Dummy thermostats

The secret's out—many thermostats just trick building occupants into feeling more comfortable and in control. Here's why they're so effective. Many large office buildings also have dummy thermostats to give office workers the illusion of control. Some even go as far as installing white-noise generators to mimic the hum of fans after the HVAC system is shut off. "We had an employee that always complained of being hot," recalls Greg Perakes, an HVACR instructor in Tennessee. "Our solution was to install a pneumatic thermostat. We ran the main air line to it inside of an enclosed I-beam. Then we just attached a short piece of tubing to the branch outlet (terminating inside the I-beam without being attached to any valves, etc.)." The worker "could adjust her own temperature whenever she felt the need," Perakes says, "thus enabling her to work more and complain less. When she heard the hissing air coming from inside the I-beam, she felt in control. We never heard another word about the situation from her again. Case solved." link