Tonight:
5°c
Open a window? We prefer air-con in our office, say officials in charge of climate policy
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor19 Aug 2009
Civil servants responsible for cutting Britain's carbon emissions have scrapped an energy-saving plan to switch off their air-conditioning and open their windows instead.
The trial was abandoned after three days because officials complained about noise from construction works, "the wrong kind of breeze" and the security risk. Staff at the Department for Energy and Climate Change were told that other "innovative ways" to reduce the building's carbon footprint would be looked at instead.
An internal memo seen by the Standard to all staff said: "Concerns have been raised about higher temperatures, reduced air flow, noise from the building works and security concerns. We have therefore decided to revert to air-conditioned cooling for the building."
During this month's trial the top temperatures in London ranged from 24 to 28.5C. Environmental campaigners said the decision sent a terrible message to the rest of the country. London Assembly member for the Green Party Jenny Jones said: "Opening the window is the cheapest, most climate friendly way of cooling a building. Government organisations just don't have that sense of urgency about climate change."
The Directgov website advises the public to "cool your home naturally instead of using air-conditioning, which can damage the environment".
A spokesman said: "As this was a test, comments were encouraged, it was not a case of complaints." The department is housed in a late Victorian Grade II-listed building in Whitehall Place by the Thames. It is ranked in the lowest "G" category for energy efficiency.
One retired senior civil servant who worked in the building in the Seventies and Eighties said: "We didn't know what air-conditioning was. We opened the windows. It wasn't always comfortable but we tended to think of the building as quite cool and airy." Air-conditioning is one of the fastest-growing sources of demand for electricity in Britain, accounting for about two per cent of supply. Calculations by the Standard suggest London's air-conditioning units create 1.6million tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. Most modern office buildings have windows that can be opened.
Shadow energy and climate change spokesman Greg Clark said: "If the Government considers opening windows to be 'innovative', it is hardly a surprise carbon emissions have barely dipped over the past decade."
This decision sends a terrible message'
“No we can't” seems to be the refrain from many public employees challenged with changing working conditions to help save money or the planet.
One would have hoped for more from the department entrusted with getting the rest of us to cut our carbon emissions.
The collapse of the efforts of building facility managers to switch to natural ventilation methods, after staff complaints, gives a terrible message to the public. Artificially air-conditioned buildings use on average 100 per cent more energy than naturally air-conditioned buildings. There are many things the DECC can do to make the offices comfortable. Turning off unnecessary lighting and equipment will reduce heat-gain.
People in climates like Italy or Spain worked for centuries without air-conditioning by installing retractable shades over south-facing windows and ensuring windows allow natural cross-flows. If the staff need a deathly hush they can look at their own grants which fund natural ventilation systems.
With a little bit of encouragement these reluctant eco-warriors could be shouting “Yes we can!” instead.
Donnachadh McCarthy founded the charity nationalcarbonfootprintday.org
Reader views (9)
What the article seems to dismiss out of hand is that 2/3rd's of that street is now being re-developed so construction noise and dust will be a significant issue.
Also people don't seem to realise that all government buildings are fair game for nutters. Our building in smith square was constantly being picketed by pressure groups who can make access and egress quite unpleasant. That noise would make it difficult to concentrate in street side office...which are already crammed with people as the desk to people ratio is now 6 desks to every 10 workers.
- Tyrone Homes, Gwinear, Cornwall, 30/09/2010 00:35
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Standing like that in the window won't help!
The air is being blocked... might fall out!
Not a bad piece though 
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK, 20/08/2009 13:42
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When I move offices I'm going to be most upset that I no longer have a window to open and will instead have to deal with air conditioning. I work on one of the busiest and noisest roads in the country so it's never quiet and has very high pollution, but you can't beat an open window in the summer.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK, 19/08/2009 15:34
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Typical Nu Liebor.
- Moy, London, 19/08/2009 14:36
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Typical Labour attitude: centre all policies around a myth called global warming and tax the populace for the privilege, but completely ignore it when it causes inconvenience for the workers. And they wonder why the public are so cynical?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 19/08/2009 13:54
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Couldn't be more respresentative of this government if they tried!
- Mark, London, 19/08/2009 13:41
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So, how about putting in fixed unopenable windows (after all they apparently will never open them) and the fitting th eoffice with heat exchangers?
- Bob, Cheam, 19/08/2009 13:33
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Do as we say, not as we do!!!
Socialism at its best.
- P Staker, London, 19/08/2009 11:22
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Why waste public money?
They like air conditioning because it is less healthy and as such, they might get paid days-off sick.
Sorry to be perverse--but I bet I'm half right.
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK, 19/08/2009 11:21
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