Daniel J SaitPolar Bear Design introduces a new approach to intelligent building comfort, offering fully featured zone management even in spaces without physical thermostats using a new approach using Virtual Thermostats.
In modern buildings, comfort is no longer just about temperature — it’s about flexibility, efficiency and intelligent control. Yet even the most advanced HVAC systems face a recurring challenge: not every room can accommodate a wall-mounted thermostat. Bathrooms, dressing rooms and corridors are often left without dedicated control, creating gaps in both comfort and energy management.
Polar Bear Design says its new Virtual Thermostats solve this issue elegantly. By embedding the intelligence of a physical thermostat into the building’s central control system, these “headless” zones allow every area to be managed effectively — even without a wall interface.
Smarter Control for Every Zone
Physical thermostats, such as the Polar Bear Design Smart Home Thermostat, remain an essential part of the company’s ecosystem. They provide immediate feedback, tactile interaction and reliable performance that both installers and occupants trust.
However, in some projects, wall space is limited or the room’s purpose makes installing a thermostat impractical. In others, the sheer number of zones creates wiring and commissioning challenges. Virtual thermostats fill this gap, ensuring that no area is left unmanaged or inefficient.
According to Polar Bear Design, virtual thermostats go far beyond simple sensor logic. They replicate the full functionality of physical devices, including multi-stage heating and cooling, floor monitoring, sensor blending and mode control. All of this is handled through the building management system (BMS) or central controller, maintaining consistency across every zone.
Seamless Integration and Efficiency
Virtual thermostats can map wall or floor sensors flexibly, linking them to any virtual zone, while relay outputs can interact with both physical and virtual zones. This creates a fully integrated ecosystem where each space contributes to overall comfort and energy performance.
The technology is particularly valuable in larger or multi-site installations. By licensing and enabling virtual zones as required, installers can expand control coverage without additional hardware, reducing installation costs and simplifying commissioning. For facility managers, it provides centralised oversight and reliable automation, while occupants experience stable comfort across every room.
A Hybrid Future for Building Control
Polar Bear Design stresses that virtual thermostats are not intended to replace physical devices but to complement them. Spaces fitted with the company’s Smart Home Thermostat continue to offer tactile reassurance and ease of use, while virtual zones extend those same benefits to areas where wall-mounted devices are not practical.
This hybrid approach — combining physical and virtual thermostats — represents the next step in smart building control, says the company. It offers a scalable, efficient and adaptable way to deliver consistent comfort throughout modern residential and commercial environments.
Learn More
Polar Bear Design will host a free webinar on November 5, 2025, offering a detailed look at how Virtual Thermostats work and how they can be integrated into both new and existing systems. Installers and professionals can register for the session at www.polarbeardesign.com.