Why do we go through this stupid twice yearly exercise in self delusion? For years there has been this debate about what purpose Daylight Saving Time served. Since the Energy crisis, mainly oil embargo crisis, of the '70s proponents have argued by shifting the clocks forward by an hour giving Americans more daylight in the evening we would by some magical act of psychology use less energy.
How? Presumably we would go out for a walk instead of turning on our energy guzzling TVs and 100 watt incandescent bulbs.
Really?
There's only one problem with this scenario which was suggested a decade ago by Senator Edward Markey when his bipartisan bipartisan legislation with Senator Fred Upton to expand DST was passed a decade ago. Google "does DST save energy" and you'll find little conclusive evidence that DST reduces overall energy consumption. There is some evidence for a small reduction in electricity consumption. However, as we move to more efficient lighting, TVs and appliances, that supposed benefit shrinks.
On the other hand, notwithstanding Senator Markey's disingenuous assertion that DST is about energy policy the real benefiting constituencies are the retail, outdoor recreation and oil industries. I'm being generous to the senator by labeling him disingenuous otherwise I would be calling him too dumb to include energy consumption aside from electricity.
As mentioned in a 2007 NPR: All Things Considered Story - "The upcoming shift in the daylight-saving time change is designed to help retailers" And in the same report: "Daylight saving increases gasoline consumption something the petroleum industry has known since 1930"
A typical gallon of gasoline contains about 33 kwh of energy. A 5 mile round trip to the mall in a 25 mpg vehicle consumes about 1/5th of gallon or 6.6 kwh of energy. To waste more energy you need to leave three 100 watt incandescent bulbs on for 24 hours.
Why not just quit the dopey twice yearly clock setting exercise, pick DST or Standard time and call it a day?
