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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

people that demand the ac must be on 18 on cloudy not warm days

121 replies

marieinlondon · 18/07/2015 16:39

I only work part time in an office. The work is OK, but I just can't stand the ac. I'm the only slim one in the room and throughout the summer I have to wear a jumper and scarf as its freezing as my larger colleagues all like it turned right down to 18 even on days when there is a cool breeze outside all the windows are shut and we just have stale cold dry air. Does anyone else have this problem?

OP posts:
Monstersincq · 18/07/2015 16:44

I hate people putting the air con on at any time unless it's roasting. It seems to be the norm now to never just be in the natural atmosphere. It has to be AC or central heating at all times. You are about to get flamed for mentioning the size of your colleagues though. Why did you?

steff13 · 18/07/2015 16:45

I'm "larger," but I have a thyroid problem that frequently makes me cold. I have to keep a sweater and fingerless gloves in my office because other people like it colder than I do. I really don't find it to be that big of a deal. When you're in an office environment like that majority rules. If you're the only one who's bothered, you have to make the adjustment. What's the alternative, you turn it to a temperature you like, and they strip down until they're comfortable? Do you want to work with a bunch of people in their underwear?

Dowser · 18/07/2015 16:47

I hate this obsession with ac that we have acquired in the uk because so very often it is just not necessary.

Yesterday it was one of those sunny but cool windy days and was in a huge Primark and the air con coming down was icy like you'd climbed into a fridge.

It was only about 16 - 17 degrees outside .

The store was practically deserted. I wonder why.

I would feel very uncomfortable in your office. There is a time and a place for air con but I don't think a temp of 18 degrees is it. I'd say about 25 if it's an office environment where people are mainly sedentary. If its got full on sun coming in they maybe a bit lower than that.

Pagwatch · 18/07/2015 16:47

Oh I'm disappointed .
I thought you might work with giants.

Original poster
marieinlondon · 18/07/2015 16:47

Sorry I don't mean it in a derogatory way, just that I'm slim and they are not so for me I don't get as hot and freeze a lot quicker.

I agree with what you are saying, it seams to be climate control on every single day rather than just adjusting to the natural temperature. It screws up my body I think

OP posts:
formerbabe · 18/07/2015 16:48

I love air con and love being cool...yabvu!

Original poster
marieinlondon · 18/07/2015 16:49

Steff some of the people in my room wear a jumper and complain about it being too hot so demand the ac must be put on. People seem not to dress for althe seasons!

OP posts:
dontbemoredog · 18/07/2015 16:50

Yes the overuse of AC does my head in. It seems that AC is switched on nonstop from April to November regardless of whether it's a cold 6c morning or 30c (which happens about 2 or 3 days a year). I do wonder how these people who can't cope with an English summer (+most of Spring & Autumn) unless they're in an enclosed room full of artificially processed air managed to evolve.

steff13 · 18/07/2015 16:52

Steff some of the people in my room wear a jumper and complain about it being too hot so demand the ac must be put on.

Well, that's just silly. They deserve to be too hot. It's always a good idea to dress in layers for work. You never know what the situation might be. I'm in the US, and I've never worked in a building where the windows opened, so usually the temperature is set by the building manager, and either the heat or A/C comes on accordingly. At my current office, the temperature is 72F (22C).

Original poster
marieinlondon · 18/07/2015 16:56

To be honest steff in big offices where its centrally controlled and windows dont open its fine. It working in a small place where people control the ac where its bad. Some people think that by turning it down to 14 it cools the room quicker.

Other people switch it on in the morning when the room is cool, and it kicks out hot air for an hour or so then starts cooling. Whereas it could of just stayed off!

OP posts:
PtolemysNeedle · 18/07/2015 17:03

YANBU. There are about four days a year when ac is useful in England, the rest of the time there is just no need for it.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/07/2015 17:06

My ILs like to walk around in shorts in the winter with the heat blasting and wear sweaters inside in the Summer with the a/c on. Idiots.

I quite like it cool but would prefer a fan and an open window to a/c.

Happfeet2911 · 18/07/2015 17:14

YANBU, I hate air conditioning, it's not needed in this country. If we had really hot summers it might be ok sometimes but we don't, it's only the odd day or two. I would hate to work anywhere that was effectively sealed as the windows don't open. I'm also convinced it just recirculates germs, if one person has a cold, soon everybody gets it.

PurpleSwift · 18/07/2015 17:17

I naturally prefer being cool anyway. This wouldn't bother me at all.

Original poster
marieinlondon · 18/07/2015 17:21

Glad I'm not alone in hating it!

Purple its not just about temperature, its about stale dry smelly air circulated all day. It plays havoc on my sensitive skin.

OP posts:
FurtherSupport · 18/07/2015 17:22

Oh this is always a bone of contention in our office. Why is always the same people who need the aircon full blast in summer, who want the heating right up in winter?

I only ever take a jumper to work in summer - really don't need one in winter Confused

ilovesooty · 18/07/2015 17:24

Oh well. At least you only work part time.

If you're in a minority in your office regarding the a/c I imagine you and your sensitive skin will have to put up with it

Original poster
marieinlondon · 18/07/2015 17:29

Its exactly like that in my office further! It just happens to be the people that love it on are to moaning childish ones and although my manager is a nice guy, he's not a good manager. One of the people in my office has had a formal warning for shouting, swearing and being aggressive towards me for trying to reach a compromise between the window open and evil ac, obviously he wanted it all his way and dosent know what compromise means.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2015 17:36

Obviously people should dress appropriately, but if everyone is dressed appropriately, then it is a lot easier for someone who is chilly to add an extra layer than for someone who is wearing the minimum appropriate for the workplace to cool off.

It is why I prefer cooler weather, because there is only so much one can do to cool down, whereas putting on an extra layer or two is not hard.

winterinmadeira · 18/07/2015 17:41

Yanbu. I spent the last 2 days in offices where the air con was arctic freezing! I was delivering a workshop at an event on Thursday and it was so cold 12/13 participants were shivering. I had to go And ask for it to be switched off. We just don't adapt to the environment we have in this country.

SenecaFalls · 18/07/2015 17:53

I'm in the US, too and like Steff have never worked in an office where the windows are allowed to be open. But I'm also in Florida so it's AC most of the year. As to stale air, a properly designed and operating AC system will not have stale air.

Stripyhoglets · 18/07/2015 17:56

Yes. I hate it. I switch it off tbh. Although it's not just me that freezes - so when enough people are shivering - off it goes!

SonceyD0g · 18/07/2015 18:00

Air con is for when the temp reaches 30 degrees centigrade and not before!
I'm sick to death of having to put my coat on to go in the supermarket! Bet it's putting the price of the food up plus its wasting energy

SnowBells · 18/07/2015 18:01

Well, I'm sorry - I don't agree with you. 18-21 degrees is actually the recommended temperature. If you freeze put a cardigan on, for heaven's sake.

I have never been one to like the heat. I don't do many beach holidays, for example - would much rather head for snow. I hate it if people switch off the AC just because it's summer and they want it warm. It might be one thing sitting by the pool, baking in the sun... quite another baking in the office, sitting in front of your PC.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2015 18:05

Seriously - what do you want the hot people to do? If they're wearing the minimum appropriate, do you want them to take more clothes off?

How do you suggest they get cool enough to be comfortable - or doesn't that matter? And why should people who have no practical, acceptable option to cool down have to stay hot and uncomfortable because someone else doesn't want to put on another layer?