Use of Sold Products by 66.3% per USD value added between fiscal 2015-2030. (This target has been verified by the SBTi.)
We decreased our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 6.2% in fiscal 2023, and by 25.6% overall from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2023.
Reduce Scope 1 & 2 Emissions by 42.8% between fiscal 2019-2029. (This target has been verified by the SBTi and is in line with a 1.5°C trajectory.)
Our Estimated Progress in 2023
Our Goals
* Our Emissions Intensity from the Use of Sold Products is calculated as emissions from sold products divided by net sales (kg CO2e / $ net sales).
Helping customers reduce their carbon footprint is one way that we believe we make a measurable impact on minimizing climate change.
While our corporate carbon footprint assesses the environmental impact of our products and processes, we also estimate the environmental benefits of removing older, less-efficient technology from a building, which we refer to as a carbon ‘handprint.’ Details of how we calculate carbon avoidance can be found in our white paper entitled, “EarthLIGHT Handprint Report Methodology."
EarthLIGHT Handprint Report Methodology
We aim to empower our customers to reduce their carbon footprint by 100 million metric tons by fiscal 2030. This goal is based on our projected sales of LED luminaires, lighting controls, and building and refrigeration controls replacing older technologies in existing buildings and on driving innovation and performance across our Company. Our estimated progress to date is shown below.
2024 Handprint Progress Update
The estimated cumulative impact of Acuity's contribution to reducing carbon emissions by 2030 is shown in the graph above. Future year contributions diminish due to the Grid Emission Factor, increasing efficiency of buildings undergoing renovation, and the expected leveling-off of LED efficiency.
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2030
2029
2028
2027
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
ACTUAL
PROJECTED
Metric
Tons
2MMT
4MMT
6MMT
8MMT
10MMT
12MMT
14MMT
Net-Zero 2040
Goal
Reduce Scope 3 Emissions Intensity* Covering Use of Sold Products by 66.3% per USD value added between fiscal 2015-2030 (This target has been verified by the SBTi and is in line with a 1.5°C trajectory.)
Estimated Progress in Fiscal 2024
We reduced our Scope 3 Emissions Intensity* covering use of sold products by 71.1% per USD value added from fiscal 2015 to fiscal 2024, and by 5.7% per USD value added in fiscal 2024.
Scope 3 Emissions Intensity
Estimated Progress in Fiscal 2024
We have reduced our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 24.9% overall from fiscal 2019 to fiscal 2024. Our emissions increased by 1.5% in fiscal 2024, driven primarily by operating our Santa Rosa Production Facility, which is twice the size of the facility it replaces.
Goal
Reduce Scope 1 and 2 Emissions by 42.8% between fiscal 2019-2029 (This target has been verified by the SBTi and is in line with a 1.5°C trajectory.)
Scope 1 and 2 Emissions
Newsweek, in partnership with market data research firm Plant-A and data and analytics provider GIST Impact, identified the top 500 companies in the U.S. based on environmental sustainability for their 2024 ‘America’s Greenest Companies’ list. Acuity was selected for the second year in a row due to our progress on greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, waste generation and sustainability data disclosure and commitments.
Acuity was also named to the list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2024 by USA Today, which recognizes companies that achieved the greatest reductions in their core emissions intensity (Scope 1 and 2 adjusted by revenue) between 2020 and 2022.
Eclypse® from Distech Controls®: Helping to Transform Sporting Venues in Paris
Redesign of Turgeon Street in Sainte-Thérèse
LEARN MORE
Acuity was also named to the list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2024 by USA Today, which recognizes companies that achieved the greatest reductions in their core emissions intensity (Scope 1 and 2 adjusted by revenue) between 2020 and 2022.
Newsweek, in partnership with market data research firm Plant-A and data and analytics provider GIST Impact, identified the top 500 companies in the U.S. based on environmental sustainability for their 2024 ‘America’s Greenest Companies’ list. Acuity was selected for the second year in a row due to our progress on greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, waste generation and sustainability data disclosure and commitments.
In fiscal 2024, we received a Partners in Performance in Sustainability award from W.W. Grainger, Inc. This award recognizes suppliers who achieve excellence in several categories, including sustainable products, customer experience, product quality, and commitment to responsible business practices in all aspects of ESG.
Sustainability Recognition
Reach net-zero by 2040
2040
Discontinue the manufacture of less efficient fluorescent and HID luminaires
2023
86% of revenues come from energy-efficient products & services
Products sold offered customer energy savings of 13.3 billion kWh annually
2020
EarthLIGHT program launched
First ESG Annual Report produced
First carbon footprint targets established
2019
60% revenue from LED luminaires
2017
Acquisition of SensorSwitch, incorporating both controls and fixtures to maximize energy savings
2009
BuildingOS launches
Acuity Brands becomes North American market leader in “energy-efficient” LED lighting, controls, and building controls
®
2000s
Acuity Brands’ flagship brand, Lithonia Lighting, begins manufacturing “energy-efficient” fluorescent lighting fixtures
®
1950s
While climate action has taken center stage in recent years, energy efficiency is a part of our DNA.
Our long track record of
environmental sustainability
100 Million Metric Tons
Our goal is to enable 100 Million Metric Tons of Greenhouse Gas Avoidance
as a result of our projected 2020–2030 sales of LED luminaires, lighting controls, and building management systems replacing older technologies in existing buildings
passenger vehicles driven for one year
1,380,000 +
Greenhouse Gas Emission From
homes for one year
870,000 +
CO2 Emissions From
acres of U.S. forest in one year
5,800,000 +
Carbon Sequestered By
While our corporate GHG footprint assesses the environmental impact of our products and processes, we also estimate the environmental benefits of removing older, less-efficient technology from a building, which we refer to as a GHG ‘handprint.’ Details of how we calculate GHG avoidance can be found in our white paper entitled, “Lighting the Way Toward Net-Zero."
100 Million Metric Tons
