Higher Education

Today’s students expect much more than a simple bed in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) — they demand a living experience that is sustainable, digitally enabled, socially inclusive, and wellbeing-focused. Universities, too, are integrating accommodation into their broader ESG strategies—seeking measurable impact and operational efficiency.

In higher education, student residences serve as both homes and developmental touchpoints: they support institutions’ sustainability goals and shape the student experience. At Utopi, we empower universities and PBSA operators with data solutions and technology that transforms buildings into intelligent, sustainable communities.

We’ll explore how Utopi enables ESG-aligned student living and builds long‑term value for residents and investors alike.

Higher Education: Aligning ESG Demands

“Whether refurbishing existing buildings or constructing new ones, incorporating ESG plans in the initial budget is crucial to avoid the costs and limitations of retrofitting.” [Colliers – Integrating ESG into Accommodation for Students]

Universities now count ESG performance—especially environmental and social metrics—as central to their institutional brand and strategy. Student accommodation, often managed or procured by universities, is under scrutiny from sustainability rankings (e.g. THE Impact Rankings tied to UN SDGs) and regulators.With so much of the building stock in the UK being legacy stock of 10 years old or more.

Operators of accommodation must therefore align both Environmental and Social imperatives – while demonstrating Governance through transparent, measurable impact. Digital infrastructure is no longer optional: it now acts as the backbone of ESG strategy across the sector.

Thankfully with PropTech and AI developing at the rate they have in the last 5-10years, this also no longer needs to be a financial burden or another task to add to the list. Aligning with ESG and adding value to your building stock and residents can go hand-in-hand with solutions like Utopi that are designed to boost efficiency, integrate with existing workflows, and allow for remote controls to encourage scalable change:

Creating Smarter Living Environments

“Implementing smart thermostats, lighting, and security systems can enhance energy efficiency and students’ sense of safety.” [Colliers]

With Utopi solutions, University accommodation properties can become intelligent spaces where asset performance and resident wellbeing are monitored in real time. The trick her is getting the right tech stack:

• Multisensors in bedrooms capture temperature, occupancy (via PIR), CO₂, and light level data to assess resident wellbeing, comfort and safety in real-time.
• Smart Panel Heaters and Smart TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) allow site teams to remotely set temperature constraints, automate step‑down actions, and flag overheated spaces to reduce energy waste and associated costs.
• The Utopi Platform aggregates data, provides alerts, ESG reporting dashboards, and automatesanalysis to boost operational efficiency with the click of a button. Suddenly uncovering maintenance needs and spotting overheating in unoccupied spaces becomes quick and easy.

Resident Engagement Case Study – Nido (Ireland & Denmark):

In collaboration with operator Nido, Utopi deployed Utopi Multisensors and engagement strategies across student residences in Ireland and Denmark. Starting averages of 23.5 °C at Bryggen and 21.3 °C at Ashlin House and Curraheen Point were reduced to 17–18 °C. Based on projections, Nido targeted 20% energy and carbon savings over three years.

Driving Resident Engagement & Behavioural Change

Modern sustainability relies on behavioural change – especially among Generation Z residents who expect agency and immediacy.

Utopi supports this with:

• Resident App engagement: Utopi are experts at putting data in the hands of residents and seeing them become part of a sustainability journey with challenges, push notifications and community engagement.
• Gamification and incentives: Resident competitions, feedback dashboards, energy-saving challenges.
• Automated alerts and nudges: Personalised prompts tied to heating, usage anomalies, or wellbeing check-ins.
• Community features: Digital noticeboards, shared resource schemes, and sustainability tips.
• Supporting wellbeing: Granular data allows Operators to spot welfare concerns, but community engagement also encourages belonging and boosts mental health.

Gamified Energy Reduction Case Study – CRM Students (Carter’s Yard, Stirling):

CRM Students, a PBSA operator, partnered with Utopi at Carter’s Yard. Deploying Utopi Multisensors and metering across 127 beds, they engaged residents through gamification by offering an Amazon voucher incentive to reduce energy use. Average room temperature dropped from 23.1 °C to 22.5 °C in a month. This yielded savings of 88,900 kWh, £28,448 in avoided cost, and 18,669 kg of carbon emissions avoided over a 200‑day heating season.

Reporting ESG Impact with Data & Insights

Utopi insights support robust ESG measurement and ultimately enhance understanding enabling Operators to better understand how to measure, optimise and decarbonise on this path to Net Zero Carbon. Granular data means you can optimise budgets, maintenance, student engagement and spot waste strategically based on data-driven benchmarks for your assets.

Smart Energy Controls Case Study – Downing Students (PBSA):

Downing Students, a provider of PBSA for university communities, installed Utopi Multisensors and Utopi Smart TRVs across two UK sites in early 2024. At Site A (Atlas), average room temperature fell from 21.7 °C to 20.2 °C, while spaces above 24 °C dropped from 12% to 3%. Across both sites, Utopi enabled energy savings of 512,460 kWh in just one heating season.

ESG Alignment Means Financial Returns

Deploying Utopi’s digital infrastructure yields tangible benefits across many value-drivers:

• Operational savings: CRM Students avoided £28K in costs; Downing reported 20-30% gas savings.
• Enhanced occupancy & retention: Sustainable, community-driven student living attracts and retains higher-performing residents.
• Investor confidence: Transparent ESG dashboards support funding requirements, green finance, and risk profiling.Harrison Street Real Estate generated a 9X ROI using Utopi technology to reduce their energy consumption by 15%.
• Competitive advantage: Institutions and operators with measurable ESG performance stand out to students, universities, and capital markets.

Smart student living – powered by Utopi – is where environmental efficiency, community wellbeing, and ESG transparency converge. The Higher Education sector can now deliver measurable decarbonisation, active behavioural engagement, and robust governance, while offering students an empowerment‑driven living experience.

By marrying technology, data, and resident wellbeing, Utopi helps reshape higher education housing into spaces where students thrive – and ESG outcomes become realities, not aspirations.