Obama Should Axe Daylight Time -- NYT Op-Ed Explains Why
In order to conserve energy, President-elect Barak Obama should eliminate daylight saving time.
Twice a year, a bunch of countries, including most of the United States, practice daylight saving time or DST, shifting one hour ahead in the spring and one hour back in the fall. While I go through the whole twice-a-year ritual of looking for clocks, I only vaguely understood the reason behind it. I knew it had to do with more sunlight during waking hours and I assumed it was to save energy.
Turns out, according to two academics on the NYT Op-Ed page, there is little scientific proof that this reduces energy consumption. It also turns out that this practice could be wasteful, a bit annoying, and a lot of people want to get rid of it.
A study in Indiana, a state that recently started DST, showed an overall increase of 1 percent in residential electricity use with occasional increases of 2 to 4 percent in late spring and early fall. So much for conserving energy.
While DST is great for reducing in-door lighting, the shift in time increases the demand for air conditioning during hot summer evenings and increased heating in early spring and late fall mornings. The energy suckers of heat and A/C could eliminate any savings from reduced lighting and, as the Indiana study showed, actually increase electricity consumption.
The hot state of Arizona seems to already know this and opted out of the whole time-shifting practice.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 19)
11-21-2008 @ 3:27PM
Chris said...
I think people's mood and health should be factored into the equation. With more hours of sunlight after school or work, people tend to be happier, and more likely to go outside and do something. I think this is a great benefit of DST!
Reply
11-22-2008 @ 9:52PM
Al said...
Do you think the obama hype is too much? Check this out http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2054498/obama_mania/
11-24-2008 @ 10:52AM
Nyle said...
Actually, you'll find that changing the time back and forth actually causes a lot of sleep issues with people. Thereby, eliminating any gain from some extra sunlight. There was a study that I had read on the subject. It is especially hard on Children.
Back when we used Candles to light, I'm sure this saved loads of energy. Recent studies show that at best it is a zero sum gain.
While I am all for tradition. This is one tradition that I can do without.
However, the idea that the self anointed one would somehow fix this is insane. Congress would have to pass a bill to eliminate DST once and for all in the US then Obama can sign it into law.
11-26-2008 @ 9:30PM
Wendy said...
I currently live in Okinawa where there is no DST and Okinawan's have the longest life spans of anyone else on the planet...I think these guys are on to something.
Plus not to mention it's nice never having to readjust to the time change.
11-27-2008 @ 12:53AM
patti said...
I agree 100% with Chris. My whole family starts to complain when we have to change and lose the extra sun. My Dr. recommends taking vitamin D because I live in a state that has a short summer and we need that extra
11-28-2008 @ 11:29AM
Kevin said...
I think DST should be a constant - giving longer hours of sunshine at the end of the day. Darkness comes early enough in the fall and then suddenly you lose an additional hour of daylight right when days become their shortest during the year! I vote for longer days ... more sunshine!
Kevin
11-27-2008 @ 3:31AM
Erin said...
I agree and think this is a brilliant idea for a number of reason's; most importantly for our species to sustain, we must remember how to honor nature's rthymns.
11-27-2008 @ 3:12AM
Anni said...
I agree--let's keep daylight savings time all year round!
11-28-2008 @ 1:34AM
JB said...
Since so many seem to have a problem with the time change I say DST should become a full time deal. That way no one will have worry about their clock's and those of us that only get to see the sun maybe twice a week will have that extra hour at the end of the work day.
11-30-2008 @ 7:53AM
John S said...
I agree, Chris. I look forward to the daylight after work hours to enjoy a little recreation.
11-30-2008 @ 12:17PM
Kelly said...
In the summer that works out just fine, but in the winter it ends up making it dark around 5:00-5:30. If we hadn't changed the time in October it wouldn't get dark until 6:30. Who wants to go outside to do things in the dark? It makes me ready to climb in bed right after supper, hence causing lethargy and weight gain to follow. So which is the Daylight savings time? The summer period or the winter?
11-21-2008 @ 4:29PM
carroll white said...
you have certainly made my day! I hope he can get this done- DST is about the most useless act to save resources i could imagine.to think the airlines- citys- railroads etc., etc. must use all these resources to " save" resources- well it boggles my brain, I try to ignore the time change but I am usually an hour early or an hour late untill I give in. good luck
Reply
11-26-2008 @ 9:38PM
Teresa said...
I really hope he does end DST I am all for it. The sooner the better!
11-21-2008 @ 6:04PM
RobertSeattle said...
I didn't really care either way about DST...Until I had children. You know how hard it is to get a 2 year old to get to sleep at the same time each night and then WHAM - the time shifts an hour. Arg. End it please!
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 6:47PM
doug said...
It doesn't say anywhere in the NYtimes article that Obama wants to eliminate DST. When did he say that?
Reply
11-21-2008 @ 7:10PM
Mathew Ballard said...
I am all for getting rid of this stupid DST.
Reply
11-27-2008 @ 1:54AM
Cheyenne said...
nd there is no reason why we need it.
11-21-2008 @ 7:18PM
Alana said...
"I think people's mood and health should be factored into the equation. With more hours of sunlight after school or work, people tend to be happier, and more likely to go outside and do something. I think this is a great benefit of DST!"
I agree
Reply
11-27-2008 @ 1:27AM
ron said...
Horse puckey! DST causes more problems with shifting sleep schedules than it's worth. DST is just a bunch of BS whose biggest supporters happen to be retailers that specialize in discretionary income items....more daylight, more shopping.
DST is useless!
11-26-2008 @ 11:51PM
Monica said...
It doesn't matter what time your clock says, there is still the same amount of daylight!