The annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo announces its call for entries for the 2016 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. These awards will be presented at a formal ceremony during the Show, which takes place next January 25 to 27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The annual awards competition honors the most inventive and original products, systems and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo in the categories of: building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation. 

Additionally, a single Product of the Year winner is selected annually from among the individual category winners, recognizing an exceptional level of leadership in HVACR industry innovation.

“With so much focus on performance and energy efficiency in today’s competitive HVACR landscape, it is important to recognize the companies whose products are pioneering advanced solutions,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company. “We look at this year’s entries for products that show exceptional creativity, efficiency and utility. It’s a good chance to publicly recognize these companies for the great work that they do to positively impact the future of the industry.”

Historically, the AHR Expo Innovation Awards has highlighted the HVACR industry’s efforts to match evolved solutions to its dynamic needs. It has highlighted the products, systems and technologies that are setting elevated standards for the efficient and responsible use of resources, while ensuring the comfort and health of building occupants.   

“Over the years, the visible trends and themes across award winners have shifted, however the innovative spirit has remained constant,” Stevens said. “What once was hard-wired is now wireless, and what used to turn on with a switch is now automated. We have seen solutions for markets that were previously inconceivable – from robust chillers designed to meet the cooling requirements of ever-expanding data centers, to software programs with the power to determine homeowners’ heating, cooling and ventilation preferences long before they pull into their driveways. Each year is no less fascinating than the last in this respect, and we very much look forward to seeing what will earn merit in the 2016 Innovation Awards.” 

Past Innovation Awards winners have included an array of impressive and unprecedented technology. In the 2015 Green Building category, the winning product became a pioneer for oil-free, variable speed, magnetic bearing technology while providing the highest full- and part-load efficiency in the industry. The winner of the 2015 Software category was an application that connected to multiple devices, allowing for automation, control and data collection between two locations at the push of a button. Winning the 2015 Cooling category was a cable designed to make mini-split installation easier in home cooling systems. The product eliminated the need for conduits or cable trays. These products, along with many other winners, provided solutions that went on to be real influencers in the industry.

All 2016 AHR Expo exhibitors are eligible to enter the Innovation Awards, and may submit one product in each category (as long as that product has not previously won an award). Only products that will be exhibited at the Show and are available for sale by the end of January 2016, will be eligible. Completed entry forms and a $100 entry fee must be submitted online at ahrexpo.com by October 2, 2015.

A panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges will evaluate each entry based on its innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. All judges are seasoned HVACR professionals with more than 20 years of professional engineering experience. Many of them have multiple degrees, certifications and credentials and all have long-term service records on ASHRAE technical committees and research projects. The judges have worked in all facets of the industry, including but not limited to education/instruction, research, engineering management, sales engineering, design engineering and manufacturing. 

For more information on the 2016 AHR Expo, visit ahrexpo.com. Specific questions regarding Innovation Awards submissions can also be emailed to expoawards@ashrae.org.