Smart Integration with Polar Bear Design Thermostats

Project: High-End Residential Smart Home, Shropshire
Partners: Exclusive Solutions (Approved Installer), Janus (Approved Installer/Gold Dealer/Integration & Driver Development)

The Brief

Exclusive Solutions, a Shropshire-based installer, was tasked with delivering a state-of-the-art building control system for a luxury residential property. The client selected Crestron Home as the central user interface and chose Polar Bear Design Zentium thermostats for their elegant design and intuitive control of heating and cooling.

The Zentium's – Lutron Palladiom combination option complemented the high-end interiors, offering a clean, modern aesthetic that suited the style of the home. Just as importantly, their simple and intuitive interface made them easy for the client to use day-to-day, ensuring technology enhanced comfort rather than complicating it.

Beyond a polished user experience, the project required advanced plant room control, integration of multiple heat sources, and seamless communication between systems for energy-efficient comfort.

The Application

To meet these requirements, Janus partnered with Exclusive Solutions to integrate Polar Bear thermostats with Crestron Home and a BMS system. A custom Janus Polar Bear Extension driver ensured smooth installation, advanced features, and intelligent system management.

System Commissioning & Simplified Setup

• The Janus driver automatically discovered and configured thermostats, reducing setup time from hours (via BACnet) to minutes.
• Janus supported the installer with commissioning, ensuring a smooth integration into Crestron Home.

Enhanced Features for the End User

• Thermostat Grouping: Control multiple zones (e.g., all bedrooms) with a single UI tile.
• Web-Based Scheduling: Seasonal profiles (e.g., summer/winter) allow complete schedule changes in one tap.
• Hot Water Control: Simple controls for Off, Scheduled, or Boost modes.
• Status Tiles: Real-time plant and alarm data displayed directly within the Crestron UI.

Custom Problem-Solving

When a thermostat installed on an external wall reported inaccurate readings, Janus quickly adapted the system to use a nearby manifold controller sensor. This software-based solution avoided costly rewiring or disruption.

Advanced BMS Integration

Janus enhanced the Polar Bear driver to enable seamless data exchange with the BMS—eliminating additional wiring. Demand signals and system status were fully visible on the Crestron interface

Energy-Efficient Motion-Triggered DHW Circulation

Integration with the client’s Lutron motion sensors enabled demand-driven DHW circulation. Hot water only circulated when needed, reducing energy waste while maintaining convenience.


The Result

The project delivered:

• A streamlined, intuitive smart home experience combining Polar Bear thermostats, Crestron Home, and a fully integrated BMS.
• Dramatically reduced setup time for installers.
• Advanced scheduling, grouping, and control features tailored to the client’s lifestyle.
• Custom adaptations that solved site-specific challenges.
• Energy efficiency gains without compromising comfort.
• The Zentiums’ modern design and user-friendly interface ensured the technology was both functional and visually seamless within the home.

This case study demonstrates how Polar Bear Design thermostats, when paired with expert integration and custom development, can go beyond traditional heating control to deliver a complete smart home solution.

Janus’ role extended beyond supplying a driver—they became a true technology partner, delivering bespoke solutions across hardware, software, and integration.