mwConnect and Network Thermostat (NetX) have announced a strategic partnership designed to streamline HVAC integration into networked lighting control (NLC) platforms, to simplify and unify building automation for commercial facilities. This collaboration leverages the strengths of each company—mwConnect’s award-winning expertise in wireless mesh technology and NetX’s established track record providing scalable smart thermostat control for institutional, commercial, and industrial environments.
Integration and Industry Impact
The joint solution, launching in Q3 2025, combines occupancy data gathered from wireless lighting systems with HVAC controls to help facility operators manage energy usage, enhance occupant comfort, and improve operational intelligence—all without the complexity or expense of legacy building management systems. By integrating these systems, the partnership promises an affordable, standards-based pathway to building-wide automation that is particularly attractive for facilities seeking to modernize without major infrastructure costs.
Streamlined Building Controls and Energy Efficiency
Industry studies have shown that integrating occupancy-based lighting and HVAC control can create total building energy savings up to 20% compared to traditional separated systems—a compelling incentive for facility managers and owners. In practice, wireless mesh networks enable seamless interoperability between devices from multiple vendors. This allows existing occupancy sensors, often already deployed within lighting control networks, to communicate with smart thermostats in real time. The result is dynamic temperature adjustment based on actual building usage, optimizing both comfort and energy efficiency while minimizing unnecessary runtime for HVAC equipment.
Stephen Zhou, Executive Vice President of mwConnect, highlighted the partnership’s focus on practical, scalable solutions that do not require replacing entire infrastructure or implementing complex building management systems. Jerry Drew, President of NetX, echoed this commitment, pointing to decades of industry interest in simplified automation strategies that yield tangible benefits in comfort, operational simplicity, and energy reduction.
Market Innovation and Expanded Opportunities
This joint offering arrives as the industry accelerates toward open, standards-driven ecosystems in commercial buildings. Bluetooth mesh and related open protocol solutions are rapidly displacing older, proprietary networks, encouraging broader interoperability between controls, sensors, and building equipment. By demonstrating their solution at upcoming industry trade shows—such as ArchLight Summit and NYControlled—the partnership aims to raise awareness and accelerate adoption among lighting designers, facility operators, and integrators.
Both companies possess deep expertise: mwConnect, based in Sacramento, brings 40 years of innovation in lighting controls and IoT solutions—and was recently honored in the IES Progress Report. Network Thermostat, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, has delivered robust, user-friendly thermostat technologies since 1995, growing its reach in both North American and international markets.
Looking Forward
As commercial occupants and owners demand smarter, greener, and more manageable buildings, streamlined integration between lighting control and HVAC stands out as a practical, high-impact step forward. The partnership between mwConnect and Network Thermostat offers facility professionals not only cost-effective tools, but also a pathway to future-ready automation without the pain of expensive retrofits nor expensive building management systems. This development reflects the broader trend toward open, interoperable systems and marks a step forward in the evolution of intelligent building management.
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