Office Temperature; What Is The Ideal?

Solly · August 12, 2003, 12:41

I would say around 19 or 20C (66 - 68F).

We have an air conditioning system at work which this morning got switched on and off around 20 times between rival groups of people. The temp was set at 21F (70F) and some were complaing it was too cold and that it was creating a draft (

).

So it gets turned off, temperature races upwards again until it's intolerable for those of us on computers, so one of us turns the air con back on again.

Why can't they bring in a bloody jumper if a standard office temperature is too cold for them..but no, everyone has to suffer.

So, tomorrow, I go in shorts.

Solly · August 12, 2003, 12:43

78F 25C Optimal for bathing, showering. Sleep is disturbed

75F 24C People feel warm, lethargic and sleepy. Optimal for unclothed people.

72F 22C Most comfortable year-round indoor temperature for sedentary people.

70F 21C Optimum for performance of mental work.

64F 18C Physically inactive people begin to shiver. Active people are comfortable.

Asher · August 12, 2003, 12:51

I keep my office at 19C.

Harry Seldon · August 12, 2003, 13:57

As cold as your coworkers will allow. 12C if you can get away with it.

Dis · August 12, 2003, 14:04

pussies

Why do you need offices so cold? Can't take the heat? I guess that is why I prefer jobs where I don't work in offices.

I prefer the heat. It's over 45 C today. I love it.

Asher · August 12, 2003, 14:08

Heat makes me drowsy.

And it's the people who can't get used to cold that are pussies. People in your area complain when it hits freezing.

Harry Seldon · August 12, 2003, 14:22

I'm a sweater and can't take the heat in an office setting. Hell, I can't take it outside. It's one of the reasons I'm trying to get out of the south.

Dis · August 12, 2003, 14:22

no I like the cold too. I kind of miss the snow on the east coast. not that it snowed much in Virigina, every other year at most. But it was often very cold. The river even started freezing up after 1 week of near 0 temps.

I loved it. It was funny watching everyone else complain about the cold. The only problem I have with the cold is heating bills I have to pay.

heat makes me drowsy too if I'm not doing anything. But long as I stay active, it's no problem.

Q Classic · August 12, 2003, 20:05

the perfect office temperature is one that equals the temperature in the server room.

server rooms should be kept at a nice, warm 66-72degF.

Whaleboy · August 12, 2003, 20:06

I like it cold. 15 or 16 C is perfectly fine.

Skanky Burns · August 12, 2003, 20:12

23C is nice.

MrFun · August 12, 2003, 20:56

Cool enough so that if you have hot, raunchy sex with that hot co-worker, you're not sweating bullets after it, so you can get cleaned up easier before lunch break is over.

Whaleboy · August 12, 2003, 21:04

MrFun:

Worthingtons · August 12, 2003, 21:10

'75F 24C People feel warm, lethargic and sleepy. Optimal for unclothed people'

I like things much hotter when I am unclothed

Tuberski · August 12, 2003, 21:14

I put it a t the temperature I like, and then make it so that no one else can change the temp.

ACK!

Imran Siddiqui · August 12, 2003, 21:29

70-75 F is my optimal temp.

:) Smiley · August 12, 2003, 21:37

The colder it is the faster and more energy efficient all electronic devices will run. The energy efficiency is outweighed however by the energy used to run an AC if the temperature requires lowering, however.

Since the human brain also is an electric device, the lower the temperature the better you think and the less sleepy you get.

While we're talking electric devices, any lights, machines, or electronics will raise the temperature significantly, especially if in a small place. Incandescent lamps are 85% heatlamp and 15% lightlamp. Flourescent tubes are much more weighed towards the light end. Halogens really heat up a place.

The fatter someone is, the colder the temperature needs to be to achieve same optimal conditions.

Also what people are wearing has an effect. A lot of office A/C wars break out between men wearing full suits (optimal temperature: ~15-20C) and women wearing dresses (optimal temperature: ~18-23C)

Proximity to AC vent also makes a big difference, as do windows facing south. People working near a wall will have temperatures closer to that of the outside depending on the environment.

In all but the most extreme temperatures (<15C or >25C) AC as a whole is a bad idea. Additional temperature optimization is outweighed by lack of fresh air and oxygen content. Open the darn windows and turn on a fan or put on a coat. Can't open windows? Crappy building.

MrFun · August 12, 2003, 22:17

Quote:

Originally posted by

Smiley
The colder it is the faster and more energy efficient all electronic devices will run. The energy efficiency is outweighed however by the energy used to run an AC if the temperature requires lowering, however.

Since the human brain also is an electric device, the lower the temperature the better you think and the less sleepy you get.

While we're talking electric devices, any lights, machines, or electronics will raise the temperature significantly, especially if in a small place. Incandescent lamps are 85% heatlamp and 15% lightlamp. Flourescent tubes are much more weighed towards the light end. Halogens really heat up a place.

The fatter someone is, the colder the temperature needs to be to achieve same optimal conditions.

Also what people are wearing has an effect. A lot of office A/C wars break out between men wearing full suits (optimal temperature: ~15-20C) and women wearing dresses (optimal temperature: ~18-23C)

Proximity to AC vent also makes a big difference, as do windows facing south. People working near a wall will have temperatures closer to that of the outside depending on the environment.

In all but the most extreme temperatures (<15C or >25C) AC as a whole is a bad idea. Additional temperature optimization is outweighed by lack of fresh air and oxygen content. Open the darn windows and turn on a fan or put on a coat. Can't open windows? Crappy building.

interesting . . . .

ravagon · August 12, 2003, 22:25

As long as the icicles on the ceiling aren't dripping all over my computer, anything is fine with me.

:) Smiley · August 12, 2003, 23:12

Have you ever seen pictures of the Liquid Nitrogen CPU cooling and overclocking system?

Dis · August 12, 2003, 23:56

the men with suits should take off their jackets while inside.

The optimal temp is 70 to 74 degrees.

Any less and you get chilly if not doing anything. Hey I'm ideal weight, it doesn't take an ice cold office to keep my cool.

Soul Survivor · August 13, 2003, 01:35

I like about 21 C during the day, and 15 C during the night..... I think its better to work when its cooler rather than warmer, I can't concentrate if I'm sweating (like right now)

Solly · August 13, 2003, 13:06

Thanks for pretty much all agreeing with me.

Today it started at 21C (OK I suppose) but ended up at 26C by the time I left ( not really OK).

Oerdin · August 13, 2003, 13:08

My office keeps the temp at 72 degrees which makes sense since everyone sits in their cubicals all day.