Office Temp Wars

[dental wiz]

So what does everybody think is an acceptable indoor office temperature?

When I first start working at my current company, we had local temperature controls. The folks on my side of the floor were unanimous that 78 to 80 degrees was a comfortable indoor office temperature in the winter months. We have pretty light winters in North Texas, so it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to keep it that warm.

But I was absolutely dying. I wore short sleeves, drank ice water, and ran a fan all day, but it was still hard. I would sweat at my desk and -- no joke -- I would actually have to take a shower when I got home.

Anyway, we recently moved to a new building with no local controls. The building crew sets the temp uniformly at 72 degrees year round. I can live with this, but many of my coworkers are "freezing". They complain all the time and wear coats (and gloves) at their desk.

Although it is a generalization, I would say that it's mostly the women (older women) who are "freezing". The men seem to be fine at 70 or 72 degrees. I have a hard time seeing how this can be cold. Am I the crazy one or are they?

 

[GJM]

Our office was normally set at 72. I think 80 is way too hot. In our office someone was always touching the thermostat, then they put a lock on it.

 

[noodleknitter]

72 would work for us. I'd be miserable at 80.

My old great aunt always kept her heat at 80 during the winter and her air at 65 during the summer. I never could understand that!

 

[Chicago526]

We have a thermostat but it doesn't show a temperature. I wish it did, it might cut back on the "I'm too hot/I'm too cold" arguement. My boss and I are always freezing because my one co-worker claims to be hot all the time (and she's too young for menopause so that's not it, either!). 72 does sound okay to me, though.

 

[Melissa M]

If more than one person is needing a jacket and/or gloves, it's too cold. During the summer months (in the Texas heat of 100+ degrees), I often have to put on a jacket, fix a cup of coffee, and go stand outside on the sidewalk to thaw out. I'm sorry, but that's too cold.

 

[jennyl772003]

At my last job, the thermostat was usually set at 73. 80 sounds heavenly to me for at home, but for an office that is just unacceptable! (I don't get 80 at home either, DH vetos)

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

72 sounds great to me. If I get chilly, I will put on a sweater - I would rather be a little cold than hot.

You can always add clothing if you are cold but you can't remove it if you are hot - not and keep your job anyway.

 

[DMickey28]

I have no idea what office temp would be good, our's doesn't show the temp. At home I am very happy at 74/75 or so but DH likes it down at 70. we both drop it down at night though.

 

[MareQ]

Our office was normally set at 72. I think 80 is way too hot. In our office someone was always touching the thermostat, then they put a lock on it.

Yup - we did that too. It's set to 68 degrees year round - only people that pay the bills are entitled to change it IMO.

Anybody that is too hot can wear short sleeves - anybody that is too cold can wear a sweater. We allow individual space heaters a long as they are turned off every when the person isn't there. Any time we find a personal space heater on after the user has gone for lunch or for the day - we tell the user that they must now bring it home and are no longer allowed to use it.

 

[SillyMe]

OMG, I am the queen of temp wars in my office. I prefer about 72-73. I think that's comfortable. But SOME people insist on making it 65-68 degrees and I am FREEZING. I turned the heat on in our office last week when it got cold (live in NEPA). This morning when I went in, the central air was cranking. Someone turned it on yesterday after I left and never turned it off...so the heat and the air were cranking all night. What ticks me off is I'm the only one who is in the office ALL day. The others are coming and going throughout the day. Why should I sit there and freeze my butt off when they're not even in the office?

 

[dental wiz]

Actually, 76 is too hot for me, but I can live with it. 78 to 80 was brutal. I'm just fine anywhere between 70 and 72. There are several ladies on this floor that wear coats all day, but I think it's sort of become a "group protest" thing. They got used to the 78 degree temp, and they're having a hard time adjusting. But I think they will eventually adjust. I just can see how anyone can be that cold at 72 degrees.

 

[gallaj0]

72 degrees is a "standard" temp for offices, according to most HVAC designers, building operator associations, etc. It has been determined to be the optimal temperature for the majority of people in an office, no matter the temperature outside.

Having said that, many things make a difference to different people. If you sit right under a vent, near a window, or dress for the outdoor temperature, instead of the office you'll actually be in all day.

Also, smokers generally suffer from poor circulation, and feel colder than non smokers; as well as being forced outside in the weather.

When I was a building manager, we also has to put extra locking covers over the thermostats, because the regular locking ones were too easy to break into.

 

[Christine]

Our office is usually at 71 degrees when I arrive in the morning (I have a thermostat on my desk). It feels chilly to me. Also, there is always cool air blowing out of the ceiling vents and sometimes it mixes with warm. If the blowing would stop, everyone would be okay.

Anyway, I sit in a line of 6 cubicles--5 women, one man. Each of us women has a heater under our desk. My heater will get my cube up to 73-74 degrees and then I am okay. Some of the men will mention that it feels chilly in the office but they are never as uncomfortable as the women. Of course, they all always have on long sleeve dress shirts with a T-shirt underneath, pants, socks, and leather shoes. The women, including myself, barely have any clothes on as fashion dictates.

 

[Amlee]

My policy is You only want me to take off so much of my clothes. So it would be better for all, for those who are cold to add an extra layer!

As for people wearing coats and gloves at 72 degrees. That's a tad much, IMO. I could see a coat or sweater, but gloves?

 

[doxdogy]

The building where I now work, the building controls the temp. On our side of the building we are constantly hot. On a previous job it was a constant battle over temp. One worker wanted it down to and this is no joke 65. She did not like wearing sleeveless or short sleeve shirts. So she wore sweatshirts in July. She didn't care if the rest of us were freezing. The early person would turn it up and then it was up and down the entire day. She had the nerve to tell us one day to wear more clothes to work.

 

[SillyMe]

My policy is You only want me to take off so much of my clothes. So it would be better for all, for those who are cold to add an extra layer!

As for people wearing coats and gloves at 72 degrees. That's a tad much, IMO. I could see a coat or sweater, but gloves?

Some people are just naturally cold all the time. I'm one of them. I said 72 is okay for our office, but if it really were up to me I'd have it set at 75. At 72 I'm comfortable AS LONG AS I have a long sleeve shirt and sweater on. When they lower it to 68-70 I'm literally freezing and my hands are like ice. Granted, I don't sit there with gloves on (I wouldn't be able to type or write), but my hands get so cold I can't function properly.

 

[teacherforhi]

My hands are like ice as I type this although the rest of me is comfortable. I do wear gloves as much as humanly possible. Unfortunately, can't sign in them so that leaves school out.