A couple hacks helped us. First was finding some short cuts to test the core functionality of the idea and make sure that when we pulled X string, Y things hap

A couple hacks helped us. First was finding some short cuts to test the core functionality of the idea and make sure that when we pulled X string, Y things happened (in our case, adjusting air flow of vents had a material impact on temperature across the home was a critical thing to test) and measured with arduinos and raspis. Also, LOTS of nights and weekends 'moonlighting'