Officials from the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition have announced the winners of the 2021 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. Award winners and finalists were selected in 10 industry categories, including building automation, cooling, green building, heating, indoor air quality, plumbing, refrigeration, software, tools and instruments and ventilation.
“HVACR as an industry is always changing in new and exciting ways at all professional levels,” said Show Manager Mark Stevens. “Companies on the AHR Expo show floor are listening to their stakeholders and developing new tools, products and services that make the industry more efficient, sustainable, smart, etc. Conversation is key and learning from each other at all levels within the industry is what drives innovation from year to year. We see it every year walking the exhibitor booths. It’s incredible.”
Submissions were collected over the summer and then reviewed by a panel of third-party judges made up of ASHRAE members. Entrants were evaluated based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, application, as well as potential market impact.
“We want to formally congratulate each of our 2021 AHR Expo Innovation Award winners, as well as finalists and all our entrants, for their continued leadership and contribution to HVACR,” added Stevens. “We look forward to seeing these innovators in the marketplace in the coming year, and in-person on the show floor in 2022.”
Although the 2021 in-person expo was canceled, plans are underway for the 2022 AHR Expo. The show is slated for Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration will open in summer 2021.
In addition, Infinitum Electric’s IEq, a high-efficiency silicon carbide VFD, was named as the 2021 AHR Expo Product of the Year. The product delivers the latest step-change improvements to motor control efficiency, size and packaging, enabling OEMs and end users to deploy the technology in more varied environments. Every year, the AHR Expo Innovation Award winners from all 10 categories compete to be named the AHR Expo Product of the Year.
The awards originally debuted in 2003, and contain an element of charity. Typically, each year the AHR Expo gives back to the community by donating the Innovation Awards entry fees to an organization in the region where the show is being held. A selection committee chooses a deserving organization in need of HVACR repairs, upgrades or installations. Past recipients include the Atlanta Police Athletic League, the Chicago Lighthouse and Opportunity Village in Las Vegas.
For more information, visit ahrexpo.com. This year’s winners are:
Winner: Infinitum Electric IEq, a high-efficiency silicon carbide VFD
Finalists: BrainBox AI Solution; Emerson’s Verdant ZX series energy-management thermostat
Cooling
Winner: Emerson’s Copeland ZPK7 fixed-speed scroll compressor
Finalists: MRCOOL MULTI-ZONE/DIY series ductless mini-split heat pump; Smardt Chiller Group Inc.’s Smardt V-Class water-cooled chiller range
Green Building
Winner: Advanced Cooling Technologies’ pump-assisted split loop energy recovery heat exchanger
Finalists: ebm-papst Inc.’s RESET Certified RadiPac Air-Mover; Quadra-Gen by Enginuity Power Systems Inc.
Heating
Winner: Viega’s Radiant Auto-Balancing System
Finalists: Ecoer HVAC’s home comfort systems with IoT technology; Burnham Boilers/U.S. Boiler Co.’s Alta Combi
Indoor Air Quality
Winner: Des Champs Technologies’ HVAC Air-Trap, PLP Series
Finalists: EffectiV HVAC Inc.’s PLAY-UV adjustable UV diffuser for high-efficiency filtration and ventilation; TSI Inc.’s Q-Trak XP indoor air quality monitor
Plumbing
Winner: Caleffi Hydronic Solutions’ AngleMix thermostatic mixing valve
Finalists: GE Appliances, a Haier Company’s electronic water heater with smart integrated mixing valve; Uponor’s PP-RCT pipe and fittings
Refrigeration
Winner: Officine Mario Dorin S.p.A.’s CD600 range of CO2 transcritical compressors
Finalists: ebm-papst Inc.’s AxiEco Protect axial fan; Emerson’s Copeland digital outdoor refrigeration unit, X-Line series
Software
Winner: Willdan’s NEO Net Energy Optimizer, energy modeling software
Finalists: Distech Controls’ Builder; Lennox International Inc.’s CORE Service App
Tools & Instruments
Winner: INFICON’s D-TEK 3 refrigerant leak detector
Finalists: Alert Labs’ Sentree A/C monitoring system; H2O Weld LLC’s Oweld water gas generator
Ventilation
Winner: Aldes’ CAR3 constant airflow regulators
Finalists: ebm-papst Inc.’s AxiEco Perform axial fan; Kingspan Insulation LLC’s KoolDuct
