As winter descended, so does the new norm for EU staff: embracing the glacial reality of a target of 19°C in Brussels workspaces (a balmy 20°C in Luxembourg), leaving many buildings well below those targets. HR sources cite national law of host Member State of EU institutions for this limit, suggesting that they would lower the temperatures further if the law allowed it. For those of you not in the loop, this provision ensures that public buildings toe the line in terms of energy-use reductions (‘efficiency’). But while the thermostat complies, it’s the staff who shiver. Jackets, scarves, and an abundance of hot tea have become unofficial office attire and tools of survival.
“Efficiency” is temperature dependent
Within the general lowering of office temperatures to limits which are known to be gendered, a 2006 study by Seppänen, Fisk, and Lei suggests productivity peaks at a cozy 22°C and drops sharply at both extremes. For staff tackling complex tasks—say, drafting policies or negotiating EU frameworks—each degree below 22°C chips away at efficiency. Translation? That policy of having a legal minimum temperature as a maximum might be cooling more than just the air; it’s likely cooling productivity, too.
A Cold (and Wet) Welcome to the CO46 Building
On of our colleagues – member of Generation 2004, recently reported on the frosty conditions in Brussels CO46, an EU building plagued by malfunctioning heat pumps. Staff were greeted with a bracing 17.7°C upon their return from the holiday break, a far cry from the promised 19°C target. To add insult to injury, showers in the building have offered an invigoratingly icy experience—a dubious fringe benefit for anyone brave enough to use them.
When our colleague inquired why Brussels staff endure one degree less as a target office temperature than their Luxembourg counterparts, he was reminded that the European Commission “merely follows the rules established in each Member State.” Yet one has to wonder: does the spirit of European solidarity extend to shared shivers…? We remind you here that these are targets only and that the reality on the ground is that many staff on all sites are shivering.
Productivity Savings or Pyrrhic Victories?
The OIB/OIL Director assures us that any discomfort is offset by energy savings, though concrete data on cost reductions—or their potential reinvestment in better HVAC systems—remains elusive. Of course, the suggestion to report issues through the official “55555” channel, was met with scepticism.
Our often-below-the-legal-minimum office temperatures are obviously not acceptable as evidence, since they must be measured by means of a “calibrated instrument (Testo 400) according to the international standard EN ISO 7730” in order to count. OIB/OIL want also that the office temperature be “measured by considering several factors (Wet Bulb Globe Temperature – WBGT; Predicted Mean Vote – PMV & Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied – PPD) that also take into account other values such as air humidity and speed which also have an influence on how an individual may feel the cold/heat.” For us if we see staff wearing extra layers of clothes it is a abnormal situation, which requires urgent intervention.
But they’re warmer in Luxembourg … right?
Well…it’s the same story there, with only 1 degree of difference in target temperature. As is to be expected, when the minimum legal temperature is your set target, there are more than cold corners in each building: large areas will fall well below that target. The Commission is legally obliged to not target below 20°C in Luxembourg offices, again the suggestion is that the national legistlation is all that stops offices being even colder. Thus our Luxembourg-based colleagues might warm themselves with the idea of an additional degree Celsuis (which may or may not be real), while those of us in Brussels have only our frustration at the perceived difference to warm us.
Layer Up, Speak Out
As the largest staff association within the European Commission, Generation 2004 calls for a re-evaluation of this frosty policy, but we need your help to get the evidence to prove that there is indeed an issue. While energy efficiency is a noble goal, it shouldn’t come at the expense of staff well-being and productivity. We urge the administration to revisit the science, consult with staff representatives, and consider solutions that maintain comfort while meeting sustainability goals.
While a workaround might be to increase telework, at least for those having space in their home to make this possible (a big ask for Luxembourg-based staff with the accommodation prices there) this is more than a little dishonest in terms of energy: will the Commission count the energy used to heat individual homes? It has not done so in the past and is unlikely to do so now. Also, never forget that staff have the right to work every day in the office if they so wish!
Available options
For those still enduring the deep freeze, remember: thermal socks and fingerless gloves are your best allies. And for anyone searching for motivation to power through the cold, know that Generation 2004 is here, raising the temperature on this issue—metaphorically, at least.
We call the Commission to ensure decent office temperatures, and as a first step on that path, to actually guarantee that all parts of all buildings meet the legal minimum. This would mean that some areas would be above the minimum, we could handle that! What we must avoid is the current situation where there are large areas which fall below the minimum.
Stay warm, stay vocal, stay united.
Contact Generation 2004 with your frosty tales and OIB/OIL with your evidence! Remember: solidarity keeps us warmer than any malfunctioning heat pump ever could.
For the hardy souls intested using service bikes to heat up: there will be some available soon in CO 46. In response to our question on this top ic, we were informed that the parking space I CO46 was limited, but an area has been identified close to the entrance (to make the use of service bikes more convenient) and the corresponding bike racks will be installed soon. We will check on that soon.
As always, we would love to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us or leave a comment below.
If you appreciate our work, please consider becoming a member of Generation 2004.
