Sharp's air conditioner Airest received Sharp's first Innovation Award in the Indoor Air Quality category at AHR Expo 2026, one of the world's largest exhibitions for air conditioning, heating, and cooling-related technologies, held in Las Vegas, U.S.A., in February 2026.
AHR Expo is an international exhibition that brings together HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) industry professionals from North America and around the world. Each year, the event recognizes products that demonstrate outstanding innovation, technological excellence, and social value. This award recognizes Airest's proprietary technologies, which combine high air purification performance with comfort and contribute significantly to improving indoor air quality. It also provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Sharp's advanced technologies and presence to the U.S. HVAC industry at one of the world's largest HVAC exhibitions.
■ Airest
Industry-Leading Air Purification: Equipped with a MERV 14-Certified Filter
Airest is equipped with a high-performance main filter certified to MERV 14 (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value 14), setting it apart from filters used in conventional air conditioners.
- ・Outstanding dust collection efficiency: Captures more than 99.9% of dust, as well as pollen, pet dander, mold spores, smoke, PM2.5, and other fine pollutants.
- ・World-first certification: Airest is the world's first wall-mounted (mini-split *1) air conditioner to be certified as an "air cleaner" based on the standards of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM *2).
- ・CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) *3: Demonstrates high purification performance for the recommended room size of 471 square feet, equivalent to approximately 26 tatami mats.
CADR logo and description indicating applicable coverage area
Deodorization and Removal of Harmful Substances
In addition to dust collection, Airest also offers excellent odor-control performance.
The filter uses activated carbon that reduces residual substances such as acetaldehyde and acetic acid, removing them to levels below detection.
Comparison of Acetaldehyde and Acetic Acid with Conventional Air Conditioners
Proprietary Structural Design That Suppresses Mold Growth
To address the issue of mold inside conventional air conditioners, Airest takes a structural approach by rethinking the internal design itself.
In typical air conditioners, the heat exchanger is located near the air intake. In Airest, however, it is positioned closer to the air outlet. This design helps prevent moisture generated during cooling from accumulating inside the unit.
Even in a case where the unit was used for five years without internal cleaning, mold growth was confirmed to be kept to an extremely minimal level, helping maintain cleanliness over the long term.
Internal Unit Comparison: Airest vs. Conventional Air Conditioners
Airest unit interior after five years — exceptionally clean.
Four Centrifugal Fans That Support Powerful Airflow
Because high-density, high-performance filters create significant air resistance, conventional cross-flow fans cannot secure sufficient airflow. Airest therefore uses four powerful centrifugal fans to generate high pressure and deliver strong airflow even through the filter.
In addition, Coanda airflow *4 technology sends air along the ceiling and walls over long distances, up to 13 meters, efficiently cooling or heating the entire room without directing airflow straight at the body.
Airest offers three different airflow modes — cooling, heating, and air purifier mode — to provide a comfortable environment throughout the year.
Coanda Airflow Technology Concept Image
Three Airflow Modes
*1 Mini-split: An air conditioner in which the outdoor unit and indoor unit are separated. In regions such as North America, "central air conditioning" (which uses ducts to cool and heat the entire building) and "window air conditioners" have historically been the mainstream, so this term is used to distinguish split-type units from them.
*2 AHAM: Abbreviation for "Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers." AHAM is an industry organization of home appliance manufacturers, mainly in the United States and Canada, that engages in activities such as setting performance standards for home appliances, operating certification programs, and making policy recommendations.
*3 CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate): One of the key metrics established by AHAM. It is the local standard used in North America to quantify air-cleaning performance, corresponding to the "XX tatami mat" rating used in Japan.
*4 Coanda effect: A phenomenon in which a jet of fluid, such as air or water, attaches to and flows along the surface of a curved object as if drawn toward it.
Smart Operation and Advanced Technologies
● AIoT functions: Built-in Wi-Fi enables users to operate the unit remotely and review air-quality history via the "COCORO AIR" smartphone app (or AHA! Air History Analyzer).
● Environmental consideration: Airest uses R32, a refrigerant with a low GWP (Global Warming Potential).
▲ Award ceremony
▲ From left: Akio Iijima, Global Product Planning Division, Air Conditioning Systems Business Unit, Smart Appliance Solutions BU;
Ryuta Onishi, the same division;
Kenny Supangat, the same division;
Daigo Hirayama, Engineering Division, the same Business Unit.
Airest - Mini Split with Built-in MERV 14 Certified Filters