From location and accessibility to environmental and wellness indicators, there are plenty of considerations for companies selecting a new site.

One in particular is top of mind for today’s sustainability-minded, cost-conscious companies; the energy efficiency of the buildings they occupy.

Minimizing energy use is not only an essential step on the path to decarbonization. It can also make good financial sense as companies look to make cost savings.

One metric that’s really coming into focus is energy use intensity (EUI), expressed as energy per square foot per year, which refers to the amount of energy used in a building in a year divided by its total gross floor area.

It’s the top indicator of its energy efficiency performance in the same way mileage per gallon reflects the efficiency of a car engine. Arguably it’s the single best piece of information to assess the sustainability of a potential site, as low EUIs generally reflect good performance.

In contrast, higher EUIs or buildings where the EUI is unknown can indicate older and less efficient systems, poor maintenance or building management – and the potential for disruption to operations, which in turn raises red flags for a tenant’s business continuity.