FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Black Mark A   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol ACUITY BRANDS INC [AYI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP- Customer Enabling Team Ld (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O ACUITY BRANDS, INC., 1170 PEACHTREE STREET, NESUITE 2400 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/15/2012 (Street) ATLANTA, GA 30309 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/15/2012   M   4,300 A $ 40.29 36,412 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   S   4,300 D $ 59.6 (2) 32,112 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   M   8,000 A $ 22.86 40,112 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   S   8,000 D $ 59.6 (2) 32,112 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   M   11,966 A $ 31.96 44,078 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   S   11,966 D $ 59.6 (2) 32,112 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   M   9,934 A $ 33.49 42,046 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   S   9,934 D $ 59.6 (2) 32,112 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   M   4,590 A $ 50.56 36,702 (1) D   Common Stock 02/15/2012   S   4,590 D $ 59.6 (2) 32,112 (1) D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option

$ 40.29

02/15/2012

M

4,300

(3)

11/02/2017

Common Stock

4,300

$ 0

0

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option

$ 22.86

02/15/2012

M

8,000

(4)

04/06/2019

Common Stock

8,000

$ 0

8,000

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option

$ 31.96

02/15/2012

M

11,966

(5)

10/24/2018

Common Stock

11,966

$ 0

0

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option

$ 33.49

02/15/2012

M

9,934

(6)

10/25/2019

Common Stock

9,934

$ 0

4,966

D

Non-Qualified Stock Option

$ 50.56

02/15/2012

M

4,590

(7)

10/24/2020

Common Stock

4,590

$ 0

9,180

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Black Mark A C/O ACUITY BRANDS, INC. 1170 PEACHTREE STREET, NESUITE 2400 ATLANTA, GA 30309			EVP- Customer Enabling Team Ld

Signatures

Mark A. Black		02/16/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The total direct shares owned includes 32,112 time-vesting restricted shares.
(2)	The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $58.67 to $60.24, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to Acuity Brands, Inc., any security holder of Acuity Brands, Inc, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth herein.
(3)	These options vest ratably over a three-year period and became fully vested on November 2, 2010.
(4)	These options vest ratably over a three-year period and will become fully vested on April 6, 2012.
(5)	These options vest ratably over a three-year period and became fully vested on October 24, 2011.
(6)	These options vest ratably over a three-year period and will become fully vested on October 26, 2012.
(7)	These options vest ratably over a three-year period and will become fully vested on October 25, 2013.

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