Innovative Office Temperature Control Techniques

Studies show direct links between work-environment temperature and work productivity, performance and employee happiness; it’s clear that working temperature is extremely important. With heating and cooling systems proving persistently costly for companies’ bank balances and the environment, new and innovative temperature-control techniques are being introduced for office buildings.

We’ve already focused on the problems with temperature control and simple ways to reduce them in our previous post; however these new ideas look at energy-saving solutions with better results than a simple desk or ceiling fan.

Exterior Greenery

Allow climbing plants and vines to grow up and around the exterior the building. Opt for this option as a way to escape the standard corporate glass exterior and add interest to the building with greenery; this approach could work well in an office situated in a rural setting to not disturb the surrounding environment.

The vines can create a natural shade from the sun, as well as limiting temperature fluctuation and the amount of heat passing through windows.

Solar Shades

Installing adapting smart glass and solar shades, despite being costly initially, can save money in the long-run as well as being a fuss-free way to control office temperature once in place.

Smart glass is great for creating shade and reducing the sun’s glare, and some kinds are also used for interiors too, to create privacy when needed.

Solar shades are a great installation for buildings that still look for the glass corporate exterior but struggle with temperature control.

Inflector shades are sleek transparent shades made of aluminium-coated polyethylene laminated to carbon graphite PVC, which filters UV radiation depending on outdoor temperature and sunlight.  

In summer, the aluminium reflects 72% of the sun’s heat away from the building, while in winter; it absorbs heat inward, creating a controlled temperature environment.            

Colour

Another way to step away from all-glass exteriors to create a unique aesthetic is to look at colour. In hot regions like the Mediterranean, you’ll spot many brightly, lightly coloured buildings, which effectively reflect heat and sunlight away from the building, keeping the interior relatively shaded. If a building was painted black, the heat would be absorbed creating an interior unpleasantly warm in hotter months.

In offices, this approach can be taken for parts of the exterior building design; pieces of block colour – while black looks professional and corporate – should be light. White or light greys in stone/brick work always look sleek, or make a design statement with bold primary colours. 

Laura Sewell

An aspiring journalist, Laura is our content writer intern.  Pop-punk gig-goer and drag queen enthusiast, Laura is working her way into the industry with an English A -Level and love of writing about anything and everything in tow.