The Lighting Controls Academy’s Craig DiLouie recently had the opportunity to interview Steven Zhou, Executive Vice President at mwConnect, about the company’s new Bluetooth NLC-based thermostat.
DiLouie: Please describe mwConnect’s new product!
Zhou: This TruBlu™ X Series Thermostat is built on open standards, using the Bluetooth SIG NLC specification. It can communicate with wireless mesh occupancy sensors directly to adjust HVAC setpoints based on occupancy signals. It integrates seamlessly with our TruBlu control platform; customers can select from a wide range of occupancy sensors and switches to customize a specific project solution.
DiLouie: What problem does this new product solve?
Zhou: There’s a lot of interest in extending the scope of advanced lighting control beyond lighting into other building systems, with HVAC integration being a prime candidate, but there are also many buildings that do not use (or need) sophisticated, BACnet based building management systems (BMS). This product offers a simplified way of achieving lighting and HVAC integration without that level of complexity for the projects that want to include this objective.
DiLouie: What otherwise makes this a standout product in the lighting control industry?
Zhou: This is the first smart thermostat we’ve seen available in the marketplace that meets the Bluetooth SIG NLC specification, which means it provides the most expansive level of interoperability possible to date.
DiLouie: What applications does this product serve?
Zhou: The sweet spot for this product is the small-medium office or educational facility, that has legacy hardwired thermostats and rooftop units but is looking for a way to reduce its energy costs while providing easy-to-use solutions.
Just to give you a sense of how widespread these types of buildings are, the CBECs survey, produced by the US Energy Information Administration every four years, classifies small to mid-sized buildings as being 25,000 ft2 or less. This category accounts for 30% of total US commercial buildings according to the 2018 CBECS survey. And more than half of the commercial buildings in the US were built between 1960-1999; only 25% were built after 2000. And many of these buildings are modestly sized; according to the 2018 CBECS, 71% of commercial space in the US consisted of facilities 10,000 ft2 or less.
So the scope of the opportunity is really significant.
DiLouie: How does this product fit in your company’s overall control offering?
Zhou: This is an important extension of our wireless mesh portfolio, with versions available for both Bluetooth SIG-based ecosystems and for other wireless mesh ecosystems such as Casambi. We continue to build out our offerings to provide customers with the widest range of options available to achieve the benefits of interoperability.
DiLouie: How is the product installed?
Zhou: The goal is to make installation and commissioning straightforward so that both HVAC technicians and electrical contractors can easily install and set up the system. The thermostat uses standard, familiar wiring connections for power, fan, heating, and cooling. The installer just need to follow the wiring instruction and connect the existing wires to the thermostat. For example, most single stage roof top HVAC use R and C terminal for power, G terminal for Fan, Y1 terminal for cooling stage and W1 terminal for heating stage.
DiLouie: How is it configured and used?
Zhou: Once the thermostat is mounted and wired, the app-based commissioning tool walks installers through linking the lighting occupancy sensor to the thermostat. Occupancy-based setback temperatures and schedules are then configured directly from the thermostat’s touchscreen. In addition, the thermostat includes built-in Wi-Fi, enabling users to remotely access the device and adjust a broader range of settings as needed.
DiLouie: What support services does your company offer for this new product?
Zhou: mwConnect is a North America–based company with over 40 years of industry experience and a well-established customer support infrastructure. Our website provides comprehensive resources including product datasheets, installation manuals, and commissioning videos. We also offer both remote and on-site training for designers, technicians, and contractors. In addition, our toll-free support line connects customers directly with a live expert for real-time assistance.
DiLouie: Is there anything else you’d like to add about what makes this new product an ideal choice for lighting controls practitioners?
Zhou: With the explosive growth of AI, the demand for power is skyrocketing. Building new generation capacity is expensive and takes years, so every efficiency gain from the existing grid helps relieve the strain. Lighting–HVAC integration with smart thermostats is a true low-hanging fruit—simple to deploy, fast to implement, and highly cost-effective.
