One of the biggest disputes within office spaces is often the temperature. Some employees will prefer a cooler working environment, whilst others prefer a warmer and more cosy space. But, as winter draws closer, it’s likely that the temperature of your office space will increase in order to combat the colder weather outdoors.
In a recent study, it was found that the average office temperature is 9ºc during the winter – much cooler than most people will find a comfortable working temperature. In some cases, it can be a case of simply taking more action in order to make the office warmer, but it others it might be that, due to the building, it’s near impossible to warm the space up past a certain point. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some tips for keeping your office warm this winter.
Encourage The Wearing Of Layers
If one of the issues with keeping your office warm is down to the varying preferred temperatures across your team, then the best (and most cost-effective) way is to encourage everyone to wear layers. This is a great way for employees to adjust to changing office temperatures throughout the day and whether they feel the cold or are always warm, layers provide the best solution for them to adjust based on their personal preferences.
This means that, for employees who feel the cold more than others, they can become more comfortable by putting on a cardigan or a long-sleeved top underneath jumpers, whilst employees who might feel a bit warm can remove a fleece or hoodie.
Change The Room Layout
Having desks and other furniture pushed up against radiators might seem like a good idea to keep warm. However, this can actually affect the overall warmth of the room and limit the flow of warm air around the room. This then makes it much slower overall to heat the office and it becomes a space which is less efficient to heat up.
Instead, avoid wasting money on repeatedly turning the heating on and consider an office layout rejig. Position furniture so that it is a few inches at least away from radiators so that warm air can properly circulate around the room.
Upgrade Your Office
If you’ve recently found that you’ve outgrown your current office space, or perhaps your team has expanded past what is comfortable for your space, then this might be the time to consider investing in an office fit out. This is especially true if you are in an old building or a space which isn’t energy efficient, as this will only be costing you more in heating and electricity bills.
Upgrading your office space will give you the opportunity to add more insulation and incorporate more sustainable energy measures, such as better heating options and greener lighting choices. This then results in a more productive team and increased heat retentio within your office space during the winter months. Of course, this is best discussed with a fit out company as they will be able to best advise on the right course of action for your space and make suggestions in line with your building regulations and guidelines.