Editor's note

If you’re reading this article in your office, chances are the air conditioning is set to around 22°C. Setting the temperature to 25°C could cut your office’s daily air-conditioning energy consumption by 18%, drive down electricity bills and help save the planet.

But would it be too hot to think? Not according to a recent study, which found that office workers’ “cognitive load” - the total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory - was not significantly affected by a little temperature boost.

Sunanda Creagh

Head of Digital Storytelling

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The study showed that boosting the office temperature a little can save energy and keep office workers comfortable without sacrificing their cognitive performance. Mami Kempe / The Conversation

Chill out. A slightly warmer office won't make it too hot to think

Dian Tjondronegoro, Southern Cross University; Christhina Candido, University of Sydney; Fan Zhang, Griffith University; Shamila Haddad, University of Sydney

Our study found that office workers performed just the same, whether the air conditioning was set at 22°C or 25°C. But making that tweak can cut energy use by 18%.

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