First-of-its-kind smart thermostat wins Passiv UK major industry award
The result of more than 10 years of research and development and the market’s first ever smart thermostat designed specifically for controlling heat pumps, the Passiv Smart Thermostat earned Passiv UK the highly sought after Technical Innovation of the Year – Products award at this year’s Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) 2025 Awards.
In such a competitive category, the smart energy technology specialists saw off many of the other industry leaders’ strong nominations to take home the award at the well-attended awards evening, held at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on 1st May.
With the award acknowledging the most innovative building controls and building energy management systems (BEMS) product development in the 12-month period preceding the entry deadline, the Passiv Smart Thermostat’s simplification of heat pump control and reduction of heating bills by 30% meant Passiv UK was a very deserving winner.
The entry
The result of more than 10 years of research and development, the Passiv Smart Thermostat was the first smart thermostat on the market that was specifically designed for controlling heat pumps. Made up of the Passiv app, thermostat, programmer and hub, it provides simple, smart control of heating and hot water and is controlled either by the in-home devices or remotely on a smartphone.
Following installation, the patented AI controls learn how to maximise savings and comfort using local weather forecasts, energy tariff data and solar generation data to calculate the optimal way to heat the home.
Designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind, the Passiv Smart Thermostat doesn’t require a smartphone or internet connection – setting it apart from other smart thermostats. In fact, the Passiv programmer features a built-in, push-fit wiring centre and is used to commission the system in under two minutes, without needing to connect to the internet.
In addition to featuring an intuitive interface that’s easy for anyone to use, the Passiv Smart Thermostat utilises the Passiv app to enable the heat pump to be managed remotely from anywhere. The Passiv UK support team can also provide remote support, including detailed data on heat pump performance, whenever required.
Why they won
By simplifying heat pump control, the Passiv Smart Thermostat can reduce heating bills by 30%. In fact, the Energy Saving Trust verified that it increases the efficiency of a heat pump by 17% and can optimise time-of-use tariffs and rooftop solar generation.
Directly controlling the heat pump’s flow temperature means the thermostat constantly adjust the weather compensation curve to achieve the most optimal performance. Using local weather forecasts, the system learns how a home heats up and cools down to continuously optimise the heat pump’s flow temperature and maximise its Coefficient of Performance (COP).
This takes the guesswork out of heat pump installation and allows users to participate in Greener Grid Payments. This initiative is the UK’s first automated Demand Side Response (DSR) service for heat pump owners and allows them to get paid for using their heat pump.
One of Passiv UK’s clients revealed they have been able to easily monitor and control their energy expenditure thanks to the Passiv Smart Thermostat. They said: “I upgraded to the Passiv Smart Thermostat some months after having my heat pump system installed. It has made getting used to a heat pump much easier. I didn’t used to have an app, but this, alongside the simple programmer, has been great for managing the system and providing visibility of my heat pump.
“Previously, my hot water was on all the time. Now, with clear visibility of how much hot water is available and easy scheduling, I have it on only when needed. I love being able to control my heating when I am out and about and appreciate the reassurance provided by the analytics, which shows that everything is working okay and efficiently.”
Speaking of his delight at winning the award, Ian Rose, Sales and Strategy Director at Passiv UK, believed the award success was testimony to the company’s drive to further the decarbonisation of building stock. He said: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition from the BCIA. This award affirms our mission to make low-carbon heating not only more efficient but also more accessible for households.
“The Passiv Smart Thermostat demonstrates what’s possible when innovation is driven by a deep understanding of both technology and user needs.”