AHR Expohas added a new category to their fourth annual Innovation Awards competition. The Greenovation Award, recognizing excellence in green building products and technology in the HVACR industry, will join the other eight categories in the award competition.

The first winner of the Greenovation Award (2006) is VRTX Technologies LLC for the VRTX Systems, which relies on kinetic energy, hydrodynamic cavitation, and chemical equilibrium to control scale, corrosion, and biofouling without hazardous chemicals. The system's installation reduces water usage, operating costs, environmental impact and improves worker safety. It treats industrial cooling water from condensers and cooling towers.

"We are very excited about this new category in the awards competition," said Clay Stevens, President of International Exposition Company (IEC), producers and managers of the AHR Expo. "Green building is playing an increasingly more influential role in the HVAC&R industry and we want to recognize products that are leading that change."

The products that received Honorable Mention in this category include:

  • The SONOXIDE® Ultrasonic Water Treatment from Ashland Specialty Chemical, Drew Industrial, combines low-power, high-frequency ultrasound and a microbubble aeration to kill microorganisms without hazardous chemicals.
  • The GAHP-W from Robur Corp. simultaneously produces hot and cold water for hydronic HVAC systems and geothermal applications using natural gas as the primary heating source. Its nominal heating efficiency is 139% (on HHV) and nominal cooling efficiency is 66% (on HHV).

    The most innovative product submissions from among the thousands on display at the AHR Expo have been selected as winners in nine specific categories: Building Automation, Cooling, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Refrigeration, Software, Tools, Ventilation, and the newest category, Greenovation (Green Building). The Greenovation category was added this year to recognize the increasing number of products and technology that make buildings "green" favoring the environment, conservation of natural resources, and the reduction of energy consumption and pollution.

    For more information, visit www.ahrexpo.com.