Your business may be booming or it may be struggling of recent, either way, have you thought that the impact might be in your surroundings? Commercial properties face all kinds of new challenges in keeping their space just as comfortable compared to a home. With more space to regulate, more people to keep comfortable, and a need for productivity, it is vital to your business that you take the proper steps to ensure an accommodating climate for all.
Too Hot, Too Cold, Or Just Right
One of the go-to climate factors — and likely most controversial — is the temperature of the workplace. Unfortunately, there is no required workplace temperature. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the US Department of Labor, the recommended temperature range for an office is between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
While this temperature is not life or death, the comfort with the temperature of an office can greatly impact your office productivity. According to a 2004 study by Cornell University, cooler temperatures had a negative impact on productivity. In the study, when they increased the temperature increased in the office from 68 to 77 degrees, there was a 44% decrease in typing errors while typing output also skyrocketed 150%. The colder the temperature the tighter our muscles are, damaging the ability to concentrate on tasks at hand.
To help get the temperature of your business on track, we recommend the installation of programmable or smart thermostats to better regulate your office’s temperature. You don’t have to worry about fluctuating temperatures, and you save your business money on its energy bill by making the switch. Learn more about different thermostats from our blog.
No Need for a Sauna or a Desert
The OSHA also recommends that your humidity be set in the range of 20% – 60%. By going too high or too low with the humidity, you can cause dry eyes, throats, and noses, greatly decreasing productivity in the workplace. We especially see low humidity issues in the winter with heat removing the moisture. To combat humidity issues, there are a few steps to take:
- Keep workstations away from the direct flow of air conditioning or heating vents
- Utilize blinds and curtains for blocking direct sunlight
- Keep air constantly flowing so that it does not feel stagnant
- Temporarily use a (de)humidifier as needed
- Bring in an HVAC professional to assess further improvements for humidity
Cleaner Air, Cleaner Productivity
Temperature and humidity seem obvious, but how is the quality of the air in your space? By not regularly having your air ducts cleaned out or changing out your air filter, you are letting harmful particles and pollutants build up inside. Issues like mold or dust allergies can take a toll on the health of your colleagues and customers. We recommend investing in air filters, changing out air filters often, regular duct cleaning maintenance, and other HVAC maintenance to ensure the best air is flowing.
Improve Your Business
For common offices or brick and mortar stores, you want to keep your colleagues and customers as happy and comfortable as possible. For help taking these steps for a more comfortable commercial space, get in touch with the Stellar Services team for all of your HVAC needs. We can help keep your business running in top shape for every season and climate.