Desk jockeys can cool off or heat up with C2 device

By Helen Chernikoff

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Office furniture maker Herman Miller Inc. wants to let cooler heads prevail when it comes to the often-heated issue of how hot or cold offices should be.

Herman Miller is launching a $300 desktop heating and cooling device that it hopes will become as much a part of office life as the desks, chairs and other office wares it has long been known for.

The company is set to unveil the "C2" this weekend in Chicago for NeoCon, the office furniture industry trade show.

At 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) and 10 inches high, it looks like a small humidifier. In company tests, starting with a surrounding air temperature of 72 degrees, the C2 raised the temperature within six inches by 40 degrees, and was able to cool it by eight degrees, company spokesman Wayne Baxter said.

It could open doors for Herman Miller with retailers that would not otherwise stock its products, said Robyn Hofmeyer, who manages the company's accessory collection, including C2.

The company expects the C2 to be profitable in its first year, and aims to produce at least 10,000 in that period. It is part of a strategy to generate revenue from customers who, for example, aren't buying a full desk or cubicle, Baxter said.

"They're trying to focus on the entire working environment, whether it's at an individual desk or a group outside the office," said Sabrina Carollo of Ariel Capital, which owns Herman Miller shares. "Any complementary product makes sense."

About 80 percent of people are comfortable in air that is between 69 and 73 degrees, said Donald Young, spokesman for Houston-based International Facility Management Association.