As AAON grows at a rapid pace, managing and improving our
overall manufacturing operations for long-term sustainability is
critical to our core business. For AAON and the HVAC
industry, the most impactful factor on people and society is
the HVAC equipment we manufacture. Commercial buildings
comprise 16% of the total carbon emissions in the U.S., and
approximately 40% of those emissions are related to building
HVAC systems.
AAON’s 2024 Sustainability report focuses on material topics
with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative ("GRI")
Standards, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
("SASB") standards, the UN Global Company, the Task Force
on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals ("SDG") frameworks.
AAON conducts internal audits reviewing the supporting
documentation for the data and verifying the evidence. The
Company regularly evaluates and aligns its strategy and
reports against the highest number of corporate responsibility
topics for our business and stakeholders. This drives how we
engage internally and externally, invest resources, and adapt
our strategy on environmental, social, economic, and
governance topics.
We are a proud participant in The Sustainability Alliance
Scor3card sustainability verification program and continuously
work to improve our environmental and social impact. AAON
works to not only maintain its Platinum-level Scor3Card rating,
but by participating in the program, we continue our
commitment to measure and improve performances. The
Company received a Platinum score in 2024, 2023, 2022,
2021 and 2020, Gold in 2019, and Bronze in 2018. A
Scor3card Platinum level requires completing more than 85%
of eligible directives in the categories of: Communication,
Community, Resilience, Energy, Healthy Work Environment,
Material Management, Transportation, Water, Diversity and
Inclusion Other honors AAON has received include:
•Named by Newsweek Magazine in the top 300 U.S.
companies based on environmental sustainability
through greenhouse gas emissions, water usage,
water generation, waste generation, and
sustainability data disclosure and commitments.
(Partnership with Plant-A and GIST Impact)
•Named by USA Today as one of America's Climate
Leaders for 2024, recognizing companies that cut
their carbon footprint in recent years.
We are committed to environmental responsibility and
continue to make progress toward reducing GHG emissions,
increasing paint material recycling from our facilities and
increasing the percentage of non-fossil fuel powered units we
produce. Our approach toward emissions reduction and
climate change includes product solutions for our customers
and improvements to our own facilities. Approximately 36.0%
of our energy portfolio is currently derived from renewable
sources, and the Company’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions
(emissions that occur from sources that are controlled or
owned by an organization and emissions associated with the
purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling) are being
tracked. We have opted into an additional renewable energy
at our Tulsa, Oklahoma and Redmond, Oregon facilities in
2024, continued to invest and partner on projects that reduce
GHG emissions globally and transitioned to the lower global
warming potential R-454B refrigerant.
Our Products
We continue to develop and manufacture non-fossil fuel
consuming units to provide the most sustainable commercial
HVAC equipment in the market and announced the zero-
degree cold air-source heat pump in 2022 as a critical solution
that meets the increasing demand for building
decarbonization in cold climates. Our AAON Alpha Class
product line is leading the charge towards sustainable HVAC
solutions, with more efficient technology that propels the
decarbonization movement forward. AAON Alpha Class air-
source heat pumps, available in capacities ranging from two
to seventy tons, offer exceptional versatility and industry-
leading features to meet the growing environmental and
regulatory needs. The Company’s premier HVAC solution is
highly configurable and optimized for diverse environments. It
features variable speed compressor technology, all-electric or
dual-fuel options, Dedicated Outdoor Air System ("DOAS")
capability, energy recovery, and low global warming potential
refrigerant. The AAON Alpha Class is engineered for higher
efficiency and lower emissions, utilizing the same double-wall
rigid polyurethane foam-injected panel construction that
AAON is known for, which helps retain useful heating and
cooling energy within the building. With its first-of-its-kind
omni-climate performance, the AAON Alpha Class offers the
innovation that our future demands.
Our Facilities
At our Tulsa, Oklahoma location, we have the Exploration
Center and Norman Asbjornson Innovation Center ("NAIC").
The Exploration Center opened in 2023 and is a 28,000-
square-foot facility located adjacent to the NAIC. The
Exploration Center is a Net-zero facility using advanced
building systems, including photovoltaic (solar) electricity
generation, geothermal fields and AAON high-efficiency heat
pumps, while providing a world-class experience for
stakeholders. AAON achieved a milestone achievement in its
sustainability journey by activating 432 solar panels on the
roof of the Exploration Center and NAIC. These panels
generate about 240 kW of solar energy, contributing to being