A reader on the other side of the equator writes: It’s the middle of summer here, and the weather outside is sweltering. This wouldn’t usually be a problem, except that I am having major air conditioning problems in the office. We occupy a smaller office building where the air conditioning and heating is controlled by three panels located around the office where you can set the temperature. My problem is that, for whatever reason, my office is always a few degrees hotter than everyone else’s, including the boss’. The standard setting it is on now means that I have a constant sheen of sweat over me while at work and I’m finding it incredibly difficult to concentrate. My argument is that surely it is better for them to be cold, and bring a cardigan or jumper to work, than for me to be sweating. It’s getting to the point where it is affecting my performance. How do I raise this with my boss? My off-hand remarks to the Office Manager and other people have not been listened to, and are usually countered with a “Really?

A friend suggested I bring a fan into my office, but I thought that might be too passive-aggressive. I’m the most junior lawyer at my office, and I’ve been here 3 years. Given how contentious temperature control issues can be, I’m kind of amazed that this the first question I’ve received about them in nearly five years of writing this blog.ac units for data centersI hate, hate, hate being hot, and I agree that it’s easier to warm up when you’re cold than to cool down when you’re hot. tax credit for new hvac unitHowever, the majority usually rules on these kinds of issues — and especially so when you have a solution that you haven’t tried yet:  Bring in a fan, the most high-powered one you can find. ac outside unit not starting

There’s nothing passive-aggressive or otherwise weird about doing that; If the fan isn’t sufficient and you have a window, try a window-mounted air-conditioning unit. That was the only thing that saved me from heatstroke at my last job. But if that doesn’t solve the problem and your colleagues aren’t willing to compromise, you need to do more than “off-handed remarks.” You need to actually have a serious conversation with whoever controls the temperature and explain that it’s affecting your ability to focus.One more thought: Can you ask about switching offices with someone who tends to be colder and would appreciate the sauna-like environs of your office?Show All ItemsOur master bedroom is always either cold in the winter or hot in the summer. The fact that the builder messed up by installing just one register in the room and the room itself is right above the garage doesn't help either.Using a digital thermometer I was able to determine that the temperature of the air coming in was half thatof the hottest register in the house (obviously this is for the winter case), and the airflow was barely there.

My solution was to install a booster fan.The process was not all that complicated and this job can be accomplished by anyone with some basic electrical skills and some tools you can buy at local dollar store.Was it worth it? The answer is YES. Can it be done better? Yes but not by much. I'm sure some people out there who are familiar with how a furnace works will be able to come up with a better way in regards to how to control the booster fan, like using a pressure switch or choose other outputs on the controller furnace board. In my case, I just went with what worked for me and what I feltwas safe from a functional point of view and liability point of view..Step 1: The fan, the duct and what needs to happenShow All Items« PreviousNext »View All Steps DownloadThere are ways to keep cool without turning on your air conditioner, but when the summer temperatures start busting the 90 (or 100!) degree mark daily, or the humidity makes it feel like you're swimming through a bowl of soup, sometimes air conditioning is a must.

Stay cool and save money with these energy saving tips: 1. Keep the AC Lower at Night: During the night you don't require the same level of conscious cool. Try turning your AC down (so it is running less) during your sleep hours or, if your unit has one, utilize the "sleep mode" which lowers the output on a timer. 2. Use Window or Portable Units: If you aren't into cooling your whole home, try using a portable unit to cool just the area you'll be working in. They use up to 50% less energy than a larger central air unit would to cool off the same space. 3. Close Off Vents: The basement is traditionally the coolest room in the home, so try closing all the vents in the lower portion of your home. The cool air will slink down there naturally and by closing those vents, you're forcing all the air up top first, cooling as it comes down. 4. Service Your Unit: Some basic maintenance might be all your air conditioner needs, but most will greatly benefit from a good hosing out, especially if you're plagued with pesky trees like Cottonwoods that drop seeds which stick to the filters and make the unit work harder!

5. Check Your Ducts: Making sure the areas where your ducts run through parts of your home without air conditioning (like the attic) are properly insulated will keep the air coming in as cool as it can be. Paying for half cool air isn't anyone's idea of money well spent! 6. Rearrange Your Furniture: Furniture that obstructs air conditioning vents means you could be cooling the back of a chair or the bottom side of your sofa and although it might appreciate the thought, we're pretty sure you'd rather have that chill for yourself instead. There are plastic pieces you can buy for your vents to help force air in the right direction, but the easiest way is to just rearrange your furniture, even if only temporarily. 7. Try 78 Degrees: 78 degrees is a good point for an air conditioner to run at its optimal performance level. Think of it as a car on cruise control headed across the flat Midwest prairie. It's not chugging along going uphill, it's just plugging away, steady as she goes.

8. Lighting: Turning lights off can help reduce your heat, but paying attention to how much light you let in from open windows can also play a significant role. Although it might seem neurotic to open and close your windows every day with the changing of the sun, it makes a huge difference in how much heat your a.c. is competing against. 9. Is Anyone Home?: If you can, while you're away turn your AC up to 85 and make sure the windows and drapes are closed. Although it will be hot for a few minutes when you come home, the blinds will help keep the sun out (allowing existing cool to stay that way for as long as possible) and the heat won't be so substantial that your unit will have to work overtime to cool the room back off. 10. Don't Forget The Fan: We rely on air conditioners to keep things cool, but having the help of a few supplemental fans doesn't hurt. Using them to circulate the cool air means you don't need quite as much pumped into the room. They use less energy than your air conditioner unit, so having them around as backup is a great idea.