Deloitte is reducing temperatures in its UK offices to cut costs and carbon emissions.
At 22 locations, some of which were also temporarily closed over Christmas, the thermostat will be lowered by 2°C to reduce energy consumption.
The consultancy and accounting firm updated staff this month on the plans, which are expected to result in savings of around £75,000 for December.
Energy costs have skyrocketed in the wake of Covid and the invasion of Ukraine.
Deloitte told its 23,000 UK staff that its offices would now be heated to 19-22C as part of new energy-saving plans.
It said the temperature range in its UK offices, while lower, would still be above the Health and Safety Executive’s minimum guideline of 16C for those with desk jobs.
The company has offices in locations such as London, Cambridge, Manchester, Reading, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.
December’s savings will be donated to disability group Scope, whose UK chief executive Richard Houston said he hoped it would help those hardest hit by the rising cost of living.
It comes after several other major consultancies including KPMG and PwC temporarily closed some of their UK offices over the bank holidays in a bid to reduce energy use.
Deloitte has also lowered temperatures in some of its other offices across Europe, according to a Financial Times report.
Elsewhere, the European Union has reportedly capped the temperature at its institutional buildings in Brussels at 19C, prompting some complaints from hypothermic staff.
Many multinationals are facing pressure to do more to curb their carbon emissions after making high-profile pledges, particularly in the wake of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Mr Houston added that Deloitte has received calls from many of its employees and clients to “work more sustainably”.
Deloitte announced on Thursday that it will reduce its emissions from business travel by 50% per full-time employee by 2030 compared to 2019.
The company recently announced plans to use 100% renewable electricity for its office buildings by 2030.
Wholesale gas prices rose as demand surged with the easing of Covid restrictions and concerns over shipments from Russia mounted.
Activists and lobby groups have raised concerns about bill affordability, although the UK government has offered some help.
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