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VyraNews #20: Sustainable Strategies for Cooling Your Office.
Vyra Newsletter, Luke Fagan, Vyra Learning Director & Gina Ellis
May 09, 2024
Hey there, EcoChampions! 🌎
It’s official: April was the hottest month on record and the eleventh consecutive month of record heat.
It was also 1.58C warmer than the estimated average for pre-industrial levels, meaning we’ve already crossed the ideal 2025 level outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Like the planet, you might already be feeling the heat in your workplace.
This week in VyraNews, we’ll discuss the necessary procedures to help you cool down your office and keep your team happy as the warm summer months approach.
But first, let’s look at the UK’s heat patterns in recent years.
In 2022, the UK recorded its hottest year in recent history, and then 2023 became the second hottest year in history. Noticing a pattern?
The average global temperature for 2024 is forecasted to be 1.46 °C above the average for the pre-industrial period.
This will make 2024 even warmer than previous years, likely breaking the 2022 record.
What are heat waves, and when are they?
The Met Office classifies heat waves as periods of 72 hours or more when the daily maximum temperature is above the heatwave temperature threshold.
This threshold, which varies by area, is between 25°C and 28°C in the UK.
Historically, July and August tend to experience the warmest temperatures in the UK.
However, the start of June 2023 was the hottest on record and September 2023 saw a significant heat wave, which suggests that warmer temperatures are spreading to other months.
So, what does this have to do with your business?
As global temperatures continue to break records, the implications for your business are profound, particularly in terms of employee well-being and productivity. Elevated workplace temperatures can lead to various health issues, from dizziness and heat cramps to more severe effects like delirium or heat stroke. Such conditions not only diminish employee satisfaction but also significantly reduce productivity.
Older individuals and those with certain medical conditions are more susceptible to the dangers of heat waves. Implementing sustainable cooling strategies that positively impact the planet and community will give you an advantage as the climate crisis worsens. As heating and cooling produce significant emissions, the topic merits prominent attention in any net-zero plan. |  |
5 sustainable precautions you can take to combat heat in the workplace.