As much as we all love the first signs of a warm and sunny summer, hot stuffy offices can negatively impact our work productivity, concentration levels and overall health. If you work in an office without air con or are working from home at the moment, the warmer temperatures can signal uncomfortable days at work. This issue is only going to intensity as, in the UK, our summers look set to become warmer and drier as a result of climate change effects.
So, how can you help to keep your office as cool as possible as the mercury rises? Here, we summarise our top tips for keeping a cool office during a heatwave.
Invest In Fans
An office lacking air-con should be kitted out with good quality cooling fans as standard. A fan can help to direct airflow where it is needed, helping to circulate air throughout the office. If placed strategically next to an open window, a fan will help to drag in the cool, fresh air and move warm, stale air outside. Fans typically offer multiple cooling settings and can even come in modern, sleek designs to match your office decor. Opt for fans with an auto-off timer mode, and you won’t have to worry about them accidentally being left on.
You can buy small individual desk fans and distribute them to all desk workers. That way, all workers have direct control over the temperature of their individual working areas.
Close/Open Windows At The Right Time
Usually, our default response to a warm and stuffy room is to head to the windows and crack them wide open to try and get some fresh air circulating. However, if you open your office windows in the middle of the day, while the air outside is very warm, you will just be inviting in hot air. Instead, you should be keeping your windows shut throughout the day and opening them up in the evening as the sun begins to set so that you can allow the cool breeze to circulate through the office. Obviously, this is much harder in an office environment if everybody leaves the building at 5 pm, but if anybody stays late in the office, ask them to open up the windows and close them as they leave.
Power Off Appliances
Electronic and lighting appliances can add additional heat to an already too warm office. Make sure that you and your colleagues power off any devices that are not currently in use. All non-essential equipment should be powered down at the end of the working day. All employees should be aware of what can safely be powered down and what equipment must be kept on at all times. Print off some handy reminders to “switch off” and place these strategically around the office. Remember that devices left on standby mode often consume just as much energy as when they are fully switched on.
Provide Cool Drinks
It is essential to stay well hydrated on a warm day. Encourage your employees to consume plenty of fluids by providing free access to cool drinks. This will help to keep your staff cool and refreshed and, as a result, boost their concentration levels and focus. A well-stocked office mini-fridge is a convenient way to provide your employees with a constant supply of cooling drinks to keep them chilled despite the rising temperatures.
DIY Air-Con
A cheap and effective way to quickly cool down your office is to construct a DIY air-con system! To do this, you need to first fill up some plastic bottles with cold water or ice. Then place these filled bottles in front of a fan to allow the circulating air to cool down when it passes through them. When the water warms up or the ice melts, simply put the bottles back into the fridge or freezer, and then you can use them all over again!
Shut Those Blinds
Letting lots of natural light into your office environment is always a good idea as it helps to reduce employee fatigue, lift everyone's mood and enhance concentration levels. But having the piercing hot sun shining directly through the windows will not only cause the office and your staff to heat up, it will also increase the risk of headaches and eye strain as a result of the glare. When the sun is shining directly at your office windows, try to keep cool by making sure the blinds are shut and work using artificial light sources instead.
Wear Cool, Breathable Clothes
To help your body to stay as cool as possible, make sure that your summer office wardrobe contains lots of loose, thin and breathable clothing. Avoid anything too short as your attire must remain professional and office-appropriate. Choose items made from lightweight material, such as linen and cotton and flowing designs like a loose-fitting tunic dress.
Final Thoughts
While cooling down your office in the warmer months may take a bit of time and patience, you will appreciate your efforts when working in a cooler environment. Keeping your office cool will ensure that you and your colleagues remain comfortable and productive no matter how hot it gets outside!
