Hello everybody. I posted the following request for advice on an HVAC subhomekit.blog and thought it might be helpful to see what you think, so here it is:

My wife and I are building a new house. We chose HomeKit as our smart home platform
and tried to assemble as many Homekit-compatible devices as possible for this purpose, including two ecobee smart thermostats, one for each of the two AC zones in the house. Unfortunately, the HVAC system they were going to install in the house uses all the Trane components, is a communication system, includes a 19-seer capacitor and has to use a Trane thermostat. I have heard and read unfavorable things about this particular thermostat, it is not "smart" or compatible with HomeKit and we can not use ecobee thermostats, but the system has a 10-year warranty and all the efficiency and benefits of having a fully communicating HVAC system. The alternative is to install a 17-seer capacitor with a Honeywell control board and use ecobee thermostats, but you lose the functionality of a complete communication system. I know you may be biased, but what are your thoughts on my options? I don't think it's very likely that Trane will ever make a HomeKit compatible thermostat, but who knows. Is the loss of efficiency and features with the 17 non-communicating visible communication system worth the benefits of integrating HVAC into the HomeKit and using ecobes? Has anyone else faced a problem like this? Any experience or advice is greatly appreciated.