The Innovation Awards aim to honor the most inventive, useful, and original products, systems, and technologies in the marketplace. Exhibitors are encouraged to submit products and technologies to showcase solutions for new and existing challenges and new avenues for industry growth.

Once submitted, all entries are evaluated by a panel of third-party ASHRAE members with over 20 years of professional engineering experience. The panel uses a review process to tally points based on application, innovation, value, and market impact. Winners are then selected in ten industry categories, including building automation; cooling; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; sustainable solutions; tools and instruments; and ventilation. An overall Product of the Year will be selected from the pool of category winners and will be announced at the show in Atlanta.

The Innovation Awards as an Investment in Our Workforce

In 2022 AHR Expo introduced a workforce development program in which entry fees from the Innovation Awards program were used to support a local dual-HVAC high school. With the success of the awards in Vegas, AHR Expo was able to donate $25,000 directly to the program as well as host 25 students for a field trip on the show floor. In 2023, AHR Expo aims to work with the Atlanta Public School district to award donation funds to a similar program, with the hopes of growing into other areas of service within HVAC, including computer programming and engineering.

“This industry is special. If you’ve been to the AHR Expo you understand the feeling of community and connectedness — even more now than ever coming out of the challenging years behind us," said Stevens. “We are poised to build a fantastic future with HVACR leading the transformation of our built environment. The Innovation Awards lend a preview of this and it is encouraging to see how we are moving forward as an industry. Manufacturers continue to exceed expectations by showing up, making improvements and pushing forward; and while we award only ten companies, we see hundreds in our submissions. We can’t wait to see what’s to come in Atlanta."

How to Enter the 2023 Innovation Awards

The awards extend an opportunity for manufacturers to validate their dedication and hard work with strategy, planning, execution, and market realization through the recognition of the industry’s most prestigious award. Winners are encouraged to learn more about the awards and view the 2022 winners on the Innovation Awards webpage. All applicants can submit their entries via the dedicated portal. The deadline for entry is August 9, 2022.

 There are many benefits to participation, including:

• Winners and finalists will be recognized at the 2023 show with special booth signage;
• Finalists will be announced on social channels one week before winner announcements, extending the opportunity for exposure longevity;
• All winners will be invited to celebrate with their colleagues and industry leaders at a closed reception;
• Winners will be interviewed for a custom video months before the show and will be featured on the AHR Expo website and social media channels, as well as in industry media coverage; and
• Winners will be encouraged to promote their win on their communication channels.

Registration for the 2023 AHR Expo is open and available on the AHR Expo website. Attendees are also encouraged to sign up for the show newsletter to receive updates as they happen. To request more information about the Innovation Awards, or to receive forms for entry, please email Kim Pires at kpires@iecshows.com.