Smarter Energy Management Through Lighting System Integration
Occupancy-driven HVAC control bridges lighting and climate management to reduce energy waste, extend equipment life, and improve comfort in commercial spaces. With Network Thermostat, lighting system occupancy data can now drive intelligent HVAC control—without requiring a full Building Management System (BMS).
In Partnership With 
The Benefits of Occupancy-Driven HVAC Control
Commercial buildings spend a significant portion of their energy budget on heating and cooling unoccupied spaces. By linking existing lighting system occupancy sensors to HVAC operation, facilities can automatically adjust temperature setpoints based on room usage.
Whether retrofitting an existing building or designing a new project, this integration offers a fast, cost-effective way to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
This approach delivers measurable results:
- Lower Energy Costs: Condition only occupied spaces and eliminate unnecessary runtime.
- Extended Equipment Life: Reduce wear on HVAC components by minimizing short cycling and idle operation.
- Seamless Integration: Leverage the occupancy sensors already present in modern lighting systems.
- Scalable Across Facilities: Apply occupancy-based HVAC control across multiple zones or entire campuses—no BMS required.
Core Capabilities
- Bluetooth SIG Compliance
- Network Lighting Control (NLC)
- Integrates Directly with the NetX Thermostat Families
- Connects via Industry Standards
Working Together
- Develop or Co-Develop Custom Lighting Controls Use Cases
- Private Label Options
- Collaborative Engineering
NetX Benefits
- Commercial Grade B2B Manufacturer
- US Designed, Manufactured & Supported
- Simplified Rollouts
- Substantial Margins
End User Benefits
- Coordinated Lighting & HVAC Energy Efficiency
- Streamlined Maintenance & Management
- Scalable & Customizable
- Local Network & Cloud Management
Collaborative Technology from Industry Leaders
This solution is a collaboration between Network Thermostat and mwConnect (mwconnect.us), a technology partner of Silvair (silvair.com). Together, these companies are enabling smarter building ecosystems on open, interoperable technologies through the TruBlue X-Series Thermostat powered by Network Thermostat.
Build America, Buy America (BABA) Compliant
Network Thermostat is proud to be a BABA-compliant manufacturer. Our products are designed, engineered, and assembled in the United States, supporting domestic supply chains and ensuring compliance with U.S. federal funding requirements. Working with Network Thermostat helps your projects meet BABA standards while supporting American manufacturing.
The Technical Solution
The system utilizes Bluetooth® Network Lighting Control (NLC) technology to bridge occupancy data from lighting systems into the HVAC control layer. An mwConnect module, installed in the X-Series thermostat expansion slot, communicates occupancy and control signals directly to the thermostat.
A new Soft Setback feature enhances this integration by dynamically adjusting temperature settings based on real-time occupancy. When a space becomes vacant, the thermostat intelligently transitions to energy-saving setback levels—reducing HVAC runtime and improving efficiency. Upon reoccupation, the system automatically restores comfort settings, ensuring occupants experience the right conditions without delay. This adaptive control approach strengthens scheduling strategies by combining occupancy awareness with robust room scheduling logic, maximizing energy savings without compromising comfort.
This solution seamlessly interoperates with the Silvair control platform, allowing HVAC systems to respond automatically to real-time occupancy information. The result is a unified, energy-efficient approach to building control—simplifying management for contractors, integrators, and facility operators alike.
Ready to Get Started?
Connect with our team to learn how Network Thermostat and mwConnect can bring occupancy-driven HVAC control to your next commercial lighting project.
