In this article, you'll learn:

• The difference between usable and rentable square footage.
• How rentable square footage is calculated and its impact on costs.
• How to assess a building's efficiency through its load factor.
• Tips for minimizing occupancy costs by choosing more efficient buildings.

When it comes to most office buildings, the space you lease isn't the space you pay for. While you occupy your usable square footage, your lease is calculated based on your rentable square footage. This increases your total bill by anywhere from 10 to 30 percent. While these charges are unavoidable, understanding them can help you both set a realistic budget and potentially choose a more efficiently built building to minimize their impact.