Temperature in the Office

[susans]

Is your office too warm or cold?   Do you like it warm or do you like colder?   Finally,do you have control of the thermostat and ever have others adjust it because they like it the oppostie as you?

[gee4]

Most modern offices these days are controlled by a remote central heating/air conditioning system.

This means we have virtually no control as individuals because the heating controls are pre-set according to the time of year and size of building.

I have mostly found that in winter it's too warm and in summer it's too cold.  This is mostly due to the temperature factors outside.  For some reason facilities seem to think if it's winter outside we need to work in heat conditions of 24C or more.  Ideally you should not work in anything less than 16C (61F).  

I have to say there is nothing like fresh air in an office but nowadays buildings are constructed so that we are cooled by air conditioning systems and windows are designed not to be opened.

[lucie33]

Not where I work!!  We are a small office with good old fashioned windows, so plenty of fresh air.  I much prefer it to air conditioning.   Mind you, there's only been about a week when we've had particularly warm weather this summer anyway!

[laurafmcdermott]

I control the thermostats and had them locked up a few months ago.  The system has three zones but each affects the other.....so one person is slightly cold, turns it up a few degrees, and completely throws off the temperature in the other two zones.  A battle ensues with each section trying to get to a comfort level that exists with no problems as long as no one touches the thermostats.  

The system does blow hot and cold a few times a day, but it is the nature of an HVAC system and you just need to put on a sweater or take it off for 5 minutes until the temperature is regulated again.

We also have windows that open which is nice for sunny warm days like today.

[raindance]

I'm very fortunate in that, having my own office, I have my own heat/air conditioning unit.  Bossie has the same set up.   The only "problem" with my office is that it is a corner room so has acres of windows.  This is very nice except that in winter it can be a bit cold sometimes.

We have a mixture of offices and open-plan work stations.  The open plan bit is divided into three zones with separate heating/air conditioning for each.  Anyone can go and change the temperatures.  

[Cathy S]

Our current office is okay - we have opening windows for fresh air and being a big open plan room we all get the benefit; we have four air con units in the main office and anyone can switch them on/off and set the thermostats (all individually controlled too) and so far it works well.  We are getting new aircon in a few weeks so that should make it quieter.

Our old office was much smaller, had no opening windows and a permanently on aircon; there was a constant fight over the aircon thermostat - one person stubbornly refused to listen when we explained not to have the door open - it made the aircon work harder/noisier but not better.

Cathy

[geminigirl]

I much prefer to be too cold than too warm.  I have my own office so I can control the temperature - or at least the fresh air - to a certain degree.  

My office though is in a big old Victorian convent (!) so lovely thick walls and those old-fashioned radiators.  The downside is that where you can turn those down you can't turn them off completely - so I can absolutely roast in winter as there are two of the things in the office.  They're on from November to March and it can get pretty toasty in here - but that's what windows are for!!  And we all complain when the heating goes off in March cos it can be too damn' cold for a while!!

[spitfire78]

I like the warm and hate the cold!

My office is a former closet, so it has no airconditioning (YEA!) and no heat (BOO!).  

So, while I am perfectly comfortable in the summer, it can get pretty cold in the winter.  I bought a little underdesk heater that I keep blowing on me almost constantly in the winter.

However, there is also no air circulating here, so the air can get stale.  Since my bosses office is just across the hall (and she has windows, heat, and airconditioning) - if her door is open I get enough air circulating to make it ok.  But when I first come in the morning or if I have to close the door for any length of time or if her door is closed, it gets a bit uncomfortable.

[Katie G]

We're only in our second year in our new building.  Last year was crazy -- freezing in the summer and roasting in the winter.  You'd think with us running in the red, they'd try to save some money by moderating the temperatures a bit.  Really, it doesn't need to be 63F in August and it doesn't need to be 83F in January.  We all wore sweaters last summer and tank tops over the winter.  We've been told it will be better this year.  We'll see.  My toes are still freezing from the AC right now.

[Atlanta Z3]

Monday and Tuesday comfortable - ac is turned off over the weekend.  By Friday I'm in a jacket sweater and trying to find a warm zone.  But then I'm always cold.

[itsme_calista]

I like to be warm in winter but can be guilty of having the thermostat up too high and getting sleepy!  In the summer I have a portable aircon and people come into my office as it gets like a fridge lol.

My office is about 10x8 and so the heat or cold buld up nicely

[mashley]

I work below ground, in the basement of a museum. I have concrete block walls, and we stay chilly in here.  Part of the reason is the low humidity levels required for storage, so most just bundle up and keep working, even during the summer. I love the colder office environment, so even though I don't have a window, I'm happy.  We do go through pots and pots of coffee..