BOB, a provider of serial office buildings, has made a new online tool available to enable companies to realistically assess the total costs of office space. This instrument allows for the determination of the entire financial outlay for an office building with just a few parameters, thereby identifying the most economically viable office from a tenant's perspective.
Dr. Bernhard Frohn, a board member at BOB, emphasises that low-quality office spaces, which initially appear attractive due to a low price, often prove to be costly. As an example, he cites offices without cooling in summer or without automatic ventilation throughout the year. Such conditions lead to a poor indoor climate, which reduces employee productivity and incurs high follow-up costs.
Productivity as a Key Cost Factor
Based on studies on the relationship between indoor climate and productivity, BOB has determined that performance in older office spaces can decrease by at least ten per cent. This loss of productivity can amount to twice the warm rent when productivity is related to the office space. Many tenants are often unaware of the impact of suboptimal indoor climate quality on their workforce's performance.
Approximately 30 studies now demonstrate that both an unsuitable room temperature and an increased CO2 concentration in the breathable air can lead to a significant drop in performance. A study published in July by Prognos AG also pointed to the considerable economic damage caused by productivity losses due to heat days in the German economy.
The BOB board member explained that the company aims to provide tenants with a tool to realistically assess the costs of office space. He noted that tenants are too often attracted by low basic rents without considering the associated follow-up costs. The new cost calculator offers quick and straightforward guidance here.
Functionality and Data Basis of the Calculator
The freely accessible BOB Office Cost Calculator does not require any contact details. It analyses various cost items, including basic rent, energy costs, other ancillary costs, and their development. Furthermore, it considers productivity-impairing factors such as a lack of room cooling or ventilation, as well as sickness rates. The tool can be used quickly with preset values or precisely adjusted with individual data, enabling a differentiated view of real office costs. All assumptions and data underlying the calculator are based on recognised studies, scientific sources, and years of measurement results from BOB's own office buildings. The calculator is available via the website https://www.bob-ag.de/bob-buerokosten-rechner and its use is free of charge.
