Does moving Daylight Savings Time earlier really save energy?

Question

People may use less electric light in the daytime. But won't people go out more during the daytime, using more gas?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I'm 100% in favor! I'm afraid I don't see the down side.

People will go out more after supper. Mostly, they'll walk, won't they? Or do things around the property. If they want to drive, they can do that right now, even without daylight time, by turning on their headlights!

If they do drive, there will be fewer accidents because they won't be going in the dark.

Some say they'd use air conditioning more, but I think the opposite is the case (assuming it's warm in late March, which considering this week's weather is hardly a certainty). If they go out and it's warm, A/C is not used. If they stay in, however, they might.

Answer 2

What I would think is that in the morning you don't really need to turn on the lights, and at night you'll use the lights less time, since there's more sun during the day...ambiguity in the air...

Answer 3

I think it will save more engergy.

Answer 4

There have been a lot of research studies that have shown that it will save energy. I guess that most American's stay at home after work in the evenings... and if it's light outside, they don't need to turn on the lights. However, moving Daylight Savings Time is a pretty big change.

Answer 5

I have never seen any proof that time change actually saves energy.

Also, always have to stop and think, now is it 1hour or 2 hours different in Arizona from Alaska when wanting to call gramma. And is she 2 hours ahead of us or two hours behind us.

Source(s):

ALso, I live in Alaska so I think it balances out with our long summer days and our short winter days. In other words, we use a lot less energy in the summer than in the winter.

Answer 6

I've never understood the logic of daylight savings. It just shifts the time you need to turn on your lights.

Answer 7

good point

Answer 8

How this will save energy is debatable. I personally wonder if this change increases the chance people will turn on lights early and forget to turn them off when they leave the house (as it will be light out and not obvious). One thing is certain though, with daylight savings people get out and do more. This means they burn more gas. Like most things in the 2005 Energy Bill, this change is really about oil companies selling more gas. It's sad to see such an important issue (energy efficiency) manipulated by those that have little concern for conservation and making it appear as if school children are now in the dark in the name of conservation when they are acutually in the dark in the name of profit.

Answer 9

i guess it really does since they are rearranging something we have been doing forever

Answer 10

who cares..more light during the summer hours.seems like it would be good season for medical cannabis growers yes yes yes

Source(s):

grower