The HVAC industry is constantly evolving to meet new challenges and make adjustments based on what’s best for the consumer. Here at ACHR NEWS, we’re no different.
For the last 20 years, we have been honoring new HVAC products with the Dealer Design Awards. We still want to recognize those innovative products being introduced to the industry, but there is a lot more to the industry that just didn’t exist 20 years ago. (TikTok? A2Ls on every truck?) And we want to highlight everything.
With that being said, I am excited to announce the launch of the HVAC All-Star Awards presented by the ACHR NEWS, which is going to celebrate an even wider swath of our industry.
The HVAC All-Star Awards will still have commercial and residential product of the year categories, but we also recognize that innovation, new products, and new tools are only half the equation in HVAC — the other is the people who are crawling in 100-plus-degree attics, waking up in the middle of the night to make sure someone has heat, and coming in fix the mess made by a guy the homeowner knows who “can do it cheaper.”
First, we decided to add categories for the Residential Contractor of the Year and the Commercial Contractor of the Year. We wanted to highlight the businesses on the front line that are improving the comfort and efficiency for homeowners and building owners.
Then we thought of the HVAC schools, which are training the next generation of HVAC professionals so essential for the industry’s future. We want to highlight the school that is leading the way in preparing technicians through its exceptional education and training programs.
And, we are bringing back the HVAC Legend award that somehow got put away during COVID. Previous winners include Butch Welch, Matt Michel, and Larry Taylor. These are individuals who dedicated their careers to HVAC and made the industry a better place.
Finally, we also want to pay credence to a new voice that’s emerged in the industry — the social media influencer. These podcasts and TikTok/Instagram personalities have helped to remove a bit of a barrier that’s always existed in HVAC, and replaced the traditional top-down communication with insights and camaraderie from tech to tech.
These short videos and audio clips are also helping to introduce the industry to the next generation of the workforce. And, we’ll need Gen Z and their technological prowess as more and more of the industry equipment is going to be connected to the web and run by AI.
With that in mind, we’ve also created the Industry Podcaster/Influencer of the Year.
We will be taking nominations for each of these categories after the first of the year. Then, we will put the nominations to a vote of the people. So not only can you have a hand in nominating people for this award, but you can now have a hand in choosing the winner.
You’ll be seeing a full-scale marketing effort on our part, but we wanted to tell you here first.
Please make sure to frequently check in on our socials for the latest information and reminders. Keep an eye on the NEWS’ website for the contest launch in January 2025, where we will have more information on when and how nominations can be submitted.
Dylan Kurt is an editor with The ACHR News. He is an award-winning political journalist with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Iowa. Growing up, Dylan spent a lot of time fetching tools and assisting his dad, who held professional licenses in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and refrigeration, in whatever capacity necessary at his small plumbing and heating business.