Majority of Working Adults are Willing to Sacrifice Comfort to Save Energy

Johnson Controls research explores comfort’s impact on workplace productivity and energy conservation

MILWAUKEE - (October 29, 2009) – Business owners should think twice before tweaking workplace temperature settings this fall. According to a new survey of office workers, sixty-nine percent said they would be willing to sacrifice their preferred ideal temperature in the office to help their company conserve energy. However the survey also found that nearly four in five participants (78 percent) say they are less productive at work when they are too hot or too cold.

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader in providing energy efficiency solutions, commissioned a survey of nearly 800 American adults who work in an office setting. The good news: The findings indicate that many workers think their employers could be doing more to be energy efficient. The challenge: Business owners must avoid a negative impact on office productivity and the possibility that workers may take action to circumvent their discomfort, including the use of portable heaters or fans, if temperatures are not ideal.

“Employers may be tempted to turn down the thermostats this fall, but this quick fix could lead to hidden costs,” said Clay Nesler, vice president of Global Energy and Sustainability, Johnson Controls. “Energy efficient systems and equipment is the win-win alternative, allowing businesses to save energy and money without sacrificing workplace productivity.”

Productivity Suffers and Energy Costs May Rise When Workplace Temperature is Not Ideal

Almost all participants said their office has been too hot or too cold at some point (98 percent) and when that occurs, most (78 percent) said they are less productive. Not only does workplace productivity suffer, individual actions – such as bringing a heating or cooling device into the office – result in increased energy use.

• Forty-nine percent of office workers have used a fan when it was too hot in their office, and 28 percent used a space heater when it was too cold.
• Nearly one-third (30 percent) have left their office building to take a walk outside when it was too hot or too cold in their work space.
• Forty-one percent have informed their office manager or custodian of their discomfort.
• Approximately seven in ten (69 percent) have adjusted their clothing, such as adding a sweater if was too cold or removing a layer if it was too hot.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] American workers expect their employers to take action. The results indicate that forty-five percent think their employer is not doing enough to make their office environments energy efficient.

About the Study
Harris Interactive® fielded the study on behalf of Johnson Controls from April 8 – April 10, 2009 via its QuickQuerySM online omnibus service, interviewing a nationwide sample of 2,160 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older, of whom 784 are employed full time/part time and work in an office setting. Data were weighted using propensity score weighting to be representative of the total U.S. adult population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and propensity to be online. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey results and a full methodology statement, please contact Sarah McGath at smcgath@branigan.biz.

About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

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