A photo might help, but there are a large number of light blue/purple clematis and big box stores aren't known for accurate tags. In general, the bloom time is what tells you how to prune it. When did it bloom? If it bloomed with Empress, which is a type 2 (or B) prune, then it should be pruned the same way. Type 2 plants bloom on old growth and some on new growth as well, so spring pruning should be dead wood only. Some plants bloom better a second time (usually about September) if pruned lightly right after the first bloom to encourage new growth and to remove the old flowers. I don't grow Empress, and I am too far north to get second bloom on my type 2 clematis, so I don't know if you will get a second bloom if you prune lightly. Check to see if there buds forming on either plant over the next month. Even if they don't bloom a second time this year, they may in the future as they mature and get settled in. You said "on the front porch." Did you plant them in the ground or are they still in their pots? It is much easier to grow clematis well in the ground for beginners IMO. They are heavy feeders (same type of fertilizer as for roses in spring) and have large root balls. They like even moisture, so a mulch is helpful as well. There is also a clematis forum here on GW, though as far as I am concerned posting here is fine also.

I would do stainless or brushed nickel. White with your colors would call too much attention to the air switch, and could stain or discolor over time. Or you could do what we did and select a batch disposal, which has the "switch" in the stopper. Nothing else to match, buy, & put a hole in your countertop. We have the Insinkerator Evolution in both our main cleanup sink & island prep sink. Its stopper is stainless & has three positions: pushed down to hold water, set with a gap to let water & small bits drain, or you give it a quarter turn either way to run the disposal. We also park the stopper on the sink grid or on the ledge just above the drain. There's no gunky flap around the drain to mess with either.

Ignoring the ground wires(since you know where they go) I can't be any clearer than this. You have two terminals(the part where you push the wire in next to the screw terminal is the same terminal, maybe that is your sticking point?) on the old switch. Let's call them line and load. The line terminal is the one with the 'mystery' wire. The load terminal is the other one. Take All the wires on the load side, marrette them to the load Side wire on your new device. Take the wire from the other terminal, marrette it to the other wire on the new device. Ta-da!

You need more than 2 thermostat wires for the system to operate properly year-round. Nice family member trying to blackmail you! Sorry for that. Thermostat wiring is low voltage, 24 volts, so its safe for you to work on. This is a typical furnace and A/C wiring diagram: https://www.hvachowto.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Furnace-Thermostat-Wiring-and-Troubleshooting-Diagram.jpg Get 18-6 thermostat wire from a box store, run the new wire between the furnace, A/C condenser and thermostat and connect the terminals as shown. The hardest part can be getting the new wire through the wall to the thermostat.