AHR Expo launches call for entries for 2017 Innovation Awards

The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) is one of the largest HVAC&R trade shows in the world. The expo usually draws crowds of 60,000 industry professionals and close to 2,000 exhibitors annually. The event is co-sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.

This year it will be held in Las Vegas from January 30 2017 and run through Wednesday February 1.

Each year it holds the Innovation Awards alongside the conference. The aim is to honor the most inventive, original and useful systems and technologies that surpass current standards for responsible and effective use of resources in the industry

Next year it will showcase winners in 10 separate categories. These are building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation. Those who are successful will be promoted on the AHR website in videos and articles.

There will also be a special product of the year award, which will come from the pool of winners of the 10 separate product awards. Clay Stevens, president of the International Exposition Company, which organises the AHR Show, said, “we look for entries that display exceptional utility, ingenuity and efficiency, and we are always amazed by the number of incredible options we receive”.

Judging is based on the following criteria: innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. The Judges are all professionals in the HVAC&R industry with more than 20 years experience and have worked for a long time on ASHRAE technical committees.

All 2017 AHR Expo exhibitors are eligible to submit and may submit one product in each category, as long as that product has not previously won an award. To be considered, products must be exhibited at the Show and available for sale by the end of January 2017.

Completed entry forms and a $100 entry fee must be submitted online at ahrexpo.com by Wednesday, August 3, 2016.

All proceeds from entry go to an organization in need of HVAC&R repairs. Last year, the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, Fla received $19,600 for the much needed replacement of air handling units.