Comments on: Daylight Saving Wastes Energy, Study Says

By: Beefeater

Beefeater — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:28:02 +0000

Once again Arizona is in the lead on this nonsense. Now if SRP could just figure out what to with all the water that they have been releasing from our reservoirs this winter. I guess they’re making room for the record snow pack to melt this spring.

By: David B. Benson

David B. Benson — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:41:24 +0000

You believe anything you read in WSJ?

By: Paul K

Paul K — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:22:08 +0000

I contend that daylight savings is essential to twilight golf and must be preserved no matter what the consequences.

By: John Mashey

John Mashey — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:35:15 +0000

David: re WSJ:
It is wrong to dismiss the reporting is often excellent.
Just skip the OpEd.

We had a long discussion over in Deltoid, http://scienceblogs.com/ deltoid/ 2007/ 10/ john_mashey_what_to_do_about_p.php#more ,
but see especially #8 by a well-informed commenter. I’ve had a fair number of email conversations with reporters there, who seemed quite sensible.

Also, in the space of days:
a) WSJ editorial offered one of their usual “AGW is a hoax” rants.

b) WSJ news offered a straightforward story about the increasing wine production and quality of the British Columbia Lake Okanagan area due to multi-decadal warming. As a frequent visitor to that area, I can attest to that.

By: Steven Kimball

Steven Kimball — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:18:16 +0000

I don’t understand how air conditioner use is affected by DST since most usage takes place neither in the evening nor in the morning, but in the middle of the day, which is unlikely to be affected by an hour shift in time.

By: Dan G.

Dan G. — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:33:08 +0000

To keep in perspective the article quotes a source as saying the results would probably not apply to northern states. It is only in the higher latitudes where DST has a significant impact on many aspects of life. Simple math shows electrical usage increase due to DST (in Indiana) is around 1% annually? For Northerners, it may be worth it. Someone be pleased to check my math.

By: RhapsodyInGlue

RhapsodyInGlue — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:12:47 +0000

The contention about air conditioners would seem to make sense to me for modern professional life. You work in an office during the hottest part of the day with the A/C off at home. During daylight savings the house has had 1 hour less time to cool down when you arrive home and start using A/C.

Speaking hypothetically, given that I live in Southern Cal, in a 1922 house with no A/C.

By: Douglas Watts

Douglas Watts — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:40:57 +0000

The more important point is the enormous waste of energy via air conditioning due to air conditioners being used even when the air temperature is not that high, and the old “you need a sweater in the supermarket in July” effect.

If you removed artifacts from unnecessary air conditioner use, the study might show different results.

By: Jimbo

Jimbo — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:50:18 +0000

There is no benefit at all to daylight saving in tropical or equatorial regions. That’s the bit the DS enthusiasts seem to be unaware of. If we were to set the clocks forward during summer in Delhi; Darwin or singapore… most people would then be getting up for work in the dark.

Daylight saving may be advantageous to temperate regions (and maybe slightly in sub-tropical regions but not to the same extent) but it isn’t right to make a sweeping statement implying that daylight saving saves energy based on a study done in one location.

Good article BTW.