As a commercial HVAC company, we are very aware of the effects of a building’s climate, not only on the efficiency of your system or your energy budget but also on your occupants. Your employees are your assets: You must keep them happy as well as comfortable. Cold employees will be unhappy and may not feel like working as hard as they would if comfortable. Also, employees even if they would like to work harder, may find it physically harder, sometimes impossible to work when, for example, they have cold hands and fingers that are not able to function or type well.
Here are some of the elements of a building climate and HVAC system that affect your employees’ productivity.
Temperature
As alluded above, temperature can greatly affect a person’s productivity. Uncomfortable employees will be unhappy, especially if they already alter their clothing choices and still feel like they can’t stay warm or cool. Discomfort can not only be distracting but also tiring. Employees that are unnecessarily cold are more susceptible to getting sick and feeling drained by the end of the day. And employees who are not feeling their best will not produce to their fullest potential.
Lighting Level
Lighting levels also affect an employee’s productivity. Though it may depend on your industry, well-lit offices are generally accepted as the most efficient places to work and put less strain on employee’s eyes when they are staring at a screen all day. Also, lighting allows for the building to stay cleaner which will help employees stay healthy: A well lit building will also help your employees feel and be safe.
Exposure to Outside
Though your HVAC system doesn’t affect this aspect of your building, we still feel that it is pertinent to mention in regards to the productivity of your employees. Sometimes commercial buildings can feel like cages when there are no windows to the outside or these windows are always closed. Having natural light shine into your building will help your employees to be happier and mentally acute.
Air Cleanliness
Having clean and fresh air in your building is a must. Some buildings become “polluted” when an HVAC system is not properly circulating the building’s air, thus causing greater potential for illness and generally unhealthy employees. Exposure to fresh air has been shown to heighten a person’s mental health, making them happier and more productive. It has also shown to help a person to have greater mental acuity which can beneficial no matter what kind of business you have: Employees have greater potential for ingenuity and will be more aware in industrial situations, thus preventing accidents when they have greater mental acuity.
These are just a few of the aspects of creature comfort that affect the effectiveness and productivity of your employees.