KSBY News San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles - Is energy saved during Daylight Saving Time?

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- Is energy saved during Daylight Saving Time?
- Is energy saved during Daylight Saving Time?

Posted: Mar 9, 2010 5:14 PM
Updated: Mar 9, 2010 9:48 PM

Daylight Saving Time is right around the corner. It's meant to save energy but does it? There are mixed reviews. Back in 2005, the Federal Energy Policy Act was passed extending Daylight Saving Time by four weeks. The first extension went into place in 2007. Again, it was all designed to save energy.

Daylight Saving Time kicks back in this weekend. We "spring ahead" on Sunday, losing an hour of sleep. These days, it starts three weeks earlier than it once did.

Kory Raftery, PG&E Spokesman, said, "It has made a slight difference." It seems the effort to conserve energy has made an impact in our state. Raftery said, "We have found through the California Energy studies that over the extended Daylight Saving Time period, folks are actually saving a combined 11 million kilowatt hours or enough to power 1600 homes in California."

But there are some who question if it actually wastes more energy than it saves. Tom Ikeda, local farmer, said, "I'm just not sure how, if it really effects the electrical use that much. At least, for a farmer." Employees of the farm in the Arroyo Grande Valley will soon have to start their work day later." Ikeda said, "The electricity we're saving maybe in the evening, we're using in the morning. We're getting up even earlier and those light switches go on, the coffee maker goes on and all that."

"Basically in reducing our energy demand, we're going to save a slight amount each year but that slight amount adds up," said Raftery.

Is extending Daylight Saving Time worth it? It appears only time will tell. Farmers said one other area of concern is the time period to water their crops. They say Daylight Saving Time cuts into the off peak energy hours which of course, is less expensive.

Neutral + − !

Chip J at Mar 13th 2010 10:58 PM

'Daylight Savings Time' is BS! There are only 23 hours and 59 seconds in a day, period. Big business executives have more than enough time to play golf while everybody else works. Why do they need another hour? Leave the Clocks alone!

Who cares...more daylight is better. at Mar 10th 2010 2:22 AM

I like the way Arizona does things (Always daylight savings with no change). I do tend to save energy during daylight savings....If it is light outside then I am outside and not watching tv or running the ac thus saving electricity. I love winter but hate that it gets dark so early...I get way more done during daylight savings time and tend to be much more active in the community. If you set your ac/heater at reasonable temps and raise or lower the settings when not at home you will save a lot of money on your bill(67 heat and 76 ac when home work for me). There are many high efficency heating and ac systems out that can greatly reduce your heating and ac costs (Paso Robles heating and air conditioning installed mine).

Low + − !

guts at Mar 9th 2010 11:25 PM

The "slight difference" Kory from PG&E speaks of is in the company's revenue, which means they are raking in the DOE on the public's stupidity.
How can any reasonable human being believe that having more daylight during the summer months, when it is hotter outside and people are running their air conditioners more, is going to save ANYONE any energy? Not to mention that in the summer is when PG&E usually raises their rates for electricity. Coincidentally, the cold winter months is when the Gas Company raises theirs. Can you say "price gouging" on a global scale?
People can be so gullible to buy that load.

It is all about the big energy companies making bigger and bigger profits, year after year.

For God sake people, if you want to save energy switch the time changes so there is less daylight in the summer. Or better yet LEAVE THE CLOCK THE HELL ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!