SURVEY SAYS: Do You Save Energy with DST?

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Editor's Note:  Our Bonus Survey Question this week - What Clock Do You Forget to Reset? - can be found HERE

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While most of us are doubtless resigned to it, the practice remains somewhat controversial; studies have suggested that traffic accidents and workplace incidents increase as a result, there are questions about its benefits in reducing energy consumption (at least on a net basis), and – let’s face it – nobody likes to “lose” an hour of sleep (certainly not on the weekend). 

This week I asked readers if YOU used less energy because of DST – and you know what?  A clear plurality – 38.5% - said they didn’t.  In fact, an additional 6% said they actually used MORE energy as a  result.

Of course, what we as individuals do is probably not what it’s about.  Still, 21.2% said they did, in fact use less energy as a result.  But the remaining third weren’t really sure about their individual impact.

How So?

There were, of course, those that did have a sense that they were using less (albeit a distinct minority) – so I also asked HOW they were saving energy.  The most common response – by 35.4% - was in using less electricity in the form of lighting. 

About half as many (14.6%) cited using less electricity for heating/fuel, and another 8.5% used less electricity with appliances.  About 6% said they drove less.