Small tweaks, big results: Proven ways to fight heating bills
February 3, 2010 by Jared BilskiPosted in: Communication tips, Cost cutters, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest news & views, Management issues
In the heart of winter, CFOs may dread looking at damage caused by their company’s heating bill. But even the smallest adjustments to the thermostat can save some major cash.
Consider getting together with your facilities manager to see if any of these steps are feasible:
- Find the right setting. Most offices set the thermostat at around 74 degrees, but is it necessary to go that high? If you spy employees walking around in short sleeves come winter, then it’s definitely worthwhile to try fiddling with the temperature.
- Tread lightly with temperature changes. When it comes to changing the temp in your office, heed the advice of Dr. Leo Marvin in “What about Bob” and take baby steps. Even an adjustment of one degree on the thermostat over an eight-hour period can yield noticeable savings. Plus, lowering the temp slowly will make it complaints from staffers less likely.
- Practice strategic changes. If adjusting the thermostat in the high-traffic areas of your building is out of the question, try dropping the temp more in lesser-used areas — and watch the savings add up.
Does your company have a strategy for lowering the heating bill in the winter? Share it with us in the Comments section.
CFODailyNews.com delivers the latest Finance news once a week to the inboxes of over 200,000 Finance professionals.
Click here to sign up and start your FREE subscription to CFO Daily News!
Tags: CFOs, Dr. Leo Marvin, Facilities manager, Heating bills, High-traffic areas, Small tweaks, Termperature changes, Thermostat
February 10th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I used to work for a lady that was hot natured. She wouldn’t turn the heat up very much at all. We all would sit and work in our coats and gloves. It was a horrible experience.
This even works at home. I have found if I turn down the thermostat just a little, I can put on a sweater and be very cozy. Not to mention sitting with an afghan or blanket over me.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:58 am
I had the opposite problem as Anne. I worked with a woman who – during the summer – ALWAYS wore sleeveless shirts and sundresses. She refused to turn the air conditioner setting lower than 80 degrees and put on a sweater, leaving the rest of us to suffer in the heat.
Another person I worked with was comfortable at 85 degrees – so that is where she wanted the thermostat set – because that is where she had it set at home.
If at all possible, set your home thermostat in sync with the one at work. That way you can become acclimated to the work setting.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
I’ve worked at places that locked the thermostat. At least if the office is on the cooler side, you can put a sweater on. If it’s too warm, you can only take off so many layers. (We don’t want to be reprimanded by the fashion police.)