Daylight Savings Time Is Coming
The opportunity to enjoy longer sunny summer evenings by moving our clocks an hour forward in the spring is near. Though it may mean more energy and an elevated mood, it may not be an easy transition. The implementation of Daylight Saving Time has been fraught with controversy since Benjamin Franklin conceived of the idea. Even today, regions and countries routinely change their approaches to Daylight Saving Time.
When Is Daylight Savings Time?
In most of Canada, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. local time on the second Sunday in March. On the first Sunday in November areas on Daylight Saving Time return to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. This change in Daylight Saving Time will keep Canada’s Daylight Saving Time pattern consistent with the United States which enacted into law a broad energy bill that will extend Daylight Saving Time in the same manner.
Benefits of Daylight Savings Time:
Daylight Savings and Less Energy Usage
Following the 1973 oil embargo, the U.S. Congress extended Daylight Saving Time to 8 months, rather than the normal six months. During that time, the U.S. Department of Transportation found that observing Daylight Saving Time in March and April saved the equivalent in energy of 10,000 barrels of oil each day – a total of 600,000 barrels in each of those two years. Likewise, in 1986, Daylight Saving Time moved from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in April. No change was made to the ending date of the last Sunday in October. Adding the entire month of April to Daylight Saving Time is estimated to save the U.S. about 300,000 barrels of oil each year. Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time commenced on the second Sunday in March and ended on the first Sunday in November, thereby saving even more oil.
Decrease in traffic accidents
Several studies in the U.S. and Great Britain have found that the DST daylight shift reduces net traffic accidents and fatalities by close to one percent. They found that an increase in accidents in the dark mornings is more than offset by the evening decrease in accidents.
Economic Benefits
There may also be an economic benefit to DST, as daylight evening hours encourage people to go out and do more things. They may go to the movies, go shopping, or attend sporting events potentially spurring economic growth. In 1984, Fortune magazine estimated that a seven-week extension of DST would yield an additional $30 million for 7-Eleven stores, and the National Golf Foundation estimated the extension would increase golf industry revenues $200 million to $300 million
Beverly’s Hot Tips Building Resiliency and Adjusting To Daylight Savings Time:
The research on the benefits of daylight savings time are varied and controversial in their results. We do know that clock shifts disrupt sleep and reduce efficiency. Effects on circadian rhythms can be severe and last for weeks. One study found that although male suicide rates rise in the weeks after the spring transition, the relationship weakened greatly after adjusting for season. A Swedish study found that heart attacks were significantly more common the first three weekdays after the spring transition, and significantly less common the first weekday after the autumn transition. Therefore it is important to take note of the impact that the clock shifting has on your sleep, mood and focus. Ensure that you are getting a good night’s sleep before this occurs to minimize the impact of this shift.
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