Saturday, 13 March 2010

• Should We Keep Daylight Saving Time?

  
  

  It's that time again, the time we all dread, when as if we're not all sleep-deprived enough as it is, we're forced to give up an extra hour when the time (farcically perceived as a constant in our lives) "changes." Yes, this weekend is Spring Forward meaning all the clocks have to be set back an hour. And yes that includes the one on your microwave, unless you're as lazy as me and have left it the same as last year before Fall Back.
  However, aside from the annoyance of having to change every clock in your house, car, moped, etc. studies have shown actual negative health and financial effects as a result of Spring Forward.
  
  The concept of Daylight Saving was conceived by Benjamin Franklin in the 1700s but was made into a policy in the US during World War I in order to conserve energy. The theory is, I guess, that people will run their lights less in the evening if the daylight is extended. However, studies have shown negative effects which result from the sleep deprivation in the days following the shift forward in the Spring, in which we lose an hour of sleep. According to an article on CBSNews.com, the number of serious heart attacks goes up 6 to10 percent on the first three workdays after the time change.

  The same article points out negative financial aspects as well. Sleep deprivation on the Monday following Spring Forward results in large negative returns on Wall Street. I would also think that there would be significant losses in productivity early that week due to sleep-deprived employees. 

  There are, however, some benefits to Daylight Saving. It does reduce overall energy use. While the amount per household is negligible, it is significant on a large scale. Studies have also shown that traffic fatalities are also reduced as a result of having more light in the afternoon. 
  

  Just don't forget to spring your clocks forward at 2 am. Whether you agree with it or not, you don't want to run late for anything!
  

  Do you think we should continue to have Daylight Saving Time? Do you think the rewards outweigh the risks?
  

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