Daylight Saving Time

Does the environment really benefit from Daylight Saving Time? In theory, an extra hour of daylight will replace an hour of electrical light. However, for all practical purposes, more energy is conserved by moving the clock forward by one hour. Energy-hungry air-conditioners are used an hour longer by adding an extra hour of sunlight to evenings. Most of the energy comes by burning climate-warming coal.

In 2007, U.S. President George W. Bush touted enacting earlier starting dates and later ending dates for daylight time in the name of "energy conservation".

But who really benefits by starting daylight saving early? It's certainly not the environment! The retailers lobbied strongly to start daylight saving earlier. An extra hour of daylight in the evening means more time for shopping after work.

After all, nobody likes shopping when it's dark outside...