You need to be able to strike a balance between energy efficiency and catering to the comfort of your employees. Afterall, you still have a duty to ensure the workplace maintains a suitable temperature. However, with a few simple, non-intrusive changes to how your workplace operates, you will be able to create a more energy efficient environment without sacrificing the comfort of your workforce. Here are just a few things to consider for your business:

Switch Off Electronics

This may seem like an obvious point, but you would be surprised at just how much electricity is wasted by computers, monitors and printers alike when they are left idle. Computers and laptops in stand by mode may use less power, but they’re still consuming about a third of the power of one that’s in use. Make sure your employees switch off their computers and/or laptops in the evening before they leave. Consider making it someone’s job to ensure everything is switched off before they leave the office. If you have everything plugged into power strips, then these can be switched off at the mains as the last job to do before you lock up for the night.

Draught Excluders

Heating a workplace can be a costly job, especially if you have a large building that requires various heaters throughout the space. An awful lot of heat is lost under the gaps in doors, so make sure you eliminate the possibility of losing all of that heat by installing draught excluders.

Natural Light

To help save on electricity usage, try to make the most out of the available natural light. This might be trickier during the winter months with the sun setting much earlier in the evening, but you should try to let as much natural light in as possible. If you have anything blocking the windows, such as plants or large pieces of equipment, consider moving things around so the window is completely clear, allowing as much natural light as possible to spill into the building.

Double Glazing

If possible, you should consider getting all of the windows in your business fitted with double glazing. Double glazing is an incredibly efficient way of retaining heat in a room by reducing the amount that can escape outside. With double glazed windows, you should be able to turn the heating down by a couple of degrees in the building, saving more energy and knocking some pounds off of the heating bill.

Motion Detector Lights

Let’s face it, when you work in a building full of so many people, not everyone is going to be great at remembering to switch the lights off when they leave a room. Whilst everyone remembering to do this would be ideal, it’s just not realistic. By investing in motion detector lights for certain rooms like toilets and corridors, you can be assured that the lights will always be switched off when no one is occupying these spaces.

Encourage Staff Involvement

Trying to be more energy efficient shouldn’t be a one-person endeavour, it will work the most effectively if everyone gets involved. Send around a staff-wide newsletter or hold a meeting about the new energy-saving measures that are being put in place to get everyone on board with the changes; encourage everyone to offer suggestions for how things could be improved further. By making it part of the work environment and culture of your business, employees will be more likely to get involved and become active in saving energy.

Programmable Thermostats

Heating and air conditioning units should be used efficiently throughout the year to save energy. The easiest way to do this is by programming them to turn on only when needed and keep them off at times when the building is not going to be occupied. Most modern units will be programmable in this way, so when you get them installed make sure you consult the manual and learn how you can programme them to work in the most energy-efficient way possible.

At Air Conditioning World, we provide both heating and air conditioning units. Whether your premises needs commercial heating systems, an under ceiling air conditioner or a ceiling cassette air conditioner, we are certain to have a unit available to suit your needs.

You may think that installing a commercial heating system into your building, factory or warehouse is suitably sufficient, but is that really the case? Whilst commercial heating systems are a great way to ensure stable and consistent temperatures in a building, there are still steps that should be taken to ensure you get the most from your heating system. Everything from the size of the building, the type of building and the number of employees can have an effect on how efficiently your heaters are being used.

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to your commercial heating to ensure you get the most out of it:

Consistency

It’s important to keep a workplace at a consistent temperature. Early mornings can be incredibly cold in winter, and some employees may be tempted to crank the heating up to full blast, if they become impatient with how chilly the office is in the morning. The problem is, it will soon become way too hot and then air conditioning will be put on to counteract this, which is a terrible waste of energy. Instead, keep your heaters at a consistent, sufficient temperature, timed to come on at appropriate times, so that the workplace is always at a comfortable temperature for employees.

Divide

If your building consists of many rooms and floors, you will most likely opt for multiple heating systems to cover all of the areas. However, it’s worth remembering that not every single room in a building will be used that often. For areas that aren’t as frequently occupied, it’s a good idea to turn off the heating to save on energy and money. There really isn’t any point in heating rooms that aren’t in use. If you know when certain areas are likely to become occupied, you can set up times for the different heaters to come on, while keeping them off when they’re not in use.

Insulation

Did you know that up to 40% of heat can be lost through doors and windows? To help keep your building warm and get the most from your heaters, invest in double glazing for all windows and ensure there are no gaps which the heat can escape through. It’s tempting to turn the heat up when you feel a draught, but a much more efficient (and cheaper) option is to get some draught excluders for the doors to prevent the chill from getting in.

Placement

Heating a large open space such as a warehouse can be a challenge, so it may be worth breaking it up into smaller areas with partitions. This can help to deflect the heat back into each section, rather than allowing it to dissipate into the space. Multiple heaters can be helpful in this kind of environment, programmed to lower temperatures so they work together to create a sufficiently warm environment, rather than trying to heat the entire space from one heater at full blast.

New Heater

If your commercial heating system has seen better days, it might be time for a replacement. At Air Conditioning World, we provide commercial heating systems and pumps designed to produce clean and safe heating for your commercial property. For an incredibly efficient and economical heating system, browse our range online today.

Remember, winter has only just begun. There’s at least another three months’ worth, with January and February being traditionally the coldest. As a business owner, you have a responsibility to keep your workspace at a comfortable temperature for your employees, while providing them with clean air.

 If your system needs maintenance or replacing, you’ll want to take care of that as soon as possible to avoid being stuck without a heating during the coldest months which are right around the corner. So, with that in mind, here are five signs that indicate it might be time for a new heating system.

Energy Costs are Rising

If your utility bills suddenly start increasing or are more than they were this time last year, that’s a sure sign that your heating system is running inefficiently. If this is a chronic occurrence, chances are your commercial heating requires maintenance or may even need to be replaced with a newer, more efficient system. In addition to replacing old office or manufacturing equipment with energy-efficient models as needed, a new heating system can save you a significant amount of money on energy costs during the colder months.

Parts are Broken or Malfunctioning

If you spot excessive moisture on walls and windows, or rust on pipes and appliances, it’s probably the fault of your heating system. If the problem is serious enough, your system will likely need to be replaced.

If your system is noisy or hums frequently, this could be a sign it’s in need of repair or replacement. A properly functioning heating system should not hum, buzz or rattle. Additionally, if you have to make frequent repairs to your heating system, the cost of new one could outweigh the cost of these consistent, ever-increasingly expensive repairs.

Heating Has Become Uneven

If your commercial space is experiencing unexplained swings in temperature, or if different parts of the space have different temperature complaints, your heating system isn’t working correctly. If the usual maintenance and service isn’t fixing the issue, the equipment may be beyond repair and need replacement.

Increased Illness and Sick Days

If you’ve noticed employees are getting sick more often, your heating system could be to blame. Dry air from a lack of humidity can be caused by a faulty heating system, while an inability to properly distribute heat can lead to more colds and sick days. Excessively dry air can also impact the plants in your workspace, while exacerbating allergy symptoms. If heater filters aren’t regularly cleaned or replaced, there could even be more serious issues to deal with.

Unusual Noises or Odours

There’s definitely something wrong if your heating system is making grinding or squealing noises. Address these noises immediately as this is a sign that equipment is failing and could soon break down. Depending on the source of the issue, typical maintenance may not be enough to fix the problem.

In addition to noises, unusual odours coming from your heating system are a serious sign of trouble and should not be ignored. In this situation, indoor air quality may be compromised, putting everyone in the building at risk of airborne disease. Unusual odours indicate at least a partial system failure and will almost certainly require equipment replacement.

If your commercial heating system is in need of replacement, get in touch with us today. At Air Conditioning World, we have a wide range of commercial heating systems that are ideal for variety of workspaces. Contact us for more information on the right one for your business.

But this is not always the case. In many workplaces, business owners will be neglecting the needs and comfort of their staff to save on the heating bill. Not only does this have a negative impact on the workforce, but it also affects the output of work produced, effectively losing the employer money further down the line.

You should be aware of your rights as an employee when it comes to heating in the workplace. Employers have an obligation to keep their working environment at an adequate temperature for their workers. So, let’s look at what the legal rights are surrounding heating in the workplace.

How Cold Can It Legally Be at Work?

This is a question that does not have a straightforward answer. Technically speaking, there is no defined UK law specifying a temperature that all workplaces must adhere to. Temperatures in indoor workplaces are covered by the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992 which, rather than stating a defined rule for temperature, stipulates that employers are legally obligated to provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace.

‘Reasonable’ is very much subjective. However, the Approved Code of Practice suggests that the minimum workplace temperature should be at least 16 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for a workplace such as an office environment. The temperature is lowered to 13 degrees Celsius if the work involves physical effort, such as working in a warehouse.

Even though the minimum temperature in an indoor workplace is not strictly defined by UK law, employers should take appropriate measures to ensure their workers are comfortable and that their place of work is kept to a reasonable temperature. They have a duty to make a suitable assessment of risks to the health and safety of their workers and to act when necessary.

Temperature Considerations

Working in conditions that are too cold can have a negative impact on worker performance. Trying to work in a cold environment can be strenuous on the body and effect a person’s ability to concentrate. So, it is very much in an employer’s best interest to keep their workplace suitably warm to ensure they get the most out of their workers.

With an effective heating system in place, an optimal temperature can be set and easily maintained throughout the workplace. This is especially important, as being too warm can also affect productivity in a negative way. Too much heat can lead to stress, and this is especially dangerous for workers in warehouses, wearing heavy protective equipment. Employer’s should be aware of both extreme sides of temperature and take steps to act in their workers’ best interests.

At Air Conditioning World, we provide commercial heating systems and pumps in an extensive array of different systems designed to produce clean and safe heating for your commercial property. Contact us today to find out more about our heating systems.

No doubt the hottest place in your home this summer has been the conservatory; due to their glass walls, a conservatory can get incredibly hot when the sun is shining. However, once winter comes around the opposite becomes true, and conservatories turn into one of the colder rooms in a home due to their poor insulation.

So, whilst your conservatory will be the place to be to kick back and relax as this summer shifts into autumn, as winter approaches it will likely turn into a cold, sad, abandoned place until summer rolls around again. However, we’ve compiled some tips to make sure this is not the case. By keeping your conservatory warm during those colder months, you can get the most use out of it all year round.

Insulate the Ceiling

One way to increase the temperature inside your conservatory is to insulate the ceiling. Insulating a surface drastically reduces the amount of heat that can pass through, and because heat rises, insulating the ceiling can do a lot to prevent heat from being lost. Although this comes with the stipulation that you will lose some of the natural light that can enter the conservatory, light will still come through the walls, and by combating the cold in this way you can create a more comfortable environment.

This can be done in different ways. You could get quilted foil insulation that is added between the battens; this is a cheap and quick process that won’t cause too much disruption. You could also have a perimeter ceiling fitted or even an entire roof installed. This might seem like it defeats the purpose of owning a conservatory, but by getting a roof fitted with glass panels you can still have the best of both worlds. Putting measures in places to limit heat loss will make all the difference in those colder months.

Minimise Draughts

Draughts are a nuisance in any room of the house, but particularly when you’re trying to relax in your conservatory. These occur whenever there are unwanted gaps or openings in a wall that are not properly sealed. Check for draughts around windows, doors and electrical sockets – use the back of your hand to check, as this part is more sensitive to temperature and air movement.

Make sure all the conservatory doors and windows have been draught-proofed. This can be done with self-adhesive foam strips to seal gaps around the frames of windows. Doors can be fitted with brush strips or a draught excluder. These steps should help to keep the chill out of your conservatory.

Blinds, Curtains and Throws

Curtains and blinds are not just useful for keeping the sun out on hot days, they can also have the opposite benefit of keeping heat in; having closed blinds and curtains can help to keep heat from escaping through the glazing.

You could also invest in some comfy throws for any sofas and chairs in the conservatory. Warm coverings will help take the cold edge off these pieces of furniture and are especially useful if you have leather chairs and sofas which can get particularly chilly.

Install a Heater

Probably the most sure-fire way to keep nice and toasty in a chilly conservatory is by installing a heater. Connecting your conservatory to your central heating system can come with a world of issues, from being time-consuming and expensive to dealing with planning permission. So, opting for a separate heater in your conservatory is far more convenient, not to mention cost-effective – especially since you can turn it on when and if you need it.