Sustainability & Founding Context
Founded in Melbourne, Australia, XY Sense was built on a simple belief: office space should work harder — for people, for business bottom lines, and for the planet.
What began as a vision to reveal how office space was truly being used has evolved into a global workplace intelligence platform, trusted by some of the world’s largest enterprises — including major U.S. and international banks, pharmaceutical and life sciences leaders, technology firms, and professional services organizations.
At its core, XY Sense empowers workplace, facilities, and corporate real estate (CRE) teams with real-time, privacy-first occupancy insights that help reduce costs, improve building performance, and design workplaces employees love coming back to.
With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and India, and deployments across 27+ countries, XY Sense is transforming how organizations plan, manage, and optimize their workplaces — turning real-time occupancy into real-world impact.
Why We Exist
Around the world, office buildings sit less than 50% utilized on any given day, yet organizations collectively spend more than USD $800 billion annually on commercial real estate. Research shows that over 43% of that spend — approximately $340 billion — is wasted each year on space that no one uses.
This inefficiency isn’t just financial — it’s environmental. The building and construction sector is responsible for roughly 37–40% of global carbon emissions, according to the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Economic Forum. Within that footprint, commercial real estate contributes significantly through heating, cooling, lighting, and servicing empty office floors.
Our founders, Alex Birch and Luke Murray, recognized that addressing this waste required data, not guesswork. By revealing exactly how space is being used, XY Sense enables companies to reduce energy consumption, cut emissions, rightsize their portfolios, and enhance employee experience — all while contributing to a more sustainable built environment.
XY Sense was founded not only to make workplaces smarter and more human-centered, but also to help build a more sustainable future for our planet.
Sustainability at the Core of Our Product
Low-Power, Wired Design
Our sensors are powered via low-voltage Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), drawing clean energy directly from buildings that often carry 5–6 Star energy ratings. Unlike disposable battery-based systems, XY Sense sensors are permanently installed and continuously powered, helping companies avoid up to 1.5 tons of battery e-waste every 2–3 years in a typical 20,000-seat deployment.
Reduced Cabling and Embodied Carbon
Our patented SenseLink™ daisy-chain architecture allows multiple sensors to run from a single cable — reducing cabling by up to 80% and cutting copper and plastic usage dramatically during installation.
E-Waste Reduction and Circularity
XY Sense sensors are designed for longevity and upgradability. With over-the-air firmware updates, a 5-year+ tested service life, and partnerships with global recycling programs, we ensure components are recycled, recovered, and kept in circulation for as long as possible.
Enabling Smarter, Greener Buildings
Reducing Energy Waste through Data
XY Sense data powers real-time integrations with HVAC, lighting, and air quality systems to eliminate energy waste.
Our APIs and integration framework allow buildings to automatically power down unoccupied spaces and dynamically adjust ventilation and temperature to match true demand — achieving 20–40% reductions in HVAC and lighting energy costs and supporting measurable ESG outcomes.
Right-Sizing Real Estate
Through utilization analytics, replays, and predictive dashboards, organizations can identify underused floors and implement “floor balancing” strategies — activating only the space required for the day’s occupancy. This data-driven approach can deliver up to 35% reductions in energy and cleaning costs while cutting carbon emissions from idle building systems.
Smart Building Integrations
XY Sense APIs integrate with major building management systems (such as Johnson Controls OpenBlue, Honeywell, Kode Labs, and Schneider Electric), as well as IWMS and workplace experience platforms. These integrations enable:
- Occupancy-based HVAC control for dynamic comfort and energy savings.
- Lighting automation based on real-time presence.
- Air quality monitoring and WELL/LEED compliance via integrated CO₂, humidity, and particulate sensors.
- On-demand cleaning and catering that respond to actual usage, reducing consumable waste.
Ethical & Responsible Operations
XY Sense is committed to upholding the highest ethical and environmental standards across our business and supply chain.
- Anti-Slavery & Ethical Sourcing:
We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking, vetting all manufacturing partners for compliance with ethical labor, safety, and environmental standards. - Responsible Manufacturing:
We partner with suppliers that share our commitment to sustainability — prioritizing renewable energy, responsible materials sourcing, and recyclable packaging. - Raw Materials & Packaging:
XY Sense prioritizes sourcing raw materials from environmentally responsible suppliers. We minimize packaging wherever possible, preferring recyclable paper-based inner packaging over plastics. We also work with customers to reduce the carbon footprint associated with hardware freight and delivery, and where feasible, facilitate the return and reuse of packaging materials. - Privacy by Design:
All XY Sense products are 100% anonymous by design. No images are stored or transmitted, and all processing occurs locally on the device, ensuring compliance with SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PDPA, and CCPA standards.
Sustainable Business Practices
Our sustainability commitment extends beyond our products to how we operate day-to-day:
- Our Melbourne HQ operates in a 5.5-Star NABERS-rated building, with robust waste sorting and recycling programs.
- We minimize waste, energy, and paper usage across all offices.
- We encourage low-impact commuting and flexible work to reduce travel emissions.
- We incorporate environmental considerations into procurement and supplier evaluation.
- We maintain an internal Environmental Steering Committee (ESC) to oversee progress, track objectives, and drive accountability
Our Commitment
As XY Sense continues to grow globally, sustainability remains a foundation of our innovation strategy. From sensor design and API integrations to the workplaces we enable, we’re committed to helping companies reduce emissions, eliminate waste, and create smarter, more sustainable workplaces worldwide.
XY Sense is committed to the successful implementation of this policy.
To achieve results, XY Sense develops and monitors short- and long-term environmental objectives. XY Sense’s Environmental Steering Committee (the “ESC”) is responsible for the implementation and oversight of this policy. The ESC, which is composed of senior employees from XY Sense’s various business units, meets regularly to review XY Sense’s progress and status on environmental issues and makes recommendations related to this policy and other environmental initiatives.
As Co-Founder and CEO of XY Sense, I am a member of the ESC and am actively leading the delivery of our sustainability strategy as our sensor manufacturing increases and we grow into new markets.
Alex Birch
CoFounder & CEO
Where can you get further information?
For further information on our sensor hardware or sustainability policies, please contact your nominated XY Sense representative or email info@xysense.com
