Can occupancy sensors reduce office costs or save energy?
Can occupancy sensors reduce office costs or save energy?
Yes—occupancy sensors can significantly reduce office costs and save energy by providing real-time, precise data on how space is actually used.
They help organizations optimize their real estate footprint, avoid unnecessary leases, cut down on utilities and cleaning, and make smarter decisions about staffing, amenities, and design.
Cut office costs with utilization insights
Most companies pay for far more space than they actually need. In fact, Density data shows that only 27% of commercial real estate is used at peak times. That means millions are being wasted on unused offices, floors, and rooms.
Occupancy sensors like Density’s Waffle and Atlas give you detailed visibility into how many people are using each space and when. This enables cost-saving strategies like:
- Consolidating floors: One global telecom company saved $2.6 million annually by downsizing from seven office floors to four.
- Eliminating ghost meetings: Companies using Density have reclaimed 28% more meeting room capacity by identifying booked-but-unused rooms.
- Improving space efficiency: Teams have reallocated 26% more employees to existing space by eliminating underused desks and optimizing layout.
Save energy with smarter resource allocation
Beyond rent savings, occupancy data enables energy savings by aligning operations with real-time demand:
- Targeted HVAC usage: Only heat or cool the areas that are actually occupied.
- Smart cleaning schedules: Focus janitorial efforts on high-traffic zones, reducing labor and supply costs.
- Utility reductions: Power down lighting, equipment, and services in unused spaces.
One global tech company using Density’s sensors saw a 30% reduction in cleaning costs after adjusting schedules based on sensor data.
Create ROI-driven workplaces
Occupancy sensors feed data into platforms like Atlas, which helps organizations measure:
- Square footage needed per employee
- Amenity usage patterns
- Focus vs collaboration space demand
- Underperforming floors that can be closed
This supports long-term portfolio decisions, from which leases to roll off to which spaces to redesign.
Real-world results from Fortune 500 companies
Companies using Density’s platform have:
- Reduced annual real estate expenses
- Increased meeting room availability
- Built workplace experiences that employees actually use
- Created more sustainable, energy-efficient buildings
And they’ve done it while maintaining trust and privacy, thanks to non-invasive radar-based sensing that collects no images or personal data.
Summary
Occupancy sensors reduce office costs and save energy by showing exactly how your spaces are used—helping you scale down, tune up, and spend smarter.
From downsizing unused floors to streamlining operations, companies using real-time utilization data unlock high-impact savings while delivering better workplace experiences.
Explore more guides
How do I improve the employee experience with workplace analytics?
You can improve the employee experience by using workplace analytics and occupancy sensors to design better spaces, support hybrid work, and make data-driven decisions that align with how people actually use your office.
Workplace analytics helps you understand how your environment supports (or hinders) focus, collaboration, well-being, and productivity—all of which directly impact engagement and retention.
What are the advantages of occupancy sensors?
Occupancy sensors provide real-time, accurate insights into how spaces are used—helping companies reduce costs, improve office design, and make better business decisions.
They eliminate guesswork from space planning and empower workplace, facilities, and real estate teams to optimize every square foot.
What are effective workplace strategies for the return to office?
The most effective return-to-office (RTO) strategies combine clear policy, human-centered flexibility, data-driven decisions, and office designs that employees actually want to use.
RTO success isn’t just about mandating a presence—it’s about building a workplace that drives collaboration, morale, and performance.
How do I know if my office space is being wasted?
You can tell if your office space is being wasted by measuring how often each space is used—and occupancy sensors provide the real-time data you need to find out.
If desks, meeting rooms, or entire floors are consistently empty or underutilized, that’s space (and money) going to waste. Tools like Density’s Waffle and Atlas help companies assess usage accurately so they can cut costs and improve the workplace experience.