Announcements related to smarter temperature control systems and whole-home automation products continue to be made at a dizzying speed. Much of this fast pace is being fueled by collaborations, as developers unite to combine innovations for a swifter dash to market.
One new collaboration is between Ezlo Innovation, Clifton, N.J. and Johnson Controls. As the first step in a broader partnership, Ezlo has integrated into their platform the LUX KONOzw thermostat and a more simplified model, the KONOse, which is designed with a focus on ease of use in senior living care facilities. Ezlo
Johnson Controls acquired LUX Products Corporation, a leader in residential thermostats and smart products, in October 2018.
In addition to enabling control of smart thermostats, Ezlo’s platform allows users to control lights, door locks, sensors, cameras, water damage prevention solutions, and more.
“We had several customers ask specifically about the KONOzw, including our utility partners,” said Roger Gregory, VP Product at Ezlo Innovation. “We see huge potential for this integration, not just for utilities, but also with the senior edition for our aging-in-place solutions. And with Johnson Controls leading the way on smart, sustainable buildings, there’s a huge opportunity to help each other with a longer-term cooperation.”
In addition to enabling control of smart thermostats, Ezlo’s platform allows users to control lights, door locks, sensors, cameras, water damage prevention solutions, and more—all from either a single app or voice control integrations for Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant. Through an integration with Ezlo’s platform Johnson Controls can make their thermostats the foundation of a smart home, rather than being a point solution that must be integrated into a separate system.
“We offer the world’s largest portfolio of building products, technologies, software, and services,” said Justin Pasquale, Senior Product Manager at Johnson Controls. “But the flexibility of Ezlo’s platform gives us multiple new ways to apply smart home technology in our property management and builder channels. Whether its energy monitoring, access control, or smarter security, we are looking at ways to increase the operational efficiency of our business and provide our tenants with an enhanced residential experience. It could be a real win for everyone.”
The KONOzw has already been integrated into Ezlo’s platform. This first step paves the way for further integration with JCI subsidiaries DSC and Qolsys, which would ensure similar compatibility with their alarm panels and security devices.