Managing the thermostat for your household is difficult enough. Being the one in charge of your office thermostat is a responsibility fraught with peril. You have any number of different employees together in a relatively small space, each with different temperature preferences. It doesn’t have to cause arguments, though. Here’s how to keep your office thermostat under control.
The Ideal Setting for the Office Thermostat
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recommends the office thermostat be kept between 68 and 76 degrees. The Helsinki University of Technology pinpoints the ideal office temperature at 71.6 degrees. Furthermore, several studies have been conducted on the correlation between temperature and worker productivity. If the space is too warm, it can make people drowsy.
Some say the key to improving performance is going the other way. They theorize that making the office colder will keep employees alert and help them work more effectively. This may or may not be the case, but there is an argument to be made for leaving the temperature low. In a cooler environment, those who like things warm can always put on a sweater. In a warmer environment, there’s not much the employees who prefer things cool can do in a professional setting.
Programmable Thermostats and Zoning Systems
If your employees really can’t agree on a temperature setting, you might consider a zoning system. It’s less effective in an open-office plan, but if everyone has their own individual office, it’s a perfect solution. Each office gets its own thermostat to use to set the temperature to their preferred comfort level without bothering the occupants of the other offices.
If you can agree on a temperature setting, though, a programmable thermostat can work wonders. Input your preferred temperature and your HVAC system will keep it there all day. Then input an energy-saving temperature setting to kick in at night after everyone has gone home. You’ll keep the office comfortable while reducing energy bills, and you’ll never have to worry about your office thermostat again.For help with your office thermostat, home thermostat, and other comfort issues, contact us at Mowery Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. We proudly serve the HVAC needs of Indianapolis.
