Helping a Friend – Temperature Too High in Office he is Renting

[Nir]

Hi,
I am trying to help a friend who opened a new business. He is renting an office in a building with 2 floors and one air conditioning system.
the temperature in the building is controlled by the first floor tenant. also the tenant from the first floor pays hydro and the upper floor tenants do not.

the problem is that in order to save 2 cent a day (just a guess, might be 3), the lower tenants set air conditioning temperature too high so it is not comfortable in the upper floor (too hot) but maybe ok in the lower floor(?)
again, both floors pay rent to the landlord. however only lower floor pays hydro.
should my friend try to resolve the issue with the lower level tenant or owner directly? should the lower tenant be more considerate or should the owner actually control the temperature?
lastly, what can/should the owner do to ensure everyone is comfortable while he (the landlord) is NOT the one paying hydro!?

Any creative solution to this uncomfortable situation would be appreciated.

THANKS.

 

[Pheenix]

QUOTE (investmart @ Sep 17 2010, 08:08 PM) Hi,
. . . the temperature in the building is controlled by the first floor tenant. also the tenant from the first floor pays hydro and the upper floor tenants do not.

. . . should my friend try to resolve the issue with the lower level tenant or owner directly? should the lower tenant be more considerate or should the owner actually control the temperature?
lastly, what can/should the owner do to ensure everyone is comfortable while he (the landlord) is NOT the one paying hydro!?

Any creative solution to this uncomfortable situation would be appreciated.

Just my 2 cents worth. I would suggest an open and polite conversation with both, start with the landlord, but try to be part of the solution and not a whiner. Are they each aware of the problem and prepared to work to remedy it. It sounds like a combination of stratification and in-adequate air flow. It may in fact be too cold on the first floor (and not a cost savings issue), which could be the case if the A/C unit is oversized for instance.

It may be as simple as adjusting or installing outlet dampers (open the second floor and close down the first`s - then reverse in the winter - I do this in my home), or in-duct fans to augment airflow, or utilizing the constant low-speed fan setting (if the system is so equiped). Today there are a number of `zone` control solutions which work best in closed compartment situations like this (unlike my home with open stair wells and large, open, first floor rooms - incredible stratification here).

The size, age and type of building will factor into the solution, as will the type of heating and cooling systems. This sounds like a converstion or reno`d building where the HVAC was not designed for this type of seperation.

On the other hand if there is poor cooperation, and an openable window, install a window A/C unit and don`t worry about the operating cost, it is picked up by the first floor tenant. If there isn`t an appropriate window there are other portable systems (probably not as efficient or effective) that may be adaptable, possibly tapping into a venting system.

Hope the milder weather helps provide time to find an effective, long term, solution, before tempers flair or attitudes harden (or he becomes too cold due to lack of heat!).

All the best.

 

[Thomas Beyer]

QUOTE (investmart @ Sep 17 2010, 05:08 PM) ..

Any creative solution to this uncomfortable situation would be appreciated.
3 options:
1) Talk to downstairs tenant and landlord.
2) install portable A/C upstairs which downstairs tenant pays (that forces the downstairs tenant to consider the electricity cost he now has to pay !!)
3) move out

 

[Nir]

Thank you Brad and Thomas for the great advice!