How Much Does HVAC Effect Employee Performance?

It probably won’t come as a huge surprise that your commercial heating and cooling system plays a role in employee performance. What may shock you is how much it affects your staff. From physical comfort and its effect on employee satisfaction and turnover to productivity and avoidable stress, today we’ll dig a little deeper into the effects of your HVAC system on your work environment.

Physical Comfort

Thermal comfort plays an integral role in employee productivity. To ensure comfort and safety, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a thermostat temperature setting of 68-76-degrees Fahrenheit. This is a wide range, and will vary by season and personal employee tolerances. Managing temperatures in the work environment is tricky, and employee feedback should play a key role. Not accounting for employee preferences could lead to objections from workers and ultimately, thermostat wars. Summer and winter draw the most complaints due to temperature extremes. To avoid ‘rogue’ thermostat adjustments, limiting the ability to change HVAC settings with a smart programmable thermostat accessible only by key personnel is best.

Indoor Air Quality

Commercial air conditioning contractors know, HVAC systems with only basic air filter setups don’t do much to remove airborne irritants like dust, dust mites, and pollen from the air. For the over 60-million people suffering from allergic rhinitis, this can equate to a very bad workday. Itchy, watery eyes; a stuffy, runny, itchy nose; and frequent sneezing and coughing do not make for a productive day at the office, reducing employee performance and efficiency. This effect is amplified in working environments that already suffer from poor indoor air quality. Adding air purification components to your commercial HVAC system, including a HEPA filter capable of removing allergens and other contaminants, requires a minor investment, reaping big gains in productivity, especially in allergy season.

Overall Health

Mold, mildew, bacteria, and even pests are drawn to and rapidly reproduce in high humidity environments. These pollutants can trigger severe illness, especially in those with allergies, asthma, and upper respiratory conditions. Your commercial HVAC system should monitor humidity to protect the health of your employees, reducing unplanned sick leave and the need for medical attention that can effect benefit plan rates. If your work environment is frequently muggy or sticky, commercial humidity control may be in order.

Distractions

Noise in the workplace can be distracting for staff, making phone and meeting conversations difficult. It can also be especially distracting for clientele, who may not be used to the seemingly odd sounds of a loud commercial HVAC system. If your business is suffering from the effects of a disruptively noisy system, talk to your local commercial HVAC services company about the latest smart and zoned systems, and how automating your system can not only reduce noise levels at your workplace, but save your business on heating and cooling costs.

Increase productivity, safeguard the health of your staff, and lower your carbon footprint. Learn more about ways to improve commercial HVAC performance from H&H Commercial Services today.

This blog was originally posted at https://hhcommercialonline.com/how-much-does-hvac-effect-employee-performance/