The post Can You Hear Me? The Importance of Acoustics in the Workplace appeared first on Energy Efficiency Centre.
]]>Having a good acoustic environment is essential for high levels of productivity, especially in large offices and in smaller sub sections such as boardrooms.
It’s crucial to remember that an office is designed for people to communicate and interact with one another to achieve the best results possible. This means that any unwanted noise – such as keyboards, phones and even air conditioning systems – should be kept at a minimum.
Depending upon the activities taking place in a room, employees should be able to communicate effectively with one another in the way that is most conducive to their work.
A bad acoustic environment can become very stressful to work in. Not only will employees not generate their best work, they may end up being affected by the noise and make unnecessary errors or struggle to concentrate.
If there is an excess of unnecessary noise, key information may be missed or details misheard leading to far greater issues.
Most larger offices generally start at the reception area. Traditionally, these were designed with the view that they need to withstand wear and tear as they are most visited and closest to the outside. This led them to be designed with hard surfaces which can be incredibly noisy.
Using carpets or rugs, these areas can have their acoustics substantially improved meaning that staff close to the area will not be disturbed by excess sound travelling. If the reception area is a busy, lively place where phone calls are taken and directed, an absorbent ceiling panel can also help the acoustic environment.
When considering acoustics, it’s always essential to consider how a space is going to be used and what kind of acoustics are necessary. Meeting rooms are generally designed for a low level of noise and often matters of a sensitive nature are discussed there. It’s therefore essential that meeting rooms have minimal sound transmission possibly using tools such as an acoustic wall or good quality ceiling panels.
Many offices now are open plan with a design that allows collaboration and ‘buzz’. However it’s still key that those employees who need privacy or peace and quiet are able to achieve this. Glass partitioning can help not only as a physical barrier but also to help reduce noise. There are a number of acoustic glass options to improve the effectiveness of these, as well as many decorative window tints and films that can add character to your office space.
Particularly common in older buildings or warehouse facilities, you may find that temperatures tend to fluctuate between being too hot during the Summer and too cold during the Winter. This can not only lead to unhappy and uncomfortable staff, but also result in the overuse of your air conditioner – increasing your electricity bills.
Ensuring your office space is adequately insulated can help to control the climate for your staff which is key to productivity, and can also assist in protecting your perishable or sensitive stock through preventing excessive hot or cool conditions.
The post Can You Hear Me? The Importance of Acoustics in the Workplace appeared first on Energy Efficiency Centre.
]]>The post Winter Is Coming: Which Insulation Is Best For Your Home? appeared first on Energy Efficiency Centre.
]]>However once winter arrives, you really need to ensure that your home is as warm as can be and as comfortable for you and your family as you desire.
Insulation is essential for ensuring that your home does not lose unnecessary heat through external surfaces such as walls, ceilings and the roof.
Choosing the correct type of insulation means you’ll be able to achieve maximum efficiency with great results including a possible reduction in energy bills.
Although most people simply refer to it as insulation, the correct term is ‘thermal insulation’ as this differentiates it from ‘acoustic insulation’.
It is a term that is used to describe materials or products that lessen the heat loss (in winter) or heat gain (in summer).
Insulation acts as a barrier between areas that are different in temperature such as the inside and the outside of a home.
It is usually made from glass or rock that has been melted down and spun into very thin strands of wool bound together by an agent.
Generally made up of a thin layer of aluminium foil which reflects light and heat, this is laminated onto a substrate of plastic or paper.
For this type of insulation to be effective, it must have an air layer of at least 25mm next to the shiny surface so you’ll need to consider its positioning carefully and it’s always better to seek expert help on installation.
Some examples of reflective insulation products include:
This is made up of a mass of fibrous material which has little pockets within its structure which are able to trap air. The benefit of this type of insulation is that its R value (the unit that thermal resistance is measured in) will be the same regardless of the direction of heat flow.
Some examples of bulk insulation products include:
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