You don't need to look at the calendar to know that it is summertime! Heat and humidity are in just about every weather forecast and trying to find a way to stay cool is the norm.

But with all the summertime heat and humidity outside, why do I have to be sitting at my cubicle, wearing a zip-up hoodie over a long sleeve shirt and jeans, while continuously turning up the thermostat on my space heater just to keep my feet from freezing?

I love summer! I love sitting in the sun, feeling the warmth and sun on my skin. I love all the fashions that go with summer. Cute summer tops, sundresses, fun-colored capris - and don't even get me started on flip-flops and sandals!

But seriously, why do I buy all these summer fashions (perfect for the office) if I can't even wear them? And the reason I can't wear them - it's simply too cold inside!

On what are usually the hottest days of the year, it's not uncommon to see office workers sitting at their desks with fleece blankets wrapped around their legs, taking the much needed fashion-expert's advice on the importance of wearing clothing in layers, while uttering the phrase, "It's cold enough to hang meat in here"!

But why are offices and stores so over-air conditioned? Why must people endure the summer deep freeze? According to architects, engineers, energy experts and bosses/building owners, one main reason is: it's our culture!

According to Richard de Dear, director of the Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory in Australia,

Being able to make people feel cold in the summer is a sign of power and prestige.

Many bosses also believe that keeping the work-space colder will increase productivity and keep worker's more alert. But, research actually proves just the opposite.

Studies have shown that when the air temperature is set to about 74 to 76 degrees, workers make less mistakes and work more, compared to when the thermostat is set from 68 to 72 degrees.

Research also shows that workers that feel cold can sometimes face psychological problems including not trusting people, being unfriendly and uncommunicative. And all because their body feels "uncomfortable".

Often times, building managers simply don't want to take the time to adjust a thermostat from a winter setting to a summer setting. Obviously people wear lighter clothing or even less clothing to match the outdoor temperatures. So it just makes sense that with more skin exposed, the colder someone will feel.

Think about it: a 68 degree office or business will feel warmer wearing a turtle-neck sweater, long pants and boots in the winter compared to a 68 degree office with a worker wearing a short-sleeved shirt and lighter pants or a cute sundress and sandals (for the ladies).

Other reasons why it seems we are over-air conditioned can be traced back to the architects for placement of thermostats and sensors in buildings (often times placed in locations where there is more heat - such as hallways and higher toward the ceiling), builders for more energy-efficient buildings (which keeps the warm air out and the colder air in) and engineers (for designing air conditioning systems with a higher capacity).

To help solve the problem of being cold in an office or other business during summer, and to keep with today's ever-changing technology, some scientists have even created an app you can download called Comfy.

The Comfy app eventually learns trends of your surroundings and tells the air conditioning system when and where to turn up or turn down the cooler temps. This app is already being used in some corporations, making the people in the buildings happier and even saving money in cooling costs.

But until my building decides to get Comfy, I guess I will just have to continue wearing my hoodies, crouching by my space-heater and warming up the old-fashioned way: going outside to sit in the sun for several minutes. No app needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More From Hot 104.7 - KKLS-FM