MANITOWOC, Wis., Feb 25, 2008 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:OESX) announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved the issuance of a patent for the company's commercial grade Apollo(tm) Light Pipe.

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The Apollo Light Pipe collects and focuses daylight with highly reflective geometrically arranged materials and consumes no electricity. When the Apollo Light Pipe is deployed in an integrated three-phase system, including Orion's high intensity fluorescent fixtures and control devices, it can replace electrical lighting in a facility during peak hours when electricity is most expensive, resulting in significantly lower energy bills for Orion's customers.

The patent covers the geometrical design of the dome, which is responsible for its ability to collect daylight for longer periods of the day than other day lighting products on the market.

Orion has already successfully installed the Apollo Light Pipe as part of a three-phase energy management system in Coca-Cola Enterprises, Sysco Foods and Ralph Lauren Polo, removing particular lighting zones from the grid for up to ten hours a day.

Orion has deployed its patented high intensity fluorescent (or HIF) lighting system, the first phase of its energy management system, in 3,300 facilities across North America. Orion's HIF lighting system reduces electricity costs by approximately 50% when replacing the industry standard HID fixtures and is engineered in a modular fashion allowing for easy integration of phase II and III of the energy management system. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced over 303 megawatts, saving customers $304 million, and reducing indirect CO2 emissions by 3.8 million tons.

"Rising energy prices and increasing awareness of environmental concerns are causing businesses to evaluate additional ways to become more energy efficient, including a wholesale changeover to energy efficient equipment," commented Neal Verfuerth, President and CEO of Orion. "We are extremely pleased that our innovations have resulted in products which can help address these concerns. We were able to take light pipe technology -- which has been around for years -- and bring it to the next level, one that is in keeping with state-of-the-art industrial and commercial applications."

With the addition of this new U.S. patent, Orion's patent portfolio now includes 18 U.S. patents primarily covering elements of the HIF lighting system, with an additional 9 patents pending covering elements of its InteLite(tm) intelligent lighting controls and Apollo Light Pipe.

Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:OESX) is a leading power technology enterprise that designs, manufactures and implements energy management systems, consisting primarily of high-performance, energy efficient lighting systems and controls and related services, for commercial and industrial customers without compromising their quantity or quality of light. For more information, visit www.oriones.com.

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SOURCE: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.

Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
          Media Contact
          Linda Diedrich, Director Corporate Communications
          920-482-1988
          ljd@oes1.com

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