Nominations will open this month for the annual Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) awards.

The AIRAH Awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious in the Australian HVAC&R industry, and nominees will be competing for a number of prizes recognising the very best in this evolving field.

Not only will the AIRAH awards commemorate individuals who have excelled in the HVAC&R industry, they will also honour those who have driven major developments in the field of HVAC&R equipment and technology.

Some of the prizes on offer include the Excellence in HVAC&R Research award, the Student of the Year award, and the James Harrison Medal – dubbed “the highest honour AIRAH can bestow upon an individual”.

The only prize that will not require nominations is the W.R. Ahern award, which recognises the best technical paper published in AIRAH’s official journal Ecolibrium during the preceding year.

Awards that recognise achievement and innovation in the HVAC&R industry are an important part of driving continued development in this sector, particularly when it comes to encouraging sustainability and environmental awareness.

According to AIRAH chief operating officer Neil Cox, the 2014 AIRAH Awards will continue a noble tradition of attracting “the highest standard of nominees” and recognising “the absolute best in field for the HVAC&R industry”.

“AIRAH has created a set of plaudits that recognises the most prominent individuals, companies, research and products across the diverse specialist fields that make up the HVAC&R industry,” said Mr Cox.

“In past years we’ve showcased the industry’s best, and we hope that through continuing to recognise excellence, we encourage the wider industry to strive for high standards of achievement,” added AIRAH CEO Phil Wilkinson.

The nomination period for the 2014 AIRAH awards will run from June 30 to August 4, with the official presentation dinner being held November 27 at Moda Events Portside in Brisbane.