Daylight Savings Time Actually Increases Utility Bills
By worldwise1
@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
March 7, 2008 1:29pm CST
A recurring issue in the pros and cons of going on Daylight Savings Time have been argued over for the last 3 decades. Now it seems that a new study has irrefutable proof that the transition to DST is not beneficial in helping to conserve energy, but increases the cost to consumers of utilities. In an article on Yahoo I found the following information: http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/null/83073. If this information is correct wouldn't we all be better served by observing a standard and uniform time rather than the constant jumping back and forth to DST? One very important fact that was brought forward in the article was that any benefits that might be gained by these measures are lost in the higher usage of running air conditioners, etc.
2 people like this
9 responses
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 Mar 08
well that is very interesting, what is more interesting to me, is that now canada and the usa does not have the same time anymore, some provinces in canada adapted the new time change the us implemented to make things simplier and some did not,
now I could be behind with that news so don't quote me on it, perhaps everyone complies now, I know my fellow canadians if reading this will correct me on it.
but not saving money I can buy that. I never did understand that concept of one hour making such a big difference anyhow
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
18 Mar 08
I am well aware of that, they are not in canada either,
there is eastern, central, mountain, and pacific type
then there is maritime time which is an hour earlier than eastern
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
All areas of the United States are not even in the same time period, winterose. The constant manipulation of time is nerve-wracking and a huge headache. It should be abolished.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 Mar 08
My husband used to work in a hot railway yard and there is no air conditioning there and in summer, I am usually out in the sun in the afternoon. But we have the airconditioning on, but maybe we should open the windows more and tell those birds outside to shut-up all that chirping. *(I do not know what to do about the traffic though.0 But I do believe that changing the clocks over and over again is rather asinine. Why do they not keep it on a certain time all year round? It would be easier, turning the clock forward is fine it is the turning the clock back in fall that I do not like.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I can find no plausible reason for turning the clocks either way, suspenseful.
What would be the harm in just leaving them alone? Some things just shouldn't be messed with.
What would be the harm in just leaving them alone? Some things just shouldn't be messed with.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Changing times twice a year is a pain. I think it should be left alone all year. Tonight we turn our clocks forward. Arizona doesn't change their time and it would be nice if all the other states could do the same. I believe there is one other state that functions this way also but can't remember which state. Each time I want to call Arizona I must compute the time difference. Too late, might wake the kids. Too late, it might wake our daughter and son-in-law. Too early in the morning. Would be nice to glance at the clock when I want to call and not have to worry about disturbing anyone.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
It would seem, carolbee, that so many people find it to be disruptive and a nuisance, so why can't we get them to leave it alone? I believe I actually signed a petition regarding this last year at this time.
@cblackink (969)
• United States
9 Mar 08
I agree that DST doesn't really save anything in the long run, because you wake up and it's still dark in the morning, hence, using your lights more. You're running your air conditioner more and later, and a lot of people are out in their cars, driving more because it's light longer, and using more gasoline.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
I can find no reason to argue with your statements, cblackink. DST makes no sense to me at all.
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
7 Mar 08
Why do we persist in this folly then? I have worked around children and the elderly and it is hard on them as well as all of the rest of us. I'll bet there is a hidden health care cost to all of us, too. It seems like it was easier to get it started than to get away from it, though.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
These things are always easier to get started, GG, because usually by the time we realize the negative effects they will have on us they have already been instituted.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
7 Mar 08
This is a very good point about the uselessness of daylight savings time....I read the article/blog there and only confirmed what I thought that with DSL more electricity is used in the form of running air conditioners for longer hours during the summer. When DSL was first initiated to give more daylight hours, air conditioners weren't even around..think DSL was first started around World War I??
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
They do have a website, pyewacket, with all of the pertinent information about DST on there, but it was last year about this time when I visited it. I will agree, though, that many things have changed in our world since the observance first began.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
7 Mar 08
Oh no, you beat me to it..I saw this and was going to start a discussion myself on it..:(
Oh well...lol
They did start this before air conditioners though, but I still can't see how that one hour would increase utility bills that much..Because people returning home an hour earlier. Unless they had the air conditioner up or off and then went home and turned it on or down then to save they should just leave it on at a reasonable setting and not be in a hurry to cool things down..
Of course I am speaking from the perspective of someone who doesn't have the luxury of central air and only have a couple of box air conditioners and I don't use them much, only if it is REALLY hot..
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
It's not really the A/C that I take exception to, carmelanirel, but the idea of them manipulating everything just because they can do it. I am weary of being constantly manipulated according to the whim of whoever wants to change things -and not necessarily always for the better.
@dtroas (479)
• United States
7 Mar 08
I don't see how. That is sign of spring and summer. Hang you clothes out on a line, we spend more time outside. Means no lights, tv on. Air conditions just don't use them unless it gets so hot in your home that you can not breath. I do most of my cooking outside in the summer. I know my electric bill, food bill is all creaper in the day light saving time zone.
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
17 Mar 08
Maybe it is because, dtroas, unlike many people who are cooped up in stuffy apartments much of the time, you have easy access to the outdoors. I live in a high rise building and they have recently even abolished outdoor grilling, so even if I wanted to I could not enjoy these benefits.
