Does Daylight Saving Time save energy?

Daylight saving time (DST) was first proposed in the late 1800s. Researchers believed it would save energy by using less artificial light. However, this concept worked better when households had fewer electricity sources. Today, the average family has devices running around the clock — from HVAC systems to televisions. Consumers regularly use far more appliances now than when changing the time was originally suggested.

Most U.S. households contain 17 wifi-connected devices and other appliances requiring electricity. Additional data from the Energy Information Administration finds that over half of residential electricity is used on heating and cooling homes, whereas lighting accounts for only 5%. Considering these significant changes in consumer behaviors, it’s unlikely that DST saves a considerable amount of energy.

Daylight saving time is the act of adjusting clocks one hour forward in the spring and one hour back in the fall. In 2007, Congress established that DST starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Most states participate in daylight saving time, except for Hawaii and Arizona. Learn more about the history of this practice.

The legal implementation of DST has gone back and forth since 1918. It was first passed into law under the Standard Time Act on March 19, 1918, which established time zones across the United States during World War I to reduce energy costs. However, Congress quickly repealed DST in 1919 and left it up to local communities to regulate.

Daylight saving time was re-established during World War II, but its usage still varied until 1966 when the Uniform Time Act standardized times for DST across the U.S. In the following decades, the dates frequently changed for DST until 2007. That year, the U.S. set the currently accepted DST start and end dates in stone.

Today, daylight saving time is a heavily debated topic, with many turning against the practice. Multiple parts of the world have opted out, including most countries in Asia and Africa. In 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act was passed through the U.S. Congress to eliminate changing the clocks and permanently establish DST. However, the bill did not make it through the House of Representatives. Its future remains undetermined.

When does daylight saving time end in 2024?

In 2024, daylight saving time began March 10th and ends November 3rd.

Why are the energy savings so underwhelming?

The energy savings during daylight saving time dwindled as society became more technology-reliant. Today, households have dozens of electronics and appliances running at all times. Daylight saving time, in theory, only decreases how much artificial light we use. But it does not impact our usage of other sources of electricity, such as computers, televisions, and heating or cooling.

Will the U.S. end daylight saving time?

Some states, such as Hawaii and Arizona, have the ability to opt out of DST. Congress passed the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, but it remains to be reviewed by the House. As of 2024, the bill is still viable but has not been signed into law.