ATLANTA — ASHRAE is accepting entries for the 2024 Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award.

The contest, organized by ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme's OzonAction, aims to encourage the implementation of projects, in developing countries, that are shown to minimize global warming through refrigeration and air-conditioning management.

The world is becoming increasingly dependent upon refrigeration and air conditioning to keep growing populations safe and comfortable and to provide the environmental conditions for expanding needs in agriculture, health care, and data transmission. The International Energy Agency estimates that air conditioning and ventilation alone account for 20% of global electricity use. With this backdrop in mind, a transition to lower-GWP refrigerants is necessary to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment, a press release from ASHRAE said.

The Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award recognizes the implementation of new technological concepts in developing countries to minimize the GWP of refrigerants. Awards are presented to individuals working alone or in teams in two categories, residential applications, and commercial and/or industrial facilities.

Projects will be selected for the award based on the following criteria:

• Innovative aspects in transforming conventional concepts (40%);

• Technical replicability in developing countries (25%);

• Extent of need (25%); and

• Economic feasibility in developing countries, including energy efficiency (10%).

Entries for 2024 awards are being accepted through Thursday, Aug. 15. There is no cost to enter. The individuals named in the selected submissions will be recognized at UNEP and ASHRAE events and publications. ASHRAE membership is not a requirement for submission.

To submit entries for the 2024 Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award visit ashrae.org/unep-gwp.