Summer is coming, and with it the battle of air conditioning in many companies. A worker shivers under the blast of icy air, and the one a couple of tables away cooks in its own juice. These extremes are not good, but it could be a work environment with temperatures slightly above or below those considered ideal, between 21 and 22 ºC.
This is supported by a research led by Wouter van Marken Lichtenbelt, professor at the University of Maastricht (Holland). The work indicates that daily exposure for hours to environments with temperatures slightly above or below the “thermal comfort zone” could help combat metabolic ailments such as diabetes and obesity. Lichtenbelt argues that this should be taken into account when designing and constructing modern office buildings.
Above 22 ° C or below 21 ° C, metabolism speeds up and the body consumes more energy, which can help combat the extra kilos that office workers tend to accumulate. For those with type 2 diabetes, a little cold can be beneficial, as it influences glucose metabolism. According to the study data, after ten days being cold intermittently at work, the diabetics analyzed showed 40% greater sensitivity to insulin, an effect comparable – according to the authors of the research – to that of drugs .
This study, published in the journal Building Research & Information, recommends creating dynamic work environments in which temperatures are continuously moderately varied to benefit health, and offers a new approach to how we heat or we cool the places where we spend half our lives.
