Freezing at work? Study explains why office temperatures are set for men

SEATTLE -- As the thermometer rises outside, it seems to get colder and colder inside the office.

It's a battle that's divided the masses here at Q13 FOX, and buildings across the country.

New research suggests there's a reason why women are losing the temperature war at the office.

According to a study released Monday in Nature Climate Change, temperatures are often set based on a standard from the 1960s that only takes into account the metabolic rate of the average 154-pound 40-year-old man, an industry standard.

Researchers say that overestimates women's average metabolic rate by up to 35-percent.

You'd expect men to be more comfortable at a cooler temperature because they tend to have faster metabolisms. Your metabolic rate has affects how much energy your body has to use to stay at a comfortable temp.

The study concludes that office buildings should "reduce gender-discriminating bias in thermal comfort."

But it's not just about comfort. The article suggests that we could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lead to significant energy savings.

Residential buildings and offices account for about 30-percent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

So there you have it -- a little bit of research to explain why women might be cold while the men are seemingly oblivious to the office temperature.

The good news about the recent heat wave in the Pacific Northwest: just head outside to defrost!