Sick of Daylight Saving Time? Here’s the Case For & Against Ditching It

Each fall we get an extra hour of sleep when we push back the clocks, only to lose it again in the spring. It’s not only a hassle, it’s actually a health hazard, so many states are pushing to end the practice. And the idea is pretty popular. In one survey, only 19% of people supported keeping time changes.

The disagreement, however, lies in which time we should make permanent: daylight saving time, which is what we have after we advance the clocks in the spring, or standard time, which are the hours we keep through the winter.

Here is the case for instating permanent daylight saving time, including the pros and cons for ending our leap forward in the spring.

What Is Daylight Saving?

Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of setting clocks forward by one hour in the spring, then moving them back one hour in the fall. This maximizes natural daylight in the summer, by giving us more sunlight at the end of the work day.

The History of Daylight Saving Time

The modern use of daylight saving time hearkens back to World War I. In 1916, Germany implemented it to conserve energy, by reducing the need for artificial lighting in the evening. Other countries, including the U.S. and the United Kingdom, followed suit by enacting it during both world wars. The U.S. then standardized it nationwide with the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

But, the idea goes back to Benjamin Franklin, who introduced it in 1784 through a satirical essay advising Parisians to wake up earlier to benefit from morning sunlight, plus reduce their candle usage, says Grace Carter, a historian at Academized.com.

Originally, daylight saving time was implemented to conserve energy, but since our habits and technologies have changed over time, that is not necessarily the case anymore.

The Debate Surrounding Daylight Saving

The debate around ending time changes mostly revolves around health, economics and practicality.

Reasons to Stop Time Changes

The main reason for stopping time changes is that it’s unhealthy. “This is huge for me as a sleep expert!” says psychologist Dr. Leah Kaylor. “The biannual clock changes can disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to sleep disturbances, increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and other health issues.”

In fact, heart attacks increase by 24% during the week in March after we spring forward. Then, beyond directly saving lives, the fatigue we experience during the days following the time change also increases traffic accidents and decreases work productivity. For example, the major financial markets tend to average negative returns on the Monday following both clock switches.

In addition, some people support the change for environmental reasons. Beyond decreasing energy use, a healthier population reduces healthcare-related resource consumption and pollution, says Rob Boyle, founder of Emission Index.

Time changes are also disruptive to ecosystems since when humans change their schedules, it, in turn, upends wild animals’ circadian rhythms, says Boyle. “Animals depend heavily on predictability of daylight and darkness for feeding, breeding and rest, so when we suddenly become active at different times, it disturbs their routines, causing confusion, stress and sometimes behavioral changes,” he says.

Why We Should Keep Daylight Saving Time

Supporters say permanently keeping daylight saving time, when the clocks are set forward during the warmer months, is the way to go because extra daylight at the end of the day:

• Reduces traffic accidents since evening commutes are twice as fatal as mornings;
• Decreases crime, as light discourages foul play, and crime rates are 30% higher at night;
• Saves energy since more people are sleeping at sunrise and thus using less power. During California’s electricity shortages, they estimated that 3.4% of the state’s winter energy use could be saved by keeping clocks forward.
• Boosts retail sales and tourism since people tend to shop and dine out when it’s still light out.
• Encourages outdoor physical activities and social interactions. “The extra daylight after work hours keeps people engaged outside, a very good means to ensure mental health and physical fitness,” says Dr. Sham Singh, a sleep expert at WINIT Clinic. Plus, “Longer daylight hours during the eve feel so good physically and mentally.”

Reasons To Keep Standard Time

The main argument for keeping standard time is that doctors and sleep scientists say it’s better for our circadian rhythms, as more light in the morning sets us up for better sleep cycles.

Also, some argue that standard time still saves energy because evening energy savings are mostly offset by increased energy use during darker mornings, and because warmer evening temperatures lead to more air conditioning use.

What Do the Experts Say?

Nearly everyone agrees that ending the practice of changing the clocks twice a year is long overdue. But when it comes to setting them permanently to daylight saving time or standard time, experts are divided.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the majority of sleep researchers support eliminating daylight saving time, citing scientific evidence of its downsides to health, says Carter. On the other hand, many argue the added benefits of daylight saving time — including reduced traffic accidents, crime and energy use, plus the health benefits that come from being more active in the evenings — outweigh a decision based solely on circadian rhythms. Industries including tourism and retail are also in favor of keeping it, because of its business benefits.

FAQ

What states are getting rid of daylight saving time?

Arizona, Hawaii and the Navajo Nation do not participate in daylight saving time, nor do the American territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

More than half of the other states have considered legislation to stop time changes. Some want to permanently switch to daylight saving time, while others want to stay on standard time. Either way, they can’t enact any change without U.S. Congressional approval.

“Although Congress has shown increasing support for it recently, Congress has yet to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which aims to establish permanent daylight saving time across the nation,” says Carter.

About the Experts

• Grace Carter is a historian and writer at Academized.com, who specializes in modern history and cultural analysis, engaging storytelling to explore historical events and their lasting impact on society.
• Dr. Leah Kaylor is a licensed prescribing psychologist who has been specializing in sleep for six years, and author of the healthy sleep book, “Sleep Advantage.”
• Dr. Sham Singh is a sleep and mental health expert at WINIT Clinic, and is based in Santa Monica, California.
• Rob Boyle is founder of Emission Index, a site dedicated to mitigating climate change and encouraging sustainable lifestyles.

Sources

• Brandon Young is CEO at Payless Power, which he founded with his brothers in 2005, and which started Texans for Fair Energy Billing (TXFEB) for consumer advocacy and market fairness.

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