What Is Lower-GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award?
The award promotes innovative design, research and practice by recognizing people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to minimize the use of higher global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants through refrigeration and air-conditioning applications.
To be eligible, work must have taken place in a developing country. Developing countries are as listed in Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Montreal Protocol fund.
The next award selection will take place in 2024. The entry period will be announced soon. If you wish to be notified when submissions are being accepted, please contact ashraeunep@ashrae.org.
Innovation Award Selections
There were four selected awards for the 2023 ASHRAE–UNEP Lower GWP Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Innovation Award. The selection process took into account the innovative aspects in transforming conventional concepts, technical replicability to developing countries, extent of need, and economy feasibility to developing countries.
2023 Project Selections
2019 Project Selections
Who Are the Awarding Organizations?
The selected recipients will be recognized by ASHRAE and UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
How Often Is the Award Issued/Awarded?
Annually. The awards were last presented in 2023. Please contact ashraeunep@ashrae.org if you would like to be notified when submissions for the next award will be accepted.
What Are the Award Categories?
Selection are made in two categories up to 5 selections per category:
- Residential Applications
- Commercial/Industrial Applications
What Are the Entry Criteria?
The award promotes innovative design, research and practice by recognizing people who have developed or implemented innovative technological concepts applied in developing countries to minimize global warming potential (GWP) Refrigerants.
The award is only open to individuals and to teams of individuals who were involved in the research, design or implementation of the technology used in the project. While one or more individuals may be involved through their work with institutions, private sector organizations, or firms, awards will only be made to and in the name of individuals. Recognition will not be made to their firms or other types of employers.
If submission is by an individual, individuals must confirm the work was not a team effort and must provide confirmation by a person familiar with the work.
If a team of individuals is selected for an award, a maximum of 5 certificates will be issued and a maximum of 5 individuals will be cited for each selected project. For larger teams, same rule applies and applicant should specify the 5 names that will be cited. Alternatively, the team’s applicant may opt to cite only the name of the project and country in the final certificate and relevant citation.
How Do I Enter for the Award
The submission form requires descriptive responses to each of the following:
- Description of a new innovative technological concept to minimize the use of higher global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants through refrigeration and air-conditioning applications.
- Confirmation project has been implemented.
- Extent of need.
- Description and goal of the research, design, practice or project.
- Environmental impact achieved including specific reference to the GWP chemicals’ contribution.
- Description of further application in developing countries from both the technology and economic perspectives, including how the innovation is financially feasible to be replicated in developing countries.
Photographs illustrating the project and tables, figures or charts that present statistical data demonstrating the project's successful performance or experimental findings are encouraged to be provided with the application.
All documentation and materials must be submitted in English.
What Is the Entry Period?
The entry period for 2023 award submissions ended on 31 December 2022.
The next award selection will take place in 2024. The entry period will be announced soon. If you wish to be notified when submissions are being accepted, please contact ashraeunep@ashrae.org.
How Are the Projects Selected?
The selections in each category will be based on the following criteria:
- Innovative aspects in transforming conventional concepts (40%);
- Technical replicability to developing countries (25%);
- Extent of need (25%); and
- Economy feasibility to developing countries (10%).
How Are Selected Projects Recognized?
In addition to certificates issued for each selected project, the projects are publicized by both organizations in a special ASHRAE-UNEP Press Release, Flyers and Posters, as well as presenting the selected projects at UNEP’s international and regional events.
What Happens to the Winning Projects
Winning projects will be publicized by both organizations, and the First Place recipients will receive a stipend to receive their award at a UN Environment event. UN Environment, represented by the Law Division (OzonAction), and ASHRAE have a Memorandum of Understanding to establish technical cooperation and mutual coordination toward providing professional technical services to the refrigeration and air-conditioning stakeholders (governmental, private, and public). The organizations work to ensure that up-to-date related technical information and standards are properly introduced and promoted. ASHRAE is a worldwide technical society of more than 57,000 individual members.
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