Any workplace must maintain a safe working environment. Many employees aren’t aware of what their workplace’s permitted maximum and minimum temperatures are. Workplace discomfort and decreased productivity can both be brought on by extreme low or high temperatures.
Which might make you wonder, what temperature should I leave my heating on overnight in the UK? Well, according to the law, the recommended temperature for an office room is said to be around 20 Celsius to 22 Celsius. There are still a lot of things you need to learn about the heating temperature in the UK so keep on reading this guide.
Lawful Minimum Working Temperatures in the UK
The recommended minimum safe working temperature is 13°C in environments with physical activity. These tasks could include mobile work in a plant or loading as well as stacking in a warehouse.
Sedentary workplaces must maintain a temperature of 16°C at all times. A call center, an office setting, or a public lobby might all qualify as this. This rule also holds for factories that employ light-duty workers.
In the UK, 16°C is considered the minimal office temperature. The minimum temperature is recommended for office work, according to UK occupational health as well as safety law. But you still can’t leave the office if the temperature falls below 16°C.
Even though a legal minimum operating temperature has been established, the legislation is unspecific. Just making certain the temperature is appropriate is all that employers are required to do.
When The Workplace Is Too Cold
It’s best to bring up the matter with management if your office is too cold and request that they take action to improve workplace comfort.
Even though the law does not let employees leave the workplace because it is too cold, employers nevertheless have a responsibility to protect your health as well as welfare while you are at work. Productivity significantly declines in a chilly office. Having a friendly work environment is in the best interests of your employer.
It is also worth mentioning that if pipes are frozen, a workplace might need to close down. According to HSE regulations, workplaces must have access to restrooms, hand washing stations, and water fountains.
Maintaining A Constant Heat Source
Offices can consume a lot of electricity when heating and cooling. As a result, there are substantial savings to be had in this specific area. Office managers and employers can reduce their use of power for heating and cooling by:
• Reduce the temperature inside and maintain it there, ideally between 20 and 23 degrees Celsius.
• Over 40 million A4 sheets of paper can be printed with just one degree Celsius reduction in heating temperatures. The cost of heating can be reduced by up to 10 percent.
• The cost of operating and energy consumption of portable electric heaters are higher. Although they could be less expensive to purchase, they should be avoided wherever feasible because they can drastically raise the cost of electricity.
• Put a framework in place for managing energy. Saving energy can be accomplished by installing a system that can be set to turn on when employees arrive at work and off when they depart.
You can check out the utility bidder, as it will help you save your electricity bill prices and provide a proper guide to help your business run efficiently, better financially, environmentally friendly, and so much more.
What Setting Should You Use For Heating To Save Money?
By setting your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit around the daytime, you can conserve energy as well as keep your expenses in check. According to Energy.gov, lowering your thermostat by 10 degrees to 15 degrees for eight hours a day will result in a 5 percent to 15 percent annual savings in energy consumption.
It is also recommended to lower the thermostat during the nighttime as it will save more power, and money but also keep the room comfortable and cozy. It is also worth mentioning that your heating expenditures can be reduced by up to 1 percent for every degree you lower the thermostat.
Therefore, you can save around $180 on heating each year if you lower the thermostat by around 8 degrees for about 8 hours at night time.
Is Keeping The Heat On Low Level All Day More Affordable?
The notion that it is more cost-effective to put the heating on a low level for the whole day is debunked by specialists at the Energy Saving Trust. They make it very evident that the most effective long-term strategy for saving energy as well as, consequently, money is to only turn on the heater when it is necessary.
You should also know that the Energy Saving Trust advises that throughout the winter, you keep the heater on to some extent, even if you are not around in the office, to stave off frozen pipes, which can result in hundreds of pounds of deterioration.
How Much Money Does Lowering The Thermostat In The UK Save You?
One degree of thermostat reduction, according to energy experts at uSwitch, may result in an annual heating bill savings of £80. Two-thirds of households, or 17.7 million, have their thermostats set to warmer over 20°C, according to research from the comparison website that was first released in November. The temperature is being raised in an additional 2.7 million homes to 25°C or higher. It is best to keep the thermostat as low as possible so you can save more money on your electricity bill.
Electric Radiators And Overnight Usage
You have nothing to worry about if your electric radiator is located on a wall and is not in the way; this is because you can leave it on all night.
Wake up in a warm room thanks to the numerous safety precautions of modern units, as well as your carbon footprint will not increase with energy-saving features like adaptive start as well as 24/7 programming.
Just keep in mind that you should never use portable electric radiators for overnight heating, and also keep in mind that you should always turn your device off when it is not in use.
Conclusion
There you have it, I hope you got the answer to the question of what temperature should I leave my heating on overnight in the UK. Having the proper temperature in the workplace is crucial as it will help employees to work comfortably.
In this guide, I have mentioned the ideal heating temperature should be around 20° Celsius to 22° Celsius, but when it comes to overnight, it is best to keep it lower.
This way, you will be saving a lot of money as well as energy. If you are a business owner, then learning about the UK laws is beneficial, and fulfilling them all will also be profitable for your business development.
