The indoor temperature is one of the things that employees never really had to worry about when they head to the office. It can be the height of summer or the monsoon season in the Philippines, but you can always expect your office air conditioner to work from 8 to 5, keeping the indoor temperature stable until it’s time to head home. Now that many people are working from home, the heat has become a major productivity killer. It can be quite a challenge to focus and remain consistently productive in your home office when you’re dealing with high humidity, high heat, and very low wind speeds for months on end.
Before the next summer season rolls in, it’s important to make sure that your home office can stay a comfortable place no matter how hot it may be outside. Here are some of the steps you can take to keep your remote workplace cool:
Invest in a Cooling Unit That’s Matched to Your Home
The easiest way to make sure that your home office will stay cool is to get an air conditioning unit specifically for the said space. This works best if your home or the room you’re working in, at least, can be sealed off to prevent drafts from coming in and cooled air from leaking out. An inverter aircon unit can help you save on electricity costs in the long run, though these models tend to cost a little more than non-inverter types. Make a habit of cleaning the cooling unit now and then to maintain its efficiency.
Many Filipino homes are designed and built with the tropical climate in mind, often featuring large windows and gaps where the air can come in and cool the home throughout the day. If this is the case in your house and it’s not an option to carry out extensive renovations, then you can build your cooling system around your home’s design. You can, for example, invest in electric fans and place them near your windows to promote air exchange between the indoor and outdoor spaces. If you find that the heat pools in your home, it’s also an option to install exhaust fans that can guide heated air outside of the property. On days when the humidity is too high, a dehumidifier can help relieve the sticky feeling, encourage the evaporation of sweat, and provide you with a sense of palpable relief.
Don’t Let Direct Sunlight Into Your Home
Allowing sunlight in your home office can raise the indoor temperature even more. No matter if you have an air conditioning unit or not, it’s a good idea to close your blinds or curtains when the sun’s rays start to get into your space. A regular curtain can help you keep the sunlight out, but you can go the extra mile by choosing to install blackout curtains. Lowering the blinds and curtains in your home office can also reduce the amount of energy that your air conditioning unit will require to lower the temperature indoors.
Move Your Office to the Lowest Floor of Your Home
Remember that heat rises and that heated air can stay on the upper floors of your home if there’s no adequate ventilation in the property. If your office is on the second or third floor of the building, then it’s highly likely that the room will get hotter and that the temperature there will stay high for the rest of the day. It’s a smarter idea, then, to move your office to a lower floor. If possible, choose a space that’s far from places that generate heat and humidity, such as the kitchen, toilet, and bath. While you’re at it, you can also consider installing an exhaust fan on the upper floors of your home so that heated air can escape from the building. Turn the exhaust fan on during the day to promote cross-ventilation. Installing this nifty device in your kitchen can also help prevent the heat from spreading to other rooms in the house.
Refrain From Using Heat-Generating Appliances
When the heat is high, refrain from adding fuel to the metaphorical fire. Try to put off doing strenuous chores or using appliances that generate heat until the temperature is cooler or you feel that the heat will no longer distract you from doing your work. Perhaps you can ask your family members to postpone their ironing until later in the day, for one. Or maybe you can cook your meals the night before and simply reheat the dish when you’re ready to eat—which is a considerably cooler option compared to cooking your meal from scratch right before lunch.
As early as now, take a close look at your home office and identify the ventilation issues and inadequacies there that might worsen the heat problem in your property. Address these as soon as possible so you can simply sit back and relax once the temperature starts rising again.
