Benefits for People

It is a proven fact that people perform less effectively in extreme temperatures.

When temperatures are too high, fatigue and the risk of accidents occurring increases. When temperatures are too low, concentration levels fall.

Unhealthy environments not only affect the way people work but also can be de-motivating in the sense that the staff consider that they are working for a non-caring organisation. In studies the most common complaints about unsatisfactory environments were those connected with high or low temperature variations; stale and stuffy air; dry or humid air.

Absenteeism already costs the United Kingdom economy £12bn every year (Judge 2003) and a significant proportion of this figure is due to poor environmental conditions in buildings which gives rise to building sickness symptoms (www.hse.gov.uk). These lower the immune system and generally make the workplace an unhealthy place to be.

There are three key attributes which effect concentration and productivity in any working or learning environment. Human needs are the foundation for deriving architecture which not only contributes to the well-being of the individuals occupying the building but also makes a significant impact on the business organisation.

By installing air conditioning and creating a comfortable working environment for staff and customers, businesses can gain real tangible benefits on their bottom line. Research shows that when air conditioning is introduced into a work environment, productivity can be increased by 20%, which can be directly attributed to increased concentration, health and general wellbeing of staff.