Business owners should think twice before tweaking workplace temperature settings this fall. According to a new survey of office workers, 69 percent said they would be willing to sacrifice their preferred ideal temperature in the office to help their company conserve energy. However the survey also found that nearly four in five participants (78 percent) say they are less productive at work when they are too hot or cold.
Johnson Controls commissioned a survey of nearly 800 American adults who work in an office setting. The good news: The findings indicate that many workers think their employers could be doing more to be energy efficient. The challenge: Business owners must avoid a negative impact on office productivity and the possibility that workers may take action to circumvent their discomfort, including the use of portable heaters or fans, if temperatures are not ideal.
“Employers may be tempted to turn down the thermostats this fall, but this quick fix could lead to hidden costs,” Clay Nesler, vice president of global energy and sustainability for Johnson Controls, said. “Energy-efficient systems and equipment is the win-win alternative, allowing businesses to save energy and money without sacrificing workplace productivity.”
Productivity Suffers and Energy Costs May Rise When Workplace Temperature is Not Ideal
Almost all participants said their office has been too hot or cold at some point (98 percent) and when that occurs, most (78 percent) said they are less productive. Not only does workplace productivity suffer, individual actions, such as bringing a heating or cooling device into the office, result in increased energy use.
• Forty-nine percent of office workers have used a fan when it was too hot in their office, and 28 percent have used a space heater when it was too cold.
• Nearly one-third (30 percent) have left their office building to take a walk outside when it was too hot or cold in their workspace.
• Forty-one percent have informed their office manager or custodian of their discomfort.
• Approximately seven in ten (69 percent) have adjusted their clothing, such as adding a sweater or removing a layer.
American workers expect their employers to take action. The results indicate that 45 percent think their employer is not doing enough to make their office environments energy efficient.
For complete survey results and a full methodology statement, contact Sarah McGath at smcgath@branigan.biz.