CBRE: How Energy Impacts Tenants' Office Choices

Sustainability, including the presence of EV charging stations, is increasingly key when tenants choose office space in the US, a survey finds.

CBRE’s 2025 Americas Office Occupier Sentiment Survey reveals charging points and the sustainability credentials of the building are growing in importance.

CBRE Chief Sustainability Officer Robert Bernard says: “Companies are willing to pay more for buildings that align with their environmental goals and support employee wellbeing.”

Sustainability in office leasing

Writing on LinkedIn, Robert says: “CBRE’s 2025 Americas Office Occupier Sentiment Survey shows sustainability becoming a real factor in office leasing decisions.”

Findings include:

• 43% of companies say sustainable building features influence their rent negotiations
• 40% now consider EV charging stations when negotiating
• 37% factor in indoor air quality as a key amenity.

Robert adds: “While these features aren't typically dealbreakers, they're clearly becoming differentiators.

“This reinforces what we're seeing across the market: sustainability and business strategy are increasingly intertwined and can provide immense value.

“As hybrid work continues to evolve, organisations want spaces that reflect their values while attracting talent.”

Connectivity and convenience drive decisions

Building and neighbourhood amenities that offer convenience and connectivity remain a top priority for occupiers when selecting office space, the survey finds.

More than half of respondents said they would reject a building that lacked access to public transportation (53%) or parking (52%), the two most cited non-negotiable requirements.

About 40% of respondents said they would reject a building without food and beverage options, reinforcing the importance of accessible, on-site amenities that support daily routines and reduce the need to commute.

The report says: “Other amenities are less polarising. While their absence typically wouldn't be a dealbreaker, they can influence rent negotiations.

“Amenities that enhance the employee experience are among the top features that impact negotiated rent. Outdoor amenities or terraces (44%), building amenity spaces (42%) and fitness facilities (32%) are the most frequently cited experience-related features that shape rent discussions.”

What are the key findings?

The report pulls together five highlights, which focus on office attendance, expansion plans and assigned seating. They are:

1 – Incremental Attendance Gains

Seventy-two percent of organisations report achieving attendance goals, up from 61% in 2024; the gap between employer expectation and employee behavior is closing.

2 – Measurement and Enforcement Grows

Eighty-five percent report communicating an attendance policy; 69% measure policy compliance versus 45% in 2024, while 37% are taking enforcement actions versus 17% in 2024.

3 – Inconsistent Attendance Challenges Culture

Seventy-three percent say office use is at capacity on peak attendance days, but only 34% report average attendance is at capacity. Lack of office vibrancy on non-peak attendance days is a challenge.

4 – Adapting Workplace Strategies

Assigned seating is becoming less popular, especially among large employers, with 25% of companies using assigned seating today, down from 40% in 2024 and 56% in 2023.

5 – Expansion Plans Remain Intact

A growing majority of occupiers (67%) expect to maintain or expand their space over the next three years.

CBRE's call to action

CBRE says the drive to increase office attendance must be “anchored to a strong change management strategy”.

It tells occupiers that policies and mandates are “effective at boosting attendance rates”, but adds: “Organisations are most likely to align expectations and behaviours when they tailor policies to different types of roles.”

The report says tenants must prioritise solving the challenges of hybrid work and advises “pushing the current boundaries” of employees sharing workspace.

On the other side, investors are told: “Seek to understand the space-sharing dynamics of your current and prospective tenants to better plan for future leasing demand and learn how different attendance patterns may impact building operations.”

The report adds: “Focus investments on controllable, high-impact amenities, like food and beverage options, sustainable features, shared meeting areas, and outdoor spaces, that influence lease decisions and rent negotiations.”