How excessive heat impacts employee comfort and productivity?
Climate change is transforming the way we live and work. As temperatures continue to rise, maintaining comfortable indoor environments is becoming an increasingly important challenge for building owners, employers, and facility managers. Excessive heat can negatively affect occupant comfort, concentration, and productivity, making summer comfort a key consideration in building performance.
At the same time, relying heavily on-air conditioning increases energy consumption and environmental impact. Building owners therefore face a dual challenge: improving occupant comfort while reducing cooling demand. Discover how a cost-effective solution can help create more comfortable indoor spaces while lowering energy consumption.
Why summer comfort matters
Overheating can significantly impact occupant comfort and well-being.
As indoor temperatures rise above 26°C, people may begin to experience fatigue and discomfort.
Around 30°C, concentration and productivity can decline, while cardiovascular strain may increase as the body works harder to regulate its temperature.
At temperatures above 35°C, the risk of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, becomes significantly higher.
In a workplace environment, excessive heat is not only a source of discomfort but also a factor that can significantly affect productivity. Extreme heat episodes reduce working capacity, cognitive performance, and overall productivity.
According to Bruno Van Der Linden in « Les travailleurs face aux crises climatiques et aux politiques environnementales » :
The productivity in Europe decreases by approximately 1.2% for every degree of temperature increase. Above 35°C, several companies have observed a reduction in individual productivity of up to 8.5%, while the risk of errors and difficulties in completing tasks increases significantly.
The effects of overheating are also widely experienced in buildings. According to a survey published by ING Belgium, nearly 9 out of 10 occupants suffer from excessive heat. More than 8 out of 10 occupants working in buildings constructed after 2011 also reported being negatively affected by high indoor temperatures.
The challenge balancing comfort and sustainability
Summer comfort is therefore becoming a major challenge for building owners and facility managers. Maintaining comfortable indoor conditions is essential not only for occupant well-being but also for preserving productivity, efficiency, and long-term building performance.
Alongside this challenge comes another important question: how can building owners provide a comfortable indoor environment while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact?
For many, air conditioning is the first solution that comes to mind when tackling overheating. While highly effective, it is also energy intensive. In 2026, air conditioning accounts for more than 5% of CO₂ emissions from the building sector and represents around 10% of global electricity consumption.
In addition, the refrigerant gases used in air-conditioning systems have a significant environmental impact. Their global warming potential can be between 1,300 and 3,260 times greater than that of CO₂. On their own, these gases could contribute an additional 0.3°C to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100.
As a result, reducing overheating at its source is becoming an increasingly attractive approach. Building renovation solutions, such as Solar Gard solar control window films, can help address this challenge.
Solar Gard Window Films: a cost-effective renovative solution
Upgrading glazing performance does not always require a complete window replacement. Window films offer a practical and cost-effective way to enhance existing glass, delivering modern performance without the expense and disruption of major renovation work.
Solar Gard Saint-Gobain architectural window films are designed to improve building performance quickly and efficiently. Installed directly onto existing glazing, they can upgrade thermal and visual comfort within hours, with minimal impact on building operations.
By rejecting up to 79% of solar heat, these advanced films help maintain cooler indoor temperatures throughout the year. This results in improved occupant comfort, reduced glare, and lower dependence on air conditioning systems.
Depending on the building configuration and climate conditions, energy savings can reach up to 30%, helping owners reduce both operating costs and environmental impact.
Conclusion
Overheating has a dual impact, affecting both occupant comfort and productivity while increasing a building’s environmental footprint. Addressing this challenge requires solutions that improve indoor comfort while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Solar control window films offer a cost-effective and non-disruptive way to limit solar heat gain through existing glazing. By reducing heat buildup indoors, they help maintain a more comfortable environment during hot weather and heatwaves.
They can also reduce air-conditioning energy consumption by up to 30%, supporting a more sustainable and energy-efficient building strategy.
As temperatures continue to rise, solar control window films provide a practical first step toward creating more comfortable, energy-efficient, and sustainable buildings.
👉 Interested in learning more?
Resources:
Van Der Linden. (2026, August). ‘Les travailleurs face aux crises climatiques et aux politiques environnementales. https://uclouvain.be/fr/news/changement-climatique-quels-impacts-sur-le-travail-et-les-inegalites-sociales
Comments