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Ideal Office Temperatures for Productivity
It's a
challenge to find that one temperature suitable for everyone
by Chris Adams
Conventional wisdom says that
finding the ideal office temperature is important to worker
productivity.
A difference of just a few
degrees can have a significant impact on how focused and engaged employees are.
For decades, the available
research suggested keeping the office temperature between 70 and 73 degrees
Fahrenheit would be best for the majority of workers.
The problem was that the
research was outdated. It was primarily based on an office full of male
employees, as most workplaces were until the latter half of the 20th century.
Today's office buildings,
however, are likely to have as many women as men. So, should that factor into
decisions about office temperatures?
Women and Office Temperature
According to a 2015 study,
women's different body chemistry must be considered when setting the office
thermostat, especially in the summer months when air conditioners run all day
long.
Women have lower metabolic
rates than men and tend to have more body fat. This means women will tend to be
more susceptible to cold than men.
So, if there are a lot of
women in your office, some temperature adjustment may be required.
Even though the research may
recommend 71.5 F as the minimum acceptable temperature, office managers should
consider not only how many women are in the office, but how the building is
designed.
Large windows that let in a
lot of sunlight may make a room feel warmer. High ceilings may create poor air
distribution, meaning heaters or air conditioners have to work harder.
Knowing your building, as well
as the people in it, is crucial to getting that ideal temperature.
How Temperature Affects Productivity
If productivity is the driving
factor in setting office temperatures, looking at old research is not going to
help create comfortable workplaces.
But research shows that as
temperature rises, productivity declines. It makes sense that male and female
workers would be less productive in an office with a temperature over
90 F.
The same is true as the
temperature decreases; with the thermostat set below 60 F, people are going to
spend more energy shivering than focused on their work.
Other Factors Affecting Temperature Perception
· A person's weight,
specifically body mass index or BMI, can affect how they react to temperature.
Those who weigh more will feel warm more quickly, while those with
lower-than-average BMI usually get cold easier.
· Age also plays a role. As we
get older, particularly above 55, we tend to be more easily affected by the
cold. So, an older workforce may benefit from a slightly warmer office
temperature.
· Humidity affects how
we perceive temperature. If the air is too humid, it
can affect people's ability to sweat, which can lead to heat exhaustion. A
relative humidity level of 40 percent is optimal for year-round comfort.
And while high humidity can
feel oppressive, low humidity can make the air feel colder than it is, which is
also problematic. This can cause skin, throat, and nasal passages to
feel dry and uncomfortable.
· Being either too humid or not
humid enough affects perceived temperature and comfort levels. So, keeping a
good relative humidity level is key to maintaining a healthy and productive
office environment.
Chris
Adams
Human
factors engineer and industrial designer
Human
systems integration lead at Strata-G Solutions, Inc.
Experience
Chris
Adams is a former writer for ThoughtCo who wrote about ergonomics for more than
nine years. Ergonomics is the study of how humans effectively interact with
their work environment. Chris has more than 11 years of experience working in
the field of human factors and ergonomics. He was a human factors and systems
engineer with Jacobs Engineering working on NASA's the Ares I and V rocket
systems. Chris later became the lead of human-system integration for Strata-G
Solutions, Inc.
Chris
specializes in furniture design and corporate identity and works as an
independent consultant on various design projects. His work for ThoughtCo
appears on many websites, newsletters, and books which focus on engineering spaces
for human use.
Education
Chris
Adams earned a Bachelor of Industrial Design (B.I.D.) in Industrial and Product
Design from Auburn University in 1999.
ThoughtCo
and Dotdash
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