ASHRAE Journal - April 2010 - 8

VSD Compressor Is AHR Expo’s Product of the Year
ORLANDO, Fla.—Danfoss’ Performer VSD, a variable-speed compressor for residential use, was named the 2010 AHR Expo Product of the Year during a ceremony here at AHR Expo. The innovative variable-speed compressor was chosen from among the nine category winners of the 2010 AHR Expo Innovation Awards, an industry-wide competition designed to promote and encourage product innovation. Danfoss was the Innovation Awards winner in the Green Building category and then was selected from among the nine winners to earn the AHR Expo Product of the Year Award for 2010. Thirtytwo products received Honorable Mentions. “We are proud to receive this Award because it is welcome proof of the continuing Danfoss commitment to energy efficiency achieved through engineering innovation,” said Stephen Gugliotta, director of sales for Danfoss Air Conditioning. The contest is sponsored by ASHRAE, the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and International Exposition Company (IEC). It is managed by the staff of ASHRAE Journal and judged by a panel of ASHRAE members. Entry fees totaled nearly $11,000 and were presented to the Jacksonville Police Athletic League (JAXPAL) during the ceremony. The money will be used to help install an HVAC control system. Since 2003, the competition has raised more than $60,000, which has been donated to vocational schools and humanitarian projects for communities in states where the Show is being held.

Yves Cyr (left), Sylvain Ouellette, and Dominic Babineau discuss products being displayed at NEP/Neptronic booth. “My customers are demanding energy savings,” said first-time attendee Richard O’Rourke, who works for Mechanical Services in Orlando. “The size of the Show is really impressive,” he said. Bitra Rao, manager of Blue Star Ltd., Mumbai, India, said he is “looking for any new products that can help India…. Making things more efficient is very important in my country.” ASHRAE Fellow Lew Harriman said he was impressed with the number of new, innovative products. He liked the ecobee Smart thermostat because it “can be programmed easily by human beings, and the really great thing is that the Web interface doesn’t cost anything.” Harriman also was impressed by Design Polymerics’s DP1010 Spray, which he thought was so great he said that “if performance contractors knew about it, they would be inhaling it.” The numbers provide an example of the scope and depth. Some 54 exhibitors displayed at least one solar product, 140 displayed a product in building automation and controls, 45 displayed software and 188 displayed an IAQ product.
Exhibitors: Where do you see the best prospects for business in 2010?

Marc Bellanger (right) demonstrates some features of the Daikin AC (Americas) VRV III-C to Salvatore Giglio. In addition to the exhibits, the Show featured more than 100 educational sessions, many offered by the more than 31 endorsing organizations. Highlights included the International Energy Agency’s workshop “Solar AirConditioning and Refrigeration,” which charged $130 for admission and had standing-room only attendance. Other hot educational sessions included: • The U.S. Green Building Council’s workshop on managing a LEED project, from the first client meeting to final certification, • The ENERGY STAR workshops by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and • ASHRAE’s program on Standard 189.1 for high-performing green buildings. AHR Expo is cosponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI. Next year’s show will be Jan. 31 – Feb. 2 in Las Vegas. For information, visit www.ahrexpo.com.
Attendees: Where do you see the best prospects for business in 2010?

Retrofit/Renovation................ 60% Maintenance.......................... 22% . New.Construction................. 18%

Retrofit/Renovation................ 54% Maintenance.......................... 28% . New.Construction................. 18%

Data from ASHRAE Journal surveys of 2010 AHR Expo attendees (865; 15% response rate) and exhibitors (217; 18% response rate).

ASHRAE Journal

ashrae.org

April 2010

ASHRAE Journal - April 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - April 2010