WESTPORT, Conn. - Submissions are now being accepted for the 2008 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) Innovation Awards. The sixth annual competition is designed to encourage the development of new products that are both creative and useful, meet today’s HVACR demands, and feature new technology that will have a significant affect on residential, commercial, or industrial markets.

The 2008 AHR Expo Innovation Awards competition is sponsored by the International Exposition Co. (IEC), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI).

The panel of judges is made up of specially selected members of ASHRAE who are knowledgeable on a wide variety of products. Submissions will be accepted in nine product categories: building automation, cooling, green building, heating, IAQ, refrigeration, software, tools, and ventilation.

In addition to recognizing outstanding product innovation, the award program entry fees will be used to benefit local HVACR students in the New York area where the 2008 AHR Expo is being held. During the first five years of the program, thousands of dollars have been donated to HVACR technical school scholarship funds.

“The AHR Expo Innovation Awards program has a positive impact on the HVACR industry,” said Clay Stevens, president of IEC. “It calls attention to how successful manufacturers have been at turning new technology into useful and highly efficient products.”

Winners of the AHR Expo Innovation awards will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the show. They will also receive placards to display at their booths during the show as well as an etched crystal award to be displayed at their company’s headquarters. TheASHRAE Journalwill also feature a special section on the winners.

The competition is open only to products that will be displayed at the 2008 AHR Expo and that have not won a previous Innovation Award. Products that previously received an honorable mention may be submitted again. Award submissions are due no later than Sept. 18, 2007.

For more information, visit www.ahrexpo.com.

Publication date:07/30/2007