In many countries around the world, it is absolutely essential to have Air Conditioning in near enough every building. Working in an office in countries which are incredibly hot would be practically impossible without it. But, is Air Conditioning worth it for UK businesses?
The simple answer would be, yes, you can still benefit from an AC system even in a country that is notoriously colder for most of the year. But let’s talk about why.
The Obvious Benefit - Air Conditioning in the Summer
You probably already recognise the most obvious benefit of air conditioning, which is that it drastically increases how comfortable your workspace is during the summer, particularly in an office environment where people are sat there all day. When it’s hot outside, Air Conditioning will provide several benefits, including a cooler (adjustable) temperature in your workspace and reduced humidity.
Avoiding a hot, sweaty workspace is key for maintaining productivity during the hotter summer months, and the continuity in your workspace all year round, with a consistent temperature means that people will feel comfortable. This is particularly beneficial if you have a smart dress code!
In the UK, this benefit only really applies for about 3 months of the year, where the temperatures reach 20+ degrees, which is perhaps what leads to this larger question of whether it’s worth it. Luckily, there are other benefits, which don’t solely rely on the weather being hot outside for you to justify your investment.
Role Reversal - Air Conditioning as a Heater
As AC systems are less common in the UK, many people don’t have a full understanding of how they work, or the different types of system. The simplified explanation is that they take the heat out of your building’s air and push it outside. However, did you know that this process can be reversed?
That unit which cools your building during the summer is more versatile than you think. When the weather is cold, modern ‘Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning’ units can actually absorb what limited heat there is outside and use this to heat your building. This means that you can get use out of it all year round, and it can serve you in the winter just as it does in summer. And, amazingly, modern systems will actually be even more energy efficient than your boiler.
This means that by utilising both cooling and heating modes, your office can maintain a consistent comfortable temperature all the time, while also bringing all of the additional benefits that aren’t temperature dependent.
Air Conditioning All Year Round
Air Quality
A well-maintained AC system will contribute positively to the quality and purity of the air in your building, filtering out impurities, bacteria and allergens. This benefits those who work for your business in a multitude of ways.
If someone gets sick in your office, there’s always the danger that it will send more people home, too. But, with a good AC system circulating the air around and replacing it with new, fresh air constantly, you can reduce the likelihood of this. Plus, this has an added benefit for anyone in your team who suffers from allergies or respiratory issues like asthma.
Making the office comfortable is one way to keep people productive, but the ultimate key to productivity is for everyone to be healthy, and able to come to work in the first place!
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
Modern AC units are incredibly well optimised and maximise their energy use, meaning their cooling (or heating) output is very efficient for the amount of energy consumed. This naturally reduces your business’ overall energy consumption, which can save you money and contribute to the overall sustainability of your organisation. By doing this, you can cut down your overheads, but also help the environment, which is a fantastic combination!
As your company works towards its Net-Zero goals and reduces carbon emissions, having a comprehensive AC unit can contribute in a very meaningful way. When they’re cooling, their efficiency keeps costs and energy use low, but their impact on sustainability is even more profound when heating. This isn’t because of the amount of energy used, but the type of energy used. Air Conditioning units run on electricity, which is a completely renewable energy source. Boilers predominantly run on gas (or if not, the alternatives are even less environmentally-friendly). This means that you will reduce your energy usage, but also take away the need for so much of that energy to come from burning natural gases.
In the past, it could have been risky to rely on your heating coming from a Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning unit, however, with modern technology, these systems can now deal with extremely low temperatures and replace the requirement for your boiler all year round.
Equipment Cooling
One of the universal benefits of Air Conditioning, no matter what the normal temperature is like in your building, is that it can effectively cool the specific rooms which need it most. For example, if you have a server room or an office full of people working on high-powered PC’s, the British weather outside won’t impact the need for AC! Even if your site doesn’t require full site Air Conditioning, you may benefit from having it in one particular space.
A Bespoke Solution
There are so many different units and options on the market now for Air Conditioning, and it can be daunting to try and work out what your business would require. This makes it difficult to pre-empt the pricing associated with making the choice to install an AC system. But, don’t worry, we can assist you in making this process easy and stress-free.
At Facilities Management Solutions, our objective is to make life simple for our clients. We will come and provide a free, no-obligation site survey and develop an understanding of your business’ exact requirements. This will allow us to propose the best options for you. Our Air Conditioning expertise will allow for you to have a truly bespoke solution, catered to your building.
Having a personalised recommendation quoted for your exact needs allows you to make an informed decision and puts you in the best position to make the correct choice for your organisation.
