FM Magazine

Nominations have opened for the AIRAH Awards 2012. The nomination process has been revised and restructured so that it’s simpler and more streamlined, and with the language modernised.

The AIRAH Awards 2012, which recognise work carried out during 2011, are now open for nominations. The awards are open to individuals, companies, corporate bodies, institutions and government authorities. The intention to nominate closing date is 30 July 2012 and entries close on 14 September 2012. Awards will be presented at an awards presentation dinner to be held on 8 November 2012 in Brisbane.
The nomination process for the AIRAH Awards has been revised and restructured so that it’s simpler and more streamlined, and with the language modernised. The reconstructed set of categories includes a new award category for research, the AIRAH Award for Excellence in HVAC&R Research.
“The AIRAH Awards 2012 have benefitted from some changes to better reflect what AIRAH, and our industry is all about. And, the really good news is that the nomination process has been radically simplified,” Neil Cox, AIRAH chief operating officer, comments.
AIRAH board director, Bryon Price, M.AIRAH, who oversaw the awards revamp, notes, “It became apparent that the award categories needed a tidy-up to ensure they recognised the attributes and qualities AIRAH represents. What you seek to reward is what you consider important. And, it made sense both to make our awards more user-friendly, and to lower the barriers to entry.”
The changes have eliminated confusion caused by overlapping categories, ensuring that the aspects deserving recognition were covered, and aligned the awards with AIRAH’s objectives as an organisation. Organisers also made a point of ensuring the awards complement the ARBS Awards and that together they comprise a rational set of plaudits.
Nomination forms have been scrutinised as well, with some of the more arduous, overly prescriptive or narrow criteria and questions trimmed. The outcome is more straightforward nomination criteria, conditions of entry and information requirements – making it easier to nominate those who deserve recognition.
Awards open for nomination are the:

• James Harrison Medal, the highest honour AIRAH can bestow upon an individual
• Future Leader award, recognising emerging leaders in any facet of the HVAC&R industry
• Student of the Year award, recognises outstanding scholarship at any level in the HVAC&R industry
• Best HVAC&R Retrofit or Upgrade award, recognising excellence in the retrofit or upgrade of an HVAC&R system, and can address the complete delivery of projects
• Denis Joseph Award for Innovative Use of Solar Energy in HVAC&R, recognising Australian initiatives that through the innovative use of solar energy significantly improve the performance of HVAC&R systems
• Excellence in Sustainability award, which recognises Australian initiatives that have made clear improvements in the sustainability of HVAC&R systems or the HVAC&R industry
• Excellence in Innovation award, which recognises substantial Australian improvements in the areas of HVAC&R achieved through innovation. This can include new or significantly enhanced products; or new or significantly improved systems, plant and equipment, or processes
• Excellence in HVAC&R Research, which recognises outstanding achievements in Australian research, leading to potential future improvements in these technologies; and
• W.R. Ahern award, which is awarded annually and recognises the best technical paper by an AIRAH member published in Ecolibrium in the preceding year (nominations are not required in this category).