Westport, Connecticut: According to a press communique from AHR Expo, Taco Inc.’s SmartPlug Instant Hot Water Control has been awarded Product of the Year at the AHR Expo Innovation Awards 2017. Taco Inc. is a manufacturer of hydronic systems and equipment for residential, light commercial, industrial and OEM markets,

The product, which also secured a win in the Innovation Awards’ plumbing category, allows for easy installation onto existing domestic hot water recirculation pump systems, to more efficiently manage on-demand hot water delivery, said the communique.

The 115-volt product, the communique further said, features technology to learn and record a homeowner’s hot water usage pattern, and employ the resulting data to operate a home’s hot water circulation pump precisely when hot water is typically required.  Usage patterns are monitored and recorded on a daily and weekly basis, with the SmartPlug system regularly refreshing data and adjusting any changes to hot water usage patterns.  The result is a significant increase in water heater operational efficiency, promoting a simple yet notable way to save on residential energy costs, added the communique.

“Winning an AHR Expo Innovation Award is a great achievement,” said Wil VandeWiel, President and CEO of Taco Inc. “For Taco Comfort Solutions, to be recognized as part of this illustrious group of top-tier companies, is a confirmation of the new strategic direction we started a couple of years ago. Being awarded Product of the Year is a very important milestone for our company, and a great achievement by all of our employees.  We thank the AHR Expo for all it does to move the industry forward.”

Clay Stevens, President of International Exposition Company, the Show’s producer, added: “The AHR Expo Innovation Awards competition is a chance to publicly acknowledge the hard work companies contribute toward the future of the industry,” said. “We congratulate Taco for being recognized as 2017’s Product of the Year, and extend further congratulations to all 10 winners for displaying exceptional utility, ingenuity and efficiency in their respective product categories.  We look forward to seeing what’s next, as AHR Expo’s exhibitors continue to innovate through the coming year.”

All award winners, the communique informed, were selected by a panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges who evaluated each entry based on innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. The complete list of AHR Expo Innovation Award 2017 winners includes:

Building Automation
Company: Danfoss
Innovation: Danfoss Enterprise Services

Cooling
Company: Daikin Applied
Innovation: Pathfinder Air-cooled Screw Chillers with Variable Volume Ratio (VVR) Technology

Green Building
Company: Carrier
Innovation: Dual Stage Relief Economizer (DSRE)

Heating
Company: Noritz America
Innovation: Noritz CB Combi Boiler

Indoor Air Quality
Company: Nortec Humidity
Innovation: Nortec GS Series – CS Model (Nortec GS CS) Humidifier

Plumbing
Company: Taco, Inc.
Innovation: SmartPlug Instant Hot Water Control

Refrigeration
Company: Danfoss
Innovation: Danfoss CTM (Electrical Controlled Transcritical Multi Ejector)

Software
Company: Nidec Motor Corporation / U.S. MOTORS
Innovation: Rescue Select Programming App

Tools & Instruments
Company: PEXOLOGY, Inc.
Innovation: PEXGUN

Ventilation
Company: Titus
Innovation: Helios Digital Diffuser