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.

But a full one-in-five opted for “other”, most of which seemed to fit in the category of energy usage not really being impacted by DST.  Here’s a sampling:

Presumably, since an hour is "lost"...there is one less hour of energy being used.  But I don't buy that...almost as if it's a paper loss.

Lights-while I miss my incandescent lights (having rendered my dimmer switches useless), they have definitely lowered my electricity usage over the last year.

Nothing really changes since I wake up at the crack of dawn without the use of an alarm clock.

All of the above that save energy - not because of daylight savings time; because all the kids are finally grown and gone.

I know I watch less TV, but that is probably because the weather is getting nicer.....and the quality of TV is stooping even lower that imaginable.

I thought you asking about personal energy.  Old age is draining my energy (I'm turning 64 this year) DST has nothing to do with it!

I use less energy because it takes me so much longer to get moving in the morning. Oh, you meant electrical type energy--that's more because it's still dark out and I have to turn the lights on.

I'm already doing all the energy savings I can and have been for years because it's so expensive in California.  If I did any more energy savings more I'd be wouldn't be able to turn on a light, lamp, or the TV, and the house would be 50 degrees in the winter and 90 degrees in the summer.

Now, I also asked readers if they had any general comments on the notions of Daylight Saving Time and/or energy usage – and there were some great ones:

LOVE DST and think we should keep it all year long!  During standard time, I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  During DST, at least I have a chance of unwinding from work by doing outside activities I enjoy.  Otherwise I come home and "unwind" in front of the TV.

It's nice not coming home in the dark.  Sunlight rules!!!!

The only thing I can think of is the lights. Ok, they probably go on an hour later at night and stay on a gross hour less than they do without DST ... somehow that doesn't seem like much, does it? We don't cook less. We don't drive less. We don't do less dishes or laundry. We are using less heat, but that's because ... ready for this ... it's not winter any more ... which has nothing whatsoever to do with dst.

I feel we should spring forward this year and never fall back.  I would much rather have the extra daylight in the evening then have the sun rise at 5 am.

Since my routine doesn't vary, the amount of energy I use doesn't change.  (I always try to limit my energy consumption and "think green" anyway.)  However, I'm sure I expend less energy when we "spring forward", because I'm basically comatose in the morning for the first couple of weeks until my body adjusts.

DST uses more energy than saves.  The price of running an air conditioner longer because the sun sets later so the evenings don't begin cooling down as soon costs much more than turning on a 100 watt light bulb to read by in the evening.  Oh, and by the way, I have to turn that light on in the morning to get ready for work because it’s now dark in the am instead of the pm.

I do not like losing an hour of sleep.  My children already make me sleep deprived and it seems to take them forever to get their little body clocks adjusted to this as well.  It's a hassle however I must say I like more daylight at the end of the day.

Energy lost due to DST?  MY ENERGY!!  I hate DST, if for no other reason than the government taking away another liberty of mine.  Now, even more so, after reading your article yesterday about the research results in Indiana indicating increased electricity usage due to DST.  It's just another example of unintended consequences due to failed public policy!

Why we keep changing the date of Daylight Savings time is beyond me.  Right now the days are just perfect:  the sun is peaking over the mountains as I drive to work, and the sun doesn't set til after 6pm.  It gives me enough light on both sides of the work day.  The first Sunday in April was a good time to make the change.  This March date makes it so dark in the mornings and gives light in the evenings during a time when the weather is not conducive to being outside and enjoying the evening sunlight.

How the heck could any of us actually know whether our energy usage changes?

I think the energy argument is a weak one...but who doesn't love getting the extra hour of sunlight at night?

More comments:

I don't know if I save any energy, but I love that it is lighter later!!

I think the temperature in my home rises slightly from my own body heat generated as I race around changing all the clocks. How much "energy" I save would be hard to measure since it would be the difference in the cost of fossil fuel otherwise used by my furnace (or air conditioner, as the case may be) and the cost of "fuel" for my body to generate the energy to change the clocks and give off heat.

Honestly, I would like to see DST go away. I appreciate starting the day with actual daylight, and I feel much more productive and energetic. The "extra" daylight in the evenings is somewhat meaningless, especially this time of the year when it's too cold to be outside in NE Ohio...which means I'm sitting indoors using the same amount of energy.

But this week’s Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who noted, “It's nice that the change coincides with our March 15 "drop dead" deadline this year. Our client may be in the dark but we won't be.”

Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey!  You’ll want to check out some additional verbatim on the following pages!    

More Verbatims

I never thought of DST as a means for saving energy.  I certainly have not noticed any difference in my energy bills.

Mid-March is way too soon to change. Instead of the usual 4-5 weeks it takes me to adjust, it will probably be about 7 weeks. (By the way, it takes me about 5-10 minutes to adjust in the fall.)

I remember when I did spring ahead darn near each and every day but lately it's what's the fall back.

It drives me crazy when they say there is "more" daylight with the change of clocks.  The amount of daylight does not change.  I find this very disruptive because my internal clock takes a long time to reset.

Do I use less energy?  Probably, but I'm guessing that it has to do more with the fact that its warmer and the heat isn't on as much....

This is still a concept that makes no sense to me.  Let’s set a time and stick with it.

The main advantage I see is the ability to complete outdoor household tasks that I wouldn't otherwise be able to accomplish.

I wish we would stay on Daylight Savings Time ALL YEAR!!!

The only thing I can think of is the lights. Ok, they probably go on an hour later at night and stay on a gross hour less than they do without DST ... somehow that doesn't seem like much, does it? We don't cook less. We don't drive less. We don't do less dishes or laundry. We are using less heat, but that's because ... ready for this ... it's not winter any more ... which has nothing whatsoever to do with dst.

I have no idea whether I use more or less energy.  But the time change has always bugged me.  And given that the practice was originally to benefit family farmers, whose lifestyles have largely changed along with the rest of the world, I've long thought we should just split the difference - move a half hour and stay put forever after!

Love, let's move ahead TWO HOURS.

I hate DST!  I love SLEEP!  The two don't mix.

Leave it to Congress to believe they can legislate the solar system.  My household goes to bed in the dark and we wake up in the dark, all year long.  The same energy will be used to light the lights in the morning or the evening.

From what I've read, Daylight Saving Time was originally set up for farmers so they could work later in the fields.  As farming has declined significantly in the US, the reason is no longer valid. With the change, it'll be dark when I wake in the morning. It will be light later into the, but as I'm not an "outdoor" person, it really has a minimal effect on me.  Takes about two days to adjust.

I don't know about energy usage, I just like having more daylight during hours I'm awake!

I wish the whole time change thing would stop.  I find it very difficult to adjust to either change.  It seems utterly pointless to me.

Here in central Wisconsin the golf season is rather short. Daylight savings time extends it. The longer I can get in 9 holes after work, the happier I am. It also gives me more time to work in the garden. I'd vote to get rid of standard time before daylight savings. It has nothing to do with saving energy.

"I am the vocal minority in my circle of family and friends in my intense dislike of daylight saving time and the upset to daily rhythms that goes with it.  My wish is that DST simply go away, or if something must be changed, let's split the difference at 1/2 hour, then leave it alone after that last change.  Call me Solomon.

However, I do very much enjoy fall back!"

I think the energy argument is a weak one...but who doesn't love getting the extra hour of sunlight at night?

I don't know if I save any energy, but I love that it is lighter later!!

I think we should do away with it entirely at this point.  The benefits don't seem to be much, and it takes so long to adjust.  My kids HATE it...they can't get to sleep earlier, so they end up losing precious sleep.

I will be able to send my kids outside for longer periods, and I'll be more rested.  This translates to less coffee consumption on my part, which will result in less energy consumption through less grinding and brewing.  Should also have an impact on the global footprint, as I won't be buying as much coffee so less will be imported to this northern climate.

The daylight saving time concept is pointless given the way most people work & live now.

the morning I have little energy myself but do feel more energized when leaving the office in sunlight.

I think it is a complete annoyance, and if we are going to continue to do it, it should be federally required so you don't end up with states like Arizona that don't adopt it and I never know what time it is there!

DST uses more energy than saves.  The price of running an air conditioner longer because the sun sets later so the evenings don't begin cooling down as soon costs much more than turning on a 100 watt light bulb to read by in the evening.  Oh, and by the way, I have to turn that light on in the morning to get ready for work because it’s now dark in the am instead of the pm.

If they moved us all up 1 hour all year round, they would discover the people who waste energy change their bad habits by hour and it would all start over again...

Get rid of DST.  The negatives outweigh any positive impact it may have.

I just love the extra daylight at night!  I hate walking the dogs in the dark.

I would like to decide on Daylight Saving Time or not and keep it there.  I don't like the switching.  My kids seem to be more difficult for a week both times we switch.  I really don't know if we save energy or not.

I wish we would just leave the clock alone!  Why mess with nature and our body?  In some countries, there's a bigger different between winter and summer than the US but they don't have DST. Let's face it, people will turn on the lights when it's dark no matter what time it is. Office buildings will always have lights on and now we have motion sensor lights to save energy.

Change to DST in the spring requires a lot more energy to get out of bed Monday at "4:00 am" (per my body clock) to get to the gym for the morning workout!

I don't like losing an hour over this weekend, but I LOVE coming home while it's still light out. And I LOVE that it's getting closer to summer. It reminds me of when I was a kid. It was a better time to live back then.

Back or forth, both ways suck to get used to. I vote for STAYING ON daylight savings time. If we kept the hour "spring" forward over the winter, at least there is a chance we'll have a little natural light as we leave work. Right now, we "fall" back every fall and for three months all of the daylight happens while I'm sitting at my desk. Like I need one more reason for not wanting to sit at my desk . . .

I would think in warmer weather climates such as Florida more daylight equates to more heat and the use of more air conditioning.

I've often wondered how energy is saved since it will be dark again in the morning making it necessary to turn on lights in the morning in order to see. And, like many of your readers, I still won't get home until after dark so the lights must be turned on again.  It simply is not worth the two weeks of adjusting to that lost hour of sleep!

My body is programmed to want to sleep when it's dark and be active when it isn't; therefore, I think I personally expend more energy during DST.

The semi annual time changes disturb my bio rhythms and damage my productivity. This is a 19th century program for a rural economy. That is over now and tractors have lights.

The one advantage is that the birds still get up with the sun.  Since I am up earlier, I see more activities at my feeders while I am eating breakfast.  It is a great way to start the day on a calm note!

Who has the time to track energy usage?  Since I live near the eastern edge of my time zone, the sun rises very early.  Since I am not a morning person, I prefer to have the light at the end of the day.  I suppose I should live on the western edge of the time zone to maximize that benefit.

The best thing about DST is that there's time to get in a round of golf after work.

I enjoy running outdoors and look forward to daylight savings time in the spring so that I can run in the light.  Of course, I dread it in the fall when I have to abruptly stop running when we get dark so fast.

My family will use less lights, TV, Wii, stereo, etc.since they will be outside more. However, I will use more personal energy, since now it is light when I get home so I have to do more work outside the house on the yard, house, cars etc.

DST needs to go -- just adds confusion and stress for everyone.  Waking up in the dark means I use more energy, not less (usage is the same in the evenings).  Although at least it's usually far easier to set digital clocks forward than back (however I am much happier to make the effort to set them BACK!).

LOVE DST and think we should keep it all year long!  During standard time, I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  During DST, at least I have a chance of unwinding from work by doing outside activities I enjoy.  Otherwise I come home and "unwind" in front of the TV.

It's nice not coming home in the dark.  Sunlight rules!!!!

I enjoy evenings more, when it doesn't get dark until after 7 pm; the light seems to attract families outside.

There's one thing I like about Daylight Saving Time: I have a little more time for cocktail hour out on the deck after work!

What I don't use in the morning I use in the evening, and vice versa.