Submissions are now open for the 2014 AHR Expo Innovation Awards Competition. The awards are presented to companies displaying a product at the AHR Expo that is considered innovative by providing safer, healthier, more efficient, and comfortable environments. The 2014 AHR Expo will be held Jan. 21-23, 2014, in New York City.

Sponsored by ASHRAE, AHR,I and the AHR Expo, the Innovation Awards were created to recognize, encourage, and promote new product development in 10 HVACR categories. The submissions from exhibitors are reviewed by a panel of judges selected by ASHRAE who evaluate the entries based on their innovative design, application, market impact, and value to the industry. The award categories are: building automation, cooling, green building, heating, indoor air quality, refrigeration, software, tools and instruments, ventilation, and plumbing.

Winners of the Innovation Awards will be honored at a special ceremony during the expo at the Javits Convention Center. The winning exhibitors will receive special placards to place in their booths at the show, as well as an award to display at company headquarters. From the 10 winning entries, one entry will be selected as the 2014 AHR Expo Product of the Year. Last year’s recipient was Rheem Manufacturing for its H2AC Rooftop Unit, a restaurant-integrated AC and water heating system.

Exhibitors entering the awards competition may submit one product per category by the appointed deadline, however, winners from the previous year may not resubmit the same product. For more information on the rules and regulations, as well as the entry form for the Innovation Awards Competition, visit www.ahrexpo.com/forexhibitors/innovationawards.