Energy & Environment Need Permanent Standard Time

Save Standard Time
2 min readJun 18, 2021

Daylight Saving Time observation (not the changing of clocks) wastes energy and increases pollution. Artificially moving an hour of daylight from mornings to evenings might reduce evening lighting costs as originally promised, but any savings is canceled by increased morning lighting. Furthermore, modern lighting is not a considerable energy expense when compared to the far-less efficient expenses of heating and air conditioning.[Bambrick][Handwerk][Kotchen & Grant 2008–10][Kotchen & Grant 2008–12][Porter]

DST increases demand both for morning heat and evening air conditioning.[Albeck-Ripka][Bambrick][Kotchen & Grant 2008–10][Kotchen & Grant 2008–12][Porter] DST also encourages more evening driving, which led the petroleum industry to become a major lobby for DST.[Bambrick][Block][Cohen][Handwerk][Porter] These increases to heating, air conditioning, and driving all increase energy costs, pollution, and climate change.[Bambrick][Handwerk][Kotchen & Grant 2008–10][Kotchen & Grant 2008–12][Porter]

When Indiana changed from permanent Standard Time to summertime DST in 2007, annual consumer electricity demand rose 1 to 4%. This jump cost residents an extra $9M per year in utilities, and up to $5.5M annually in added pollution expenses.[Bambrick]Korch][Kotchen & Grant 2008–10][Kotchen & Grant 2008–12] The same effect was seen in Sydney, Australia, when DST was extended for the 2000 Summer Olympics.[Handwerk] Energy waste could be even worse in regions with greater populations or more extreme weather.[Kotchen & Grant 2008–10]

Read more of Save Standard Time’s concerns, browse over a hundred sources, interact with the Sunrise Chart, see the list of policy endorsers, take action, browse images, and read more about Save Standard Time on our website: SaveStandardTime.com

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Jay Pea, Founder, Save Standard Time

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Save Standard Time

End Daylight Saving Time. Permanent Standard Time lets us sleep later for health, mood, safety, education, economy, and environment. We’re a 501(c)4 nonprofit.