Cozy and Cost-Effective: Heating Right in the Office

Heating right not only saves costs but also keeps you healthy. How does that work? Quite simply!

The Ideal Office Temperature

Experts recommend a room temperature of 19 to 22 degrees Celsius for offices.

When it comes to heating, every degree truly matters. Especially if you're mindful of costs. The rule of thumb is this: for every degree Celsius, you can save 6% on heating costs. Lowering the room temperature, for example, from 24 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees, can reduce heating costs by 20 to 25 percent. Or, to put it another way, in a 200 square meter office, one degree less can lead to an annual saving of 1,500 kilowatt-hours of heating energy. At an energy price of 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, that's around 120 euros. (Costs vary depending on the heating system!)

However, temperatures are usually perceived very differently. The risk of a dispute is allegedly 1:20. So, it's advisable to aim for the middle ground and communicate openly!

Humidity

Humidity should be between 40 to 60 percent.

This value can be precisely measured with a thermo-hygrometer. Moisture is mainly generated by breathing. In an office with four people, around ten liters of water vapor are released per day. The cooler the temperatures, the harder it is for the water vapor to hold in the air. That's why the air condenses more frequently in winter, especially on cold components like windows. This increases the risk of mold. The best way to counter this is with a simple measure: regular ventilation.

Ventilation Is the Key!

In winter, the room should be ventilated at least 2 to 4 times per working day, depending on how many people are working in the space. In winter, brief ventilation is the most effective way to remove moisture from the room. Tilted windows hardly let fresh air into the room, while warm air escapes directly. Additionally, drafts irritate the mucous membranes and can easily lead to a stiff neck. Brief ventilation instead of continuous ventilation also saves costs.

Tip: When briefly ventilating, turn off the heating. If the thermostat valve is surrounded by cold fresh air, the heating produces more heat, which, however, is directly and "unused" drawn outside.

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Additionally...

Close Doors: Keep the doors closed in winter, especially to colder rooms.

Keep Radiators Clear: Warm air must be able to circulate freely. Therefore, ensure that radiators are not covered by curtains, blinds, or furniture. Desks should not be placed directly in front of radiators either.

Avoid "Full Blast": Turning the heating to maximum doesn't mean it heats up faster. To warm an office quickly, thermostats don't need to be set to level 5. Level 3 warms up just as quickly and corresponds to about 20 degrees Celsius in a central heating system. Level 5, on the other hand, corresponds to 28 degrees.

Lower Heating Overnight: If the heating is centrally lowered overnight, the thermostat can remain turned up. If not, you should turn the heating to level 1 or 2 when leaving for the day. This prevents the rooms from cooling down completely and makes them easy to warm up the next morning. But beware, ventilate in the morning first, then turn up the heating!

Regularly Bleed Radiators: If your heating starts making strange noises, it's probably time for bleeding.