How we used measurable.energy’s occupancy intelligence in our own office to right-size space, reduce waste and unlock £47k/year in savings — without sensors.
The Challenge
Like many growing teams, we suspected our office was over-provisioned — but we couldn't prove it.
Badge data didn't show desk usage. Surveys were subjective and outdated quickly. Installing new sensors felt heavy, slow and invasive.
We needed a fast, objective way to understand how desks and rooms were actually used, so we could make confident decisions on space, energy and costs.
The Solution: Occupancy from Energy Data
We enabled measurable.energy occupancy analytics across our HQ, using desk-level energy patterns from smart sockets to gather usage.
This gave us:
- Desk-level occupancy visibility (not just zones)
- Clear busiest and quietest days across the week
- Identification of unused and always-on desks and assets
- Occupancy data to inform workplace, facilities and finance decisions
No cameras. No people tracking. No new hardware.
What Occupancy Insight Enabled
Before
- Serviced office: 18 desks + 2 meeting rooms
- Measured desks: 14 workstations
- Cost: over £5,000/month (£62,000/year)
We were paying for desk capacity we didn't consistently use.
After
- Serviced office: 8 desks + the same 2 meeting rooms
- Measured desks: 7 workstations
- Cost: £1,200/month (£14,400/year)
Occupancy data showed fewer desks were needed — without compromising peak demand.
The Impact
£47.5K — Annual cost saving
77% — Office cost reduction
ROI
- Saved at least £560 by avoiding an invasive off-the-shelf occupancy system
- Real first-year value unlocked: £47,520
- Total system cost: £1,472
- Payback: 11 days
- Year-one ROI: ~32×
A small amount of occupancy data enabled a six-figure decision over the lease term.
Why measurable.energy Occupancy Works
- Zero-install: Uses existing smart sockets
- Desk-level accuracy: Beyond room or zone sensing
- Privacy-first: No cameras, badges or personal data
- Decision-ready: Built to drive action, not just dashboards
- Proven internally, scalable externally
"We'd debated downsizing our office for months, but couldn't judge it objectively. Occupancy data from measurable.energy gave us clarity. It showed we could move from 18 desks to eight without compromising comfort — and that single decision now saves us over £3500 a month."Josh EadieCTO & Co-founder, measurable.energy
See What Your Own Energy Data Can Tell You
Enable measurable.energy occupancy on a subset of desks and use real evidence to right-size space, energy and services — no new sensors required.
Visit: www.measurable.energy