How can universities lower facilities maintenance costs?
By scheduling cleaning and HVAC around real occupancy. One large university in upstate New York estimates $1,400 in savings per restroom, per year, after using thermal sensor data.
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The State of Higher Education 2026
The State of Facilities Management in Higher Education 2026
Campus cleaning and HVAC often run on fixed schedules instead of how students, faculty, and staff actually use buildings. Traffic rises and falls all day, so fixed schedules waste money and strain systems. This report shows how anonymous thermal sensing helps facilities teams balance energy loads and keep campuses cleaner, including one university saving an estimated $1,400 per restroom per year.
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Research report
The State of Higher Education 2026
Sense Everyone. See No One.The report at a glance
$1,400
estimated savings per restroom, per year
82%
of cleaning schedules are based on time of day, not use
64%
of higher-ed leaders face budget pressure from construction costs
Inside the report
- Why campus occupancy does not match facilities schedules
- How a large university rescheduled cleaning and HVAC around real use
- How anonymous sensing supports FERPA-compliant planning
Common questions
Is occupancy sensing on campus compatible with student privacy?
Thermal sensors capture only heat signatures, not images or identities, which supports FERPA-compliant anonymity.