Ideal Office Temperature?

[Selkie]

Some funny stories:

Three women in offices at the back of the building were freezing. Their thermostat was in my assistant's office...and she had a space heater, so the heat never kicked on in the back offices.

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Did she cause an electrical short? I've lost data due to my computer shutting off because of jackass turning on a contraband space heater and blowing a fuse. These heaters are verboten where I work but people still use them. They forget to turn them off at the end of the day and they can be a fire hazard.

I was complaining about my hot office in the Wool Weenies thread. LOL. I must have the metabolism of a hummingbird because I'm always too warm -- I have a powerful little fan that takes the edge off....

[Mr. Bloom]

Did she cause an electrical short?

Fortunately no...I simply got the thermostats raised everywhere.

[Deborajen]

As the senior person in my building, I can assure you that there is no way to make everyone happy.


We shoot for low 70's in the winter and mid 70's in the summer. It's been my observation that airflow is as big an issue as temperature setting. We take the blower fans off constant flow in the winter and everyone's much happier.

Would you please talk to our manager? In our medical practice, not only are space heaters and fans allowed, but the practice actually buys them! The employees just ask the receptionist and she orders them whatever they want.

In the main nursing area, there is a long "desk" table with four chair openings and the first has a space heater, the second has a fan, the third has a space heater, and the fourth has a fan.

As a supervisor, who has to work within budgets and who has a share of overseeing that safety requirements are met, I talked to our manager about this. 1. Should the practice be paying for these? 2. Should we have a supplies ordering policy that requires supervisor approval and not just a receptionist phone call? 3. Are we following safety guidelines and could we get into OSHA trouble or insurance/liability trouble?

The manager actually did do some checking (he usually "handles" problems by saying "Let's just see how it goes for awhile" - and it drags out -- and out -- and out -- ). Anyway, he decided the space heaters weren't good so he shopped around and bought replacements -- and then let staff just take the old ones home.

Then a few days later, he sat down with the supervisors and scolded us for needing to keep our budgets under better control.-- He's "quite a guy" . . .

Ideal office temperature? Mid 70's, air flow (especially in the summer), wear layers, drink water or coffee. And that's for me, not just the rules for my work group.

[nscrbug]

Our office was remodeled early last year...we "moved in" back in March. I don't know who engineered the heating/AC plans, but that person should be SHOT! It's like a sauna in our office...everyday...summer or winter. Temps average around 78-79 degrees. I don't even wear makeup to work anymore, because I literally have sweat pouring down my face within the first hour. I can forget about wearing "cute" sweaters or turtlenecks in the winter months, because I would be roasting my @ss off in them...as well as rolling/pushing up the sleeves constantly. My co-workers and I have complained numerous times...but here it is 10 months later, and nothing has been done about it. The excessive temps really does a number on morale and productivity...makes me want to take a nap!

[blackhillsbiker]

The downside to this economy is they never replaced my coworker when he got let go for alcohol use a few years ago. I miss having someone to talk to. He rarely got anything done but he was a good conversationalist. The upside is that I have the whole prepress area to myself. I leave the thermostat at 68 and regulate with clothing, opening and closing a window, and hot tea. Also, my bike can stay in the same room since it isn't in anyone's way.
I hate freezing in the summer because I wore light clothing and the AC is blasting, or boiling in the winter because I dressed warmly and the heat is blasting. I think my boss appreciates the lower bills since I rarely avail myself of either heat or AC.

Deb

[OakLeaf]

That's the problem - balancing ductwork is a lost art. Any more, they just bang the things together, and to make it worse, even if a building was close when it was built, if they remodel or replace the furnace, they never re-balance. Apologies to any HVAC contractors out there - but I think these days you're as likely to find a seamstress who knows how to card wool as you are to find a HVAC contractor who knows how to balance ducts.

[shootingstar]

I worked for several employers where my job did include moving and redesign of library space, which included our work areas.

After working with facility designers and coordinators, I learned that in many cases more attention is given to size, placement of offices in relationship to lighting/window views and means of egress (width of walking aisles and hallways). Then the office walls in relationship to the ductwork, is nearly secondary..as long as it meets the building code.

The last job was abit vexing in terms of proper temperature control. Large (but nice) portable trailers were converted to office space on the construction site. Of course the duct work and vents were not positioned well in relationship to work areas. It was only for a 3-yr. project. So I nearly froze with cold air blasting through a major vent in our dept. in the winter.

Certain people (and they were engineers) kept turning the heat down because they were sweating in their offices. For a few days, my fingers were so cold, I could not type properly. Temp. must have dropped to high 40's F.

I ended up with a fever and cold for a sick day. So later another staff member and I just covered up the vent with cardboard, leaving only a tiny air vent..after I told my senior manager. After all, he was the one also turning down the heat. Human resources was informed. A few other employees also covered up a vent that was blasting cold air from above their desk.

To me, ideal office temp. is around low 70's F.

[michelem]

Warmer than it ever is..... Yeah I'm the one who's always cold, despite wearing wool socks and sweaters. I'm with sfa - I'd wear gloves if it were practical..... (and no I can't have a space heater - I work in a hospital and there's no way I'd get anything like that approved....) I'd probably like GLC's job - mmmmm sounds toasty.

Sounds like we should open up shop together! I'm cold year 'round in my office. I'm sure my co-workers get sick of seeing me wear the same things all year long: longsleeve turtleneck sweaters and long pants (they can't see them, but I wear another shirt underneath the sweater, and tights under the pants as well). I've covered up my vent, so at least the air doesn't blow on me anymore (which, makes me feel colder despite the temp). I tried a space heater once and blew a circuit, which cost quite a bit of $$$ to repair. Space heaters are now banned . . .

Of course, my boss is always hot in his office as he gets full afternoon sun through his large windows. I've offered to trade, but for some reason he doesn't like the idea of downsizing to my close-sized space. I wonder why?

I'm a cheapskate like BikeDutchess and quite a cheapskate at home: 63 is the highest it goes in the winter, unless my mother is visiting and then it gets cranked up to 68 to quiet her complaining. Of course, I'm completely bundled up and drinking hot tea like crazy. My DH wears his beanie/skull cap and a quilted flannel at home too. Yup, we look like a couple nuts, but our old house is NOT energy efficient, so we'd be paying hundreds per month otherwise.

[Fontinalis]

I agree there is NO way to please everybody. Some will be hot, some will be cold. Some people don't like wearing more clothes to be warmer, and expect to be able to dress summer like in the dead of winter, as others like a big thick wool sweater and have the rest of the office freeze because of little heat running.

I have learned to dress in layers so I can adjust to others. And ... to move around. Sitting all day is a sure way to be cold. Get around, move, stand, drink hot tea. And add a space heater when needed, particularly for feet to stay warm.