AHR Expo Announces 2025 Innovation Awards Winners

The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) today announced the winners of the 2025 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. Winners are chosen annually in ten industry categories, representing the most innovative products and technologies in the market.

“To be recognized as an award winner is a true honor within our industry,” said Show Manager, Mark Stevens. “We are thrilled to highlight the dedication of manufacturers and team members as they work to create real solutions. The Innovation Awards aim to highlight these companies, professionals and their innovation trajectory and to celebrate those that are pushing the bar.”

The Innovation Awards draw hundreds of manufacturers to enter breakthrough designs for new and never before seen solutions or improvements upon existing products and technologies. All entries are reviewed and selected by a panel of third-party judges made up of distinguished ASHRAE members. Evaluations are based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, product or technology real-world application, as well as overall potential market impact.

“The continued growth of the awards program is an encouraging indication that manufacturers are responding to problems with creative solutions,” continued Stevens. “Moreover, the winning innovations must satisfy a range of factors, such as affordability, energy consumption, compliance, and production efficiency, while also addressing performance gaps in products and technology. Congratulations to all our 2025 winners!”

In addition to celebrating innovation in HVACR, the Innovation Awards provide a means to strengthen the industry by allowing for the AHR Expo Workforce Development program, which aims to grow the industry through programming geared to inspire future members of the HVACR community. Funds collected from the entry fees are donated to programming at the student level, including show field trips, curated introductions to professionals and manufacturers, laboratory equipment and monetary donation to student programs in the hosting city. Learn more about workforce development on ahrexpo.com.

Winners for the 2025 AHR Expo Innovations Awards include:

BUILDING AUTOMATION

Winner: Distech Controls

Innovation: Eclypse Facilities

AHR Booth: 781

Eclypse Facilities is a game-changer for system integrators, equipment manufacturers and leading digital partners who can leverage unparalleled openness and interoperability with Eclypse controllers to deliver advanced digital services. Buildings implementing Eclypse ensure the highest occupant satisfaction, equipment performance and minimal operational costs to maintain the highest asset value.

COOLING

Winner: Climate Control Group

Innovation: EnviroKIT™

AHR Booth: 3927

The EnviroKIT™ is a quick, simple, and budget-friendly solution for restoring vertical stack fan coil unit performance. Sustainably replace aging components in just a few hours per room without drywall demolition. Ideal for the hospitality industry, this kitted solution improves cooling performance of fan coils with minimal room downtime.

HEATING

Winner: AERCO, A Watts Water Company

Innovation: AERCO CFR

AHR Booth: 743

CFR is the world’s first stainless steel condensing boiler that can be installed in a Category I vent, making it an ideal solution for the commercial retrofit market. It delivers energy savings, reliable performance, and cost-saving installation flexibility in a compact footprint to cost-effectively comply with local energy mandates.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Winner: Senva Inc.

Innovation: TotalSense Indoor Air Quality Sensor

AHR Booth: 581

The TotalSense Air Quality sensor is the most configurable air quality sensor available with any combination of ten sensors including Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), relative humidity (RH), temperature, occupancy detection (PIR), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), Ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), barometric pressure and ambient light.

PLUMBING

Winner: Grundfos

Innovation: Grundfos ALPHA HWR

AHR Booth: 1808

The Grundfos HWR is the first high-efficiency, digitally connected circulator for domestic hot water recirculation systems. It is the most efficient circulator available, with a best-in-class energy rating of 215 from the Hydraulic Institute. The fully digital solution achieves advanced comfort with maximum water and energy savings.

REFRIGERATION

Winner: Danfoss

Innovation: Danfoss BOCK HGX56 CO2 T

AHR Booth: 1301

Danfoss BOCK HGX56 CO2 T is a transcritical 6-cylinder CO2 compressor with expanded range to enable larger refrigeration and heat pump applications with a smaller footprint, and strong energy efficient performance.

SOFTWARE

Winner: Radiant Professionals Alliance

Innovation: Building Efficiency System Tool™ 6.2 (BEST 6.2)

AHR Booth: 2175

The Radiant Professionals Alliance’s (RPA) free interactive Building Efficiency System Tool™ 6.2 (BEST 6.2), revolutionizes HVAC system efficiency comparison. BEST Software is held by Taco (which has control over the content and function thereof). The Software is copyrighted and protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Winner: LG Electronics U.S.A. Inc.

Innovation: LG Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump

AHR Booth: 6643

Conventional heat pumps suffer significant degradation in performance when confronted with temperatures below 0°F (-17.8°C), making them less reliable and efficient in cold climate regions. New heat pump products such as this innovation from LG have been developed to combat cold climate challenges, operating down to -31°F (-35°C).

TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS

Winner: PassiveLogic

Innovation: PassiveLogic Sense Nano

AHR Booth: 1191, 1391

The Sense Nano is the first truly wireless sensor — communicating via Bluetooth mesh, while extracting its operating energy from the surrounding environment. Goodbye, battery replacements.

Installing in 15 seconds, it fits in the palm of your hand. And it packs a punch with seven sensors inside a 45mm diameter ring.

VENTILATION

Winner: Rosenburg USA, Inc.

Innovation: Rosenberg I-Series Backward Curved Fans

AHR Booth: 5751

Rosenberg has developed 23 models of I-Series fans, ranging from 355MM to 630MM. The high-efficiency, high-volume I-impeller features five backward-curved, hollow-profiled, airfoil section aluminum blades, with efficiency-optimized circumferential diffusers. The new impeller can increase efficiencies up to 11%, while reducing noise levels by more than half compared to older impellers.

In addition to category winners, one overall 2025 Product of the Year winner will be announced and awarded in Orlando. This prestigious honor is awarded based on exceptional leadership in HVACR innovation.

“Innovation in our industry will continue to increase in urgency as we battle workforce shortages, increased demands, changing regulations and the call for fast, reliable training,” said Kim Pires, AHR Expo. “Participating in the Innovation Awards, along with the honor of being named a winner, is an indication to the industry that you are at the forefront of where HVACR is heading in the future.”

“What’s more, fees from the Innovation Awards program support workforce development through donation to HVACR high school programming in the cities where the show is hosted,” continued Pires. “It is a means to inspire, connect and secure innovation for the future of the industry.”

For more information about the awards, AHR Expo, and to register for free, please visit ahrexpo.com.