What’s the ideal temperature for an office air conditioner?
The highs and lows of the office temperature conflict
For many years now, offices around the world are struggling to maintain a comfortable work environment for their employees. The âideal office temperatureâ should please everyone and support the health, productivity and well-being of your staff. But of course, it’s seldom that simple! Office temperatures outside some people’s comfort range are one of the most common complaints in the corporate world.
So what is the ideal setting for your office air conditioner? Consider these three points before anyone gets too hot under the collar!
1) How high and how low can the office temperature go?
Wherever staff members have access to the temperature control system, you feel like youâre on a roller coaster: up and down the tracks, feeling too hot or too cold from one moment to another.
The conflict: employees adjusting the temperature for their own comfort, disregarding otherâs opinions, needs and preferences.
The solution: In Australia, most people work comfortably in the office when the temperature is between 22°-24°C. Respecting this principal and not adjusting the temperature according to people’s whims will keep more employees happy and productive.
2) Why is it getting so hot in the office?
At first glance, the office seems to be in tip-top shape: happy and satisfied staff, air conditioner set according to guidelines and working just fine.
The conflict: some employees say itâs too hot around their desk while others are perfectly fine!
The solution: check for older personal computers as they can generate as much heat as a small fan force heater. Servers and printers crowded up in one particular area of the office can also be responsible for raising local temperatures above the room average, so you could either separate the desks from the machines or distribute them more evenly throughout the office.
3) Be a few degrees wiser and understand the scientific explanation of the conflict
Maybe blaming the lack of thermal comfort for your modest last performance review isnât the smartest thing to do! Yet there can be a grain of truth in it, so letâs take a look into what can cause this âbattleâ.
The conflict: some people are freezing in the office, while others are sweating.
The solution: Humans have a thermostat centre located at the base of the brain called the hypothalamus where a thyroid gland regulates our bodyâs metabolism. For example, when itâs cold outside, the skin registers the change in temperature and stimulates the hypothalamus and thyroid to increase metabolism and generate body heat. Still, the sensitivity varies from one person to another. You should find a common ground and therefore understand that some people feel the cold more than others do but, on the other hand, they can tolerate much higher temperatures than their colleagues.
4) Think outside the office box!
There are times when you feel youâve got to the end of your patience. You think of every possible way to install an individual temperature control system in your own cubicle and simply mind your own business.
The conflict: the âtemperature battleâ has gone so far that youâre either sweating or freezing to death in the office; plus, youâre much less productive and cannot think properly.
The solution: Actually, studies show that warm workplaces are suitable for creative thinking, while cooler environments help people stay alert and support their analytical thinking. That explains why journalists and technical teams, for instance, usually have their own offices.
Need advice on your office air con? Talk to Jaric!
That being said, while finding an âideal temperatureâ is close to impossible, there should be a mentality shift from âwinners and losersâ to understanding, tolerating and working together to create a workplace as comfortable as possible. Contact Jaric Group on 1300 452 742 or visit us online.
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