It’s fascinating — one of the first things that affects us in a room is the quality and temperature of the air, yet it’s one of the last things we tend to consider when designing a space. When we started planning renovations to the 100 year old bungalow that will be our new office, we knew we wanted every element to be energizing, comfortable, and happy. Visiting the site pre-renovation, we wondered aloud how anyone ever lived in Austin before air conditioning. And while we still don’t know the answer to that, we’re sure that we found a dream partner with Lennox when they offered to help us bring our bungalow into the 21st century. Using the XC21 Air Conditioner, the SL280V Furnace, and the iComfort® S30 Thermostat, our office is going to be our new happy place. And we’ve got the facts to prove it. Check out these five surprising ways that air quality can affect mood, and and stay cool this summer.
This post was brought to you by Lennox. Innovation never felt so good. Contact your local Lennox dealer today to learn more about the precise and efficient HVAC products Lennox offers.
image from northside hospital
allergies
Seasonal allergies aren’t just an annoyance. The correlation between allergic reaction and mood is real — according to this article from CNN, you’re twice as likely to experience depression if you suffer from allergies. And if your allergies are bad enough to land you in the office of a professional allergist, your chances of depression triple. Scientists are undecided on whether allergies actually cause depression or just happen to make it a lot worse. But one thing’s for sure: when your body’s dealing with sneezing, weezing, watery eyes, and low energy, your coping mechanisms for regular stress begin to break down. The flip side is that taking daily antihistamines can leave you feeling dehydrated, constipated, sleepy, or just plain out-of-it. Ultimately, one of the best ways you can battle seasonal allergies is to simply take a shower and stay indoors. Clean, filtered air is crucial for allergy sufferers and can make a huge difference in daily quality-of-life and mood.When we met with Lennox for our custom consultation at the #CSBungalow, they let us know that the iComfort® S30 thermostat is on the cutting edge of the battle against seasonal allergies — it monitors the air quality and pollen levels of your local zip code and automatically turns the fan on to clean your home’s air when outdoor levels are high. Take THAT, pollen.
image from middlechildcomplex
sleep quality
The National Sleep Foundation (yes, it exists) states that when we feel too hot, we fall asleep slower and sleep less soundly. Our bodies actually decrease in temperature slightly when we’re falling asleep, so keeping cool helps facilitate falling asleep faster, and staying asleep longer. We all know that a good night’s sleep is part of being in a good mood, so it makes sense to invest in a HVAC system that can dial in your optimal snooze temp. The XC21 Air Conditioner goes beyond just temperature control to reduce the level of humidity in the home, which makes for the best sleep possible. Sweet dreams.
image from feeling center
temperature
Every mom knows that an overheated kid is destined for melt-down. But it turns out that heat-inspired crankiness stays with us into adulthood as well. According to this article on Psych Central, heat waves are related to more violent behavior and aggression, as well as increased trends in depression and lowered mood. The further you live from the equator, the harder a heat wave will affect your mood. So if you want to keep your family, classmates, or coworkers playing nicely during triple digit weather, you’ll need to be prepared with a powerful HVAC system that can efficiently lower temps quickly, without breaking the bank. For our new office space, our Lennox pro recommended the XC21, which can lower your energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year, while still keeping your home cool and quiet.
image from how to keep your houseplants green and gorgeous
protecting indoor plants
The good folks at Psychology Today are big believers in the mood benefits of indoor plants. According to this article by Jonathan S. Kaplan Ph.D., houseplants have been shown to raise job satisfaction, increase attentiveness, improve perceptions of a space, and improve well-being overall. They even naturally clean the air in a space. In hot climates like Austin, many indoor plant breeds need more than just shade — they need protection from the intense heat we experience in the summer months. (We’re pretty attached to our office fiddle leaf figs, and they in particular need to be kept between 60 and 75 degrees.) With the nifty iComfort S30® Thermostat we can check in on our plants anytime, and even make sure the SL280V Furnace kicks on during an unexpected winter freeze.
image from a small space entryway makeover
making pets possible
According to WebMD, people with pets are generally happier, more trusting, and less lonely than those who don’t have pets. Cats and dogs are proven stress-relievers — somehow just having them around seems to relax us. Here at Team CS we think of Chanel’s dog, Coco, as our office pet. But as a Pomeranian, Coco’s body was designed for arctic climates. Her mass of thick fur puts her at danger for overheating in the Texas heat. By setting the iComfort® S30’s Perfect Temp, our system will precisely heat or cool as needed to maintain the perfect temperature for our pup in any weather so that we can make sure Coco stays comfortable in our new office year round.
This post was brought to you by Lennox. Innovation never felt so good. Contact your local Lennox dealer today to learn more about the precise and efficient HVAC products Lennox offers.
