BC Hydro has compiled information over the “cold war” in offices.

Spokesperson Susie Rieder says air conditioning use has increased nearly one-third in commercial businesses in the past 13 years.

And she says the majority of office workers don’t have control over the temperature.

“We found that almost one-quarter of British Columbians are experiencing discomfort and conflict over air conditioning in the workplace. So one in four British Columbians say they’ve actually argued or witnessed an argument with a coworker over the office temperature,” Rieder says.

“And two-thirds of British Columbians said they either have no means by which to adjust the office temperature or they have to ask for permission to do so. And of those, about 60 per cent actually said they’re feeling so comfortable that they find it hard to get work for.”

Rieder says studies show office H-VAC systems were often designed for men who have a higher resting metabolic rate, which she says leads to women feeling colder at work more often.

She recommends the optimal workplace temperature in the summer to be between 23 and 26 degrees.