Energy management is one of the most pressing operational challenges facing commercial property operators. After all, for hotel and MDU operators owners alike, HVAC systems account for 40-50% of total energy costs. And when spread across multiple rooms, units, buildings, and portfolios, energy inefficiencies and costs can add up quickly.
Fortunately, smart thermostat technology has evolved beyond basic programmability to meet the complex and nuanced needs of commercial property managers. Today’s commercial-grade solutions combine occupancy-based controls, cloud-based automation, and seamless system integrations to reduce energy waste without compromising comfort.
Verdant’s smart thermostats are at the forefront of this transformation. Backed by machine learning, real-time energy data, and integration with EMS and PMS systems, Verdant empowers operators to reduce HVAC runtime by up to 45% and recoup their investment in as little as 12-18 months.
What’s Driving the Evolution of Smart Thermostats
With inflation driving up energy costs that are expected to keep increasing through 2026, margins are getting tighter, property managers are rethinking how they manage HVAC systems. Hotels and MDUs in particular are under increasing pressure to improve efficiency without compromising occupant comfort. At the same time, guests and residents now expect greater climate control and personalization during their stay.
Traditional thermostats and fixed schedules can’t keep up with their energy demands of commercial properties. Occupancy patterns fluctuate, weather conditions shift, and different spaces require different controls. Commercial operators need smarter systems that can respond dynamically to these variables, without requiring constant staff oversight.
This shift has fueled the evolution of smart thermostat technology. Modern systems must now integrate with property management software, adapt to real-time usage, and support portfolio-wide control.
Smart Thermostats Today: Key Features That Matter
Consumer-grade smart thermostats (such as those offered by Nest and Ecobee) are designed for single-family homes. Commercial properties, however, require commercial-grade systems that are purpose-built to manage energy at scale.
Verdant’s VX, VX4, and ZX smart thermostats, are specifically designed specifically to meet the demands of large properties and diverse portfolios. And our Thermostat Manager app provides a centralized solution that allows property managers to monitor and control HVAC settings across all their units from a single platform.
HVAC Compatibility
Upgrading to smart thermostats shouldn’t mean having to incur the costs of upgrading your entire HVAC system. Verdant’s energy management solutions are compatible with a wide array of HVAC systems.
Our smart thermostats integrate seamlessly with the mechanical systems already in place. This universal compatibility reduces operational complexity at scale, allowing property managers to implement a consistent energy management strategy across multiple buildings, streamline training, maintenance, and system oversight. Plus, they benefit from intelligent and automated climate control.
Programmable Occupancy Settings
Verdant’s programmable occupancy settings give property managers precise control over HVAC operation across their portfolio. With remote access, managers can adjust modes like “vacant”, “set temperature”, or “system off” without needing to be onsite. This centralized control ensures rooms and units run efficiently based on real-time occupancy status.
The platform also streamlines guest and resident management. New occupants can be added or removed in seconds, with instant access to thermostat controls. This reduces administrative workload while maintaining personalized comfort and consistent energy savings at scale.
Occupancy Sensors & Night Detection
Verdant thermostats automatically detect when a room is vacant and adjust HVAC settings to reduce energy waste. This real-time response lowers consumption without requiring action from staff or guests, ensuring efficient operation around the clock.
Night Detection further refines this control by recognizing when occupants are asleep. The system maintains comfort overnight and resumes energy-saving mode only when motion is detected, striking a balance between efficiency and occupant satisfaction.
Dynamic Recovery & Flexible Setbacks
Dynamic Recovery enables Verdant thermostats to pre-condition rooms just in time for occupancy, ensuring comfort without unnecessary HVAC runtime. By anticipating arrival rather than relying on fixed schedules, the system reaches the desired temperature precisely when needed, minimizing energy waste.
Flexible Setbacks, moreover, allow property managers to define temperature drift during vacancies, optimizing energy savings while maintaining fast recovery. Together, these features provide precise control over HVAC performance, adapting to real-world usage while reducing operational costs.
Remote Access for Portfolio-Wide Control
Remote access gives portfolio managers centralized control over every thermostat, across every property. Setpoints, vacant modes, and alerts can be managed instantly from anywhere, streamlining HVAC oversight.
This simplifies operations while enabling proactive responses to energy use, maintenance needs, and comfort concerns. With consistent control across all sites, property managers can maintain performance and savings without increasing onsite workload.
Machine Learning & Predictive Maintenance
Verdant thermostats leverage machine learning to adapt to the usage patterns of each space, improving temperature control and energy efficiency over time. This automation reduces the need for manual adjustments while keeping HVAC systems running at peak performance.
The platform also supports predictive maintenance by detecting anomalies before they lead to breakdowns. Early alerts help maintenance teams act proactively, reducing repair costs and extending equipment lifespan across the portfolio.
Analytics Reporting
Smart thermostats should also capture thermodynamic and occupancy data to generate detailed energy reports. These insights reveal consumption trends and system performance across the property.
Reports should include actionable recommendations based on real usage patterns, rather than assumptions. This empowers property managers to make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Air Quality Monitoring
Verdant’s smart thermostats are also able to monitor air quality in real-time data, based on temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels. This helps maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment, and supports both occupant satisfaction and operational oversight.
Air quality insights also contribute to broader ESG and sustainability goals. By tracking indoor environmental quality, property managers can support green building certifications and demonstrate a clear commitment to wellness and transparency.
Use Cases Across Sectors
Smart thermostats must do more than reduce energy use. They should also adapt to the realities of each property type.
From fluctuating occupancy in hotels to year-round comfort in senior residences, Verdant’s system is built to support sector-specific energy goals without adding complexity. Here’s how our technology delivers measurable value across a range of commercial property types.
Hotels
Hotels face the challenge of managing fluctuating occupancy without compromising guest comfort. Verdant’s occupancy-based controls, night detection, and dynamic recovery ensure rooms are only conditioned when needed. This, in turn, reduces CPOR while maintaining high satisfaction scores.
With remote access and PMS integration, hotel managers can automate energy-saving modes during check-out or vacancy. And participation in Demand Response programs also opens up new revenue opportunities during peak load events.
Multifamily Buildings (MDUs)
In MDUs, HVAC energy use spans both common areas and private units. And each of those have their own usage patterns. Verdant’s smart thermostats adapt to real-time occupancy while offering flexible setbacks to minimize runtime without affecting tenant comfort.
Portfolio managers benefit from centralized oversight, automated alerts, and actionable usage reports across all properties. This helps support tenant retention, reduce operating costs, and improve NOI across multifamily portfolios.
Senior Residences
Comfort and safety are non-negotiable in senior living environments. Various features that are offered by Verdant, such as the night occupancy mode and precise temperature control help maintain consistent conditions while reducing HVAC strain.
At the same time, predictive maintenance and real-time alerts allow staff to proactively address system issues before they impact residents. Energy management in this setting supports both operational excellence and compliance with health and safety standards.
Student Housing
Student housing presents unique challenges due to seasonal vacancy, unpredictable schedules, and high turnover. Verdant’s occupancy sensors and programmable thermostats adjust HVAC output based on actual room use — capturing energy savings during class hours, breaks, and move-out periods.
Thermostats can be remotely managed across the entire property, streamlining unit turnover and minimizing administrative tasks. Smart HVAC control ensures that energy isn’t wasted while maintaining a comfortable and competitive living environment.
The Next Phase: What’s Ahead
As energy costs continue to rise and regulatory pressures increase, property managers will need smarter, more adaptive tools to stay ahead. The next generation of smart thermostats will go beyond reactive control. Rather, they will leverage predictive algorithms, weather forecasts, and occupancy trends to optimize performance automatically.
These advancements will reduce the need for manual oversight while delivering even greater savings.
Integration with renewable energy sources will also play a growing role. Smart thermostats will increasingly factor in the availability of solar or grid energy, adjusting HVAC operation to take advantage of off-peak rates or on-site generation. This dynamic load balancing will help properties reduce reliance on the grid and strengthen ESG performance.
Finally, deeper analytics and reporting will enable operators to track HVAC efficiency, detect anomalies early, and align energy strategy with portfolio-wide KPIs. With Verdant’s ongoing innovation in energy intelligence, property managers can expect a future where energy decisions are not just automated, but optimized.
Why Verdant is Leading the Way
Verdant’s smart thermostats are designed specifically for commercial environments. With built-in occupancy sensors, adaptive control features, and seamless integrations, they deliver energy savings without compromising comfort or control.
Furthermore, installations take less than 10 minutes per unit, require no costly HVAC overhauls, (making them ideal for retrofits or new builds), and pay for themselves in as little as 12-18 months.
Our platform integrates easily with most major PMS and BMS systems, enabling centralized oversight across entire portfolios. From remote access and flexible setbacks to real-time alerts and energy reporting, Verdant gives operators the tools they need to manage performance at scale.
This interoperability reduces complexity while maximizing operational efficiency.
Verdant solutions also qualify for energy efficiency rebates in many regions, which significantly reduces upfront costs. In other words, Verdant isn’t just an energy upgrade, but a strategic investment in long-term performance, sustainability, and cost control.
The Future of Energy Management
Energy management is no longer about scheduled setbacks or guesswork. Rather, it’s about intelligent systems that adapt in real time.
And smart thermostats have become central to this shift, helping property managers reduce HVAC runtime, control costs, and respond to evolving operational demands.
Verdant’s platform is built for the future, with machine learning, system integrations, and actionable insights that scale across properties and portfolios. Whether you’re managing hotels, MDUs, student housing, or senior residences, Verdant provides the precision and control needed to meet today’s challenges.
Ready to reduce HVAC runtime by up to 45% and unlock ROI in as little as 12–18 months?
Request a web demo with Verdant to see how our energy management system delivers real savings, seamless integration, and smarter control at scale.