By Briana Ramos

Ideal office temperature continues to be a never-ending battle in the workplace. Some offices believe they have found a remedy for the problem: fake thermostats. There is an argument to be made that the best way to mollify workers who can’t agree on temperature is to give them the illusion of control. Whatever the case, deception is deception. Sure, decoy thermostats may produce short-term employee satisfaction, but overall, it threatens worker productivity and building sustainability. And it will breed mistrust.

This practice rings back to the ridiculous attempt of cosmetic brushstrokes placed on abandoned tenement window in the 1980s that lined a burned-out area of the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx. Little painted windows, some with painted flowerpots, appeared suddenly in what once was gaping, fire-scarred rectangles. While the effort was meant to boost morale of the residents and tourists alike, it was met with skepticism and mocking ridicule. Members of the community felt insulted and patronized.

The lesson learned here? Deception is hurtful, not helpful. Whether it is a fake curtain painted on a window or a decoy thermostat in the office break room.

The alternative of letting workers have control over the building temperature doesn’t work either. Pursing that practice will run counter to efforts to bring sustainability to commercial real estate, and that goal should be enough of an excuse for companies to prevent the practice.

Prioritizing your building’s sustainability by efficiently using energy, water, and other resources will protect occupant health and improve employee productivity. Not to mention reduce environmental degradation.¹

Smart thermostats are becoming extremely attractive products for building managers and property owners to better optimize their building’s energy consumption. Scientists have found that energy consumption of buildings, office and residential, adds up to about 30 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions.

The occupant behavior within those buildings contributes to 80 percent of the variation in energy consumption. From an environmental and economic standpoint, keeping a space at a fixed temperature seems to be the best option. Giving employees free rein to adjust the temperature to their individual preferences sounds great, but it gets expensive fast.²

Temperature and humidity play an important role in mitigating the risk of the spread of viral disease. CO₂ buildup causes drowsiness and has a well-documented negative effect on productivity. If you want to worry about something in the office environment, worry about something that has a greater impact. And skip the fake thermostats.

Microshare’s Indoor Air Quality Monitoring solution is a complete sensing service for organizations looking to measure and improve the air quality inside their facilities.

¹ “Basic Information, Definition of Green Building.” Archieve.epa.gov, February 20, 2016.

² Emily Gallagher. “Fake Thermostats Can Provide Real Comfort to Office Workers.” Propmodo, Propmodo, Inc., January 5, 2022.