4 Ways to Improve Your Office Interior to Increase Your Team’s Work Ethic

Many companies are refurbishing their offices to create personal and creative work environments; choosing to reflect the business through their interior and meet changing employee needs. Some reports suggest that overhauling your office environment could be just the catalyst you need to boost your team’s mood and work ethic. But why would office décor affect productivity, here’s 4 reasons:

1.   Inspiration

Typical office designs can be monotone and tasteless -uninspired staff generally display a lack of creativity and a decrease in productivity. However, individuality is extremely appealing and alluring; an employee that wants to come to work is an employee who is happy to work, inspiring them to produce fresh ideas for the company.

2.   Ergonomics

More than just being a health and safety requirement for offices to review employee’s desking and chair set up, ergonomic furniture is becoming increasingly popular and trendy in the workplace. Ergonomic furniture has been proven to reduce back pain, improve posture and prevent many health issues, including high blood pressure.With all that in mind, ergonomic furniture is also being designed according to current fashions and trends, another reason why it is favoured in new office designs.

3.   Layout

Certain office layouts create distractions for employees while others disrupt communication. Design your office to be suitable for everyone within your business; if your company deals with many different roles, consider separating offices for each role, therefore other employees won’t be distracted with problems that don’t relate to them. Similarly, if your company requires all your employees to work together, you may be inclined towards an open plan office, enabling the team to discuss openly and face-to-face.

4.   Stress Relief

Design your office interior to have an impact on individual comfort at work, if your team are happy within their work environment, they’re more likely to be productive. Employees that feel considerably on edge are distracted, so choose to install an environment where they feel safe and considered, for example; a relaxation room to escape the stress and pressures within work, unique décor to inspire and relate with staff or consider slides and pool tables to alleviate some of the tension.

We can all get bogged down with work and creative office design is a factor which may prevent this from affecting employees work ethic – by providing a space that enables staff to work effectively and installing areas where they can escape work on their breaks, businesses prove that they care about their team’s health both mentally and physically, and want to equip them with the tools to be their absolute best at work.

How a Faulty Heating System Can Affect Your Home and Roof

Everyone wants to keep themselves warm during the cold season. This has lead to an increase in the number of homeowners who install a heating system in their home. It is important to have your home heating system regularly checked for maintenance. Having a faulty heating system might cause problems that might outweigh its benefits. Read on below.

A faulty heating system causes great discomfort to the occupants of your home.

One of the most telltale signs of a faulty heating system is that the rooms in the house greatly vary in temperature. The temperature shift is caused by the thermostat switching the HVAC system on and off even if it’s not necessary to do so. The rooms that are furthest from the central heating unit will not get enough heat in order to reach the desired temperature.

A faulty heating system can cause health concerns.

A faulty heating system can cause serious health concerns, especially if you use a gas heater. This may lead to production of carbon monoxide, a deadly gas. Inhaling high levels of this deadly gas can make you pass out or even die. What makes things worse is that this gas is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It may be too late before you realize that you are in danger.

In addition, a faulty heating system can cause inconsistent temperatures in each room. Shifting between hot and cold environments can increase blood pressure.

A faulty heating system can lead to higher utility bills.

Your utility bills will always be affected no matter what type of heating system you use, whether it be an electric heat pump or gas heater. An electric-powered blower is still needed to circulate the hot air through the ductwork of your home. A defective heating system will no longer consume energy efficiently. This will be evident in the increase of your utility bills.

A faulty heating system can damage your roof.

Heating systems that are installed in your roof like rooftop solar water heater experience galvanic corrosion. This is the result of two different metals that come into contact with each other. This leads to formation of rust in the steel or iron component of the heating system. The damage might extend to your roof and can cause leakage. This will increase your expenses because you will need to resolve two issues instead of focusing on one.

It is highly recommended to consult an expert once you feel that you are experiencing problems with your heating system. Better yet, have your heating system regularly checked to avoid them. A heating or air conditioner company can certainly help with all your maintenance needs.

Written by the staff of Controlled Aire Heating and Cooling in Moberly, MO.

What’s with High-End Air Conditioners?

Connectivity. Isn’t this the prevailing trend when it comes to high-end devices, appliances, and electronic gadgets? The growing family of the internet of things seems to gain more and more popularity these days. Request-granting speakers that are connected to your mobile device so you can make and pick up calls. Refrigerators that send a list of grocery items to mobile phones. Home locks and alarms that you can control remotely through your phone. These are only a few of connected devices that can be dubbed as “high-end” in this era.

Do air conditioners have their place in all these? Today, we’re going to discuss some features of the most advanced air conditioners in the market and how they are much better than the previous models. We’re sure you’ll be on the edge of your seats upon hearing these features.

Mobile phone-controlled

Tired of having to get up from the bed in the middle of your sleep when you feel that the room is too cold? Worry no more, guys and girls! It’s 2017 and advanced technology now allows us to control our air conditioning units using our mobile phones. (Photo from Dribble)

Frigidaire’s Cool Connect Smart Window Air Conditioner w/ Wifi Control is one such appliance. You just need to download the phone application designed to control it and you can set the thermostat, mode, fan direction, and virtually anything about how your A/C works with just a swipe on your phone!

 

Many speed modes

Slow, medium, fast. These three have always been the only modes to choose from when your air conditioning unit functions. But with the advancements in technology and appliance manufacturing, there are cooling units with as many as seven speed modes that you can choose from. This way, you won’t be locked with only a few options. 

Dehumidifier and Money-saver Options

Cooling down your room may not be the only thing you need in a hot and humid country like Singapore. Thus, advanced air conditioning systems these days include dehumidifying as one of their functions.

High-end cooling units such as Friedrich CP05G10A Chill Series Window-Mounted Room Air Conditioner now also serve as dehumidifiers. Just turn this mode on while your A/C is running and you’re sure to have a reliable appliance that is effective in removing the humid air inside your home.

This same air conditioner also has a money-saver option. We all know that aside from the upfront cost of purchasing your cooling appliance, you also need to pay for the monthly usage of your air conditioner. It’s better if you have an A/C that has a money-saver mode. Under this mode, the unit itself will calculate the coolness needed by your room and use just enough electricity to meet it.

With all these brand new features of the latest cooling units in the market, you now have the idea that even air conditioners will always evolve to make our lives more comfortable and convenient. After purchasing one, make sure to get the help of professional contractors who offer aircon service Singapore 24 hours a day to maintain your cooling appliance and keep it working efficiently even after years of use.

 

Three Ways to Add More Lighting Outside

Whether you're a party animal who loves entertaining friends, or you prefer being alone with your family and some good books, you'll still want to add some new and fresh lighting outside. With the right lights, you'll have all the brightness that you need to see your kids racing across the yard as they play and all the words on your book pages. You can also look for lighting ideas that make entertaining easier. Landscape lighting Overland Park options will work in homes and yards in this city and in others.

image:lights.rensenhouseoflights.com/landing.asp#landscape-lighting

Highlight Specific Features

Landscape lighting is a great choice for those who want to highlight specific features in their yards. When you spend months adding just the right amount of water and plant food to a flower bed to watch flowers grow from the seeds that you planted, you'll want to make that area the focal point of your yard. Landscape lighting options include spot lights that you place right in front of the bed. The light shines up and towards the flower bed, which makes it nearly impossible for guests to stop by without seeing your flowers.

Hang a Chandelier

If you think that chandeliers are only for your dining room and other indoor spaces, think again. These light fixtures now come in designs perfect for the outside. Those that use plastic globes rather than glass will stand up better to the weather conditions outside and won't break or shatter. You can hang one right from the center of the roof on your porch to have light when entertaining friends or kicking back with a book. Some models even function as both chandeliers and ceiling fans. You can use an included remote control to adjust the lighting and blade speed.

Install Sconces

Sconces are another option for your home that can create an intimate or romantic vibe as well as a festive atmosphere during a party. These fixtures come in different designs that include square and round shapes. You can hard wire the lights into your home's electrical system and control the lights with a switch inside your home, but some work on batteries that you can replace as needed. Solar lights recharge when exposed to the sunlight too. Using any of these lighting ideas will transform your home and make your outdoor space perfect for all of your family and friends.