Commercial Energy Savings Tips

Solving Common Office Heating and Cooling Problems

Q. We have several employees served by the same heating and cooling system. It seems like someone is hot and someone else is cold at all times. Is there an inexpensive solution to this problem?

A. Actually, there is a free solution which sometimes works! Many heating and cooling problems are caused by poor air circulation. Your solution may be as simple as turning the fan to ‘On’ to keep air moving at all times. This allows air from the warm spots to mix with air from the cooler spots and hopefully, keep everyone more comfortable.

Q. How do I keep employees from turning the office thermostats to extreme temperatures without putting locks on the thermostats?

A. This is a common problem in office environments. The best solution is to install thermostats which allow control within a limited range – maybe 3 to 5 degrees. This approach allows employees to control temperatures in their area without causing high utility bills, freeze-ups and/or water damage.

Q. At our business we try to save money by turning our air conditioning systems off at night. This works pretty well, except during the hottest times of the year. Is there a better way?

A.Many air conditioning systems cannot recover during the summer if the inside temperature is allowed to rise too much. We recommend allowing the overnight temperatures to rise 5 to 10 degrees. This can be accomplished best with programmable thermostats but can also be done manually, if necessary. Remember however, that your air conditioning will need a “head start” in the morning to cool the building down that extra ten degrees.

If you have a question for Heath Morgan, call him at (817) 277-4493 or (972) 254-7888 or e-mail him at heath.morgan@tomsmechanical.com.