03/06/2026
Happy Frazier Friday! We are all about energy education. Curiosity got the better of me and I needed to know.. what was the effect on day light savings time and energy? I felt like Mythbusters, and went way down the rabbit hole.
Daylight saving time (DST) shifts the clock forward by one hour in the spring to extend evening daylight and back one hour in the fall to return to standard time.
DST began during World War I as a way to conserve energy by reducing the need to turn on lights. The U.S. adopted standard time zones in 1883 to help railroads coordinate schedules and later made DST official through the Uniform Time Act in 1966.
As DST ends on March 7, you may wonder if this long-standing tradition saves energy. DST was originally believed to save electricity due to increased daylight hours. However, data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that lighting only makes up about 5% of residential electricity usage.
When the Standard Time Act introduced daylight saving time in 1918, most homes used electricity mainly for lighting. Today, heating, cooling, water heaters, and appliances account for most energy use. These activities don’t depend on daylight.
While DST may have once helped conserve energy, its impact is minimal in modern homes. Still, the tradition creates debate about whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. - data courtesy of saveoneenergy-
Looking to update your outdoor lighting as we move into the warmer temps? Give us a call! 804-732-8658. Illuminating the world or at least the Tri Cities, one circuit at a time.