Although almost all of us welcome the warmer weather after a long, cold winter, there comes a tipping point where the outside heat starts to affect the insides of our buildings. A work environment that’s too hot can drain productivity, energy and enthusiasm. In this article, we’ll go over four tips for keeping your office cool this summer.
Keep Your Systems Clean
Simple maintenance can go a long way when it comes to cooling efficiency. Ensuring the components of your HVAC system are clean will help them work more effectively. Make sure you regularly inspect things such as air ducts, filters and fans to make sure they’re clean and working properly. Malfunctioning parts or buildups of dust and dirt will reduce the effectiveness of your cooling system.
Limit Exposure To The Sun
If your building receives a lot of direct sunlight it’s going to experience a solar heat gain. If you can limit the amount of sunlight that hits the building, you can prevent it from heating up in the first place. Take advantage of curtains and blinds when windows are exposed to the sun. You might want to consider painting the outer surfaces of the building a lighter colour to help reflect sunlight or planting trees to protect it from the sun.
Reduce Heat From Lighting And Equipment
Office lighting and equipment can contribute to the warmth of your building. If it’s possible to turn off lights in unused areas or work without the lights on you can decrease this heating effect. LED lights run much cooler than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs, so you might consider changing them. The same thing can be said about office equipment such as photocopiers. Turn them off when not in use.
Get A Head Start On A Heatwave
If you know you’ll be experiencing a wave of hot weather, start cooling the building down before it arrives. Once the building has been overheated, it takes much more energy to get it back to a normal temperature. If you can keep the temperature regulated from the beginning of a heat wave you’re less likely to experience excess heat.
