Daylight saving time starts soon in NC. There are many downsides, say critics
Daylight saving time is almost here, which means we’ll soon lose an hour of sleep.
Most of the U.S. begins daylight saving time on the second Sunday in March and reverts back to standard time on the first Sunday in November.
This year, daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m.
Daylight saving time means less sleep, but it also gives you an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings during the warmer months.
The changing of the clocks also has a variety of other benefits and has led to a push for permanent daylight saving time, but some say it does more harm than good.
How is daylight saving time beneficial?
Research shows that daylight saving time is an effective way to conserve energy.
A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy found that the four-week extension of daylight saving time in 2008 saved about 0.5% of the nation’s electricity per day, or 1.3 trillion watt-hours – which is enough to power 100,000 households for an entire year.
Studies have also shown that the extra hour of daylight has resulted in safer roads, lower crime rates and economic benefits.
What are the downsides of daylight saving time?
Critics of daylight saving time say more dark mornings could lead to grogginess for commuters and parents who drive their children to school.
According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, insufficient sleep can lead to cardiovascular issues, increases in diabetes and obesity and poorer mental health.
Naysayers also argue that daylight saving time doesn’t conserve energy, since lighting accounts for less overall energy consumption, and the clock change leads to people cranking up their air conditioning and heating units.
Other concerns about daylight saving time included disruptions to harvesting schedules for farmers, interference with religious observances based on solar and lunar time, and potential delays in reworking computer systems programmed to switch twice a year.
