Airzone Control announced integration with the full portfolio of Nest thermostats. The companies say integrating the Airzone Aidoo Pro and Nest smart thermostats (Nest Thermostat and Nest Learning Thermostat) enables bidirectional communication between the Inverter/VRF and mini-split HVAC units that are “soaring in popularity.”

Simplified smart thermostats and HVAC units speak different languages. Since Inverter/VRF and mini-split HVAC systems are traditionally adjusted by means of their own communication protocol, and the output for the smart thermostat is a dry contact closure, the full picture is never effectively communicated back to the heating/cooling system, and critical information is missing. Within this scenario, the smart thermostat cannot provide information about how hard the system should be working or the deviation from the desired set point temperature. As a result, the system cannot modulate output to match the temperature needs of an environment precisely, and the air handling unit (AHU) becomes forced to operate at maximum capacity, creating inefficiency and discomfort.

Airzone says the Airzone Aidoo Pro is a simple-to-install system add-on that sits between the HVAC system and the Nest smart thermostat and serves as a conduit between the world of HVAC and IoT to preserve Inverter/VRF features, benefits and functionality while meeting user demand for smart control.

Airzone says its library of manufacturer-certified HVAC protocols enables full bi-directional communication between the Aidoo Pro, the HVAC solution and the Nest Thermostat or Nest Learning Thermostat. The Aidoo Pro receives smart thermostat data, interprets it and then sends the appropriate commands to the Inverter/VRF or mini split unit via system-specific, manufacturer-certified protocols. The company says the Inverter/VRF solution continues to function at a variable rate, preserving the superior comfort and efficiency of the system.