Daylight Savings 2024: What You Need to Know and Its Environmental Impact

Send your queries, questions and comments at contact@sustainabilityawakening.com

Daylight savings time is ending soon in 2024. On Sunday, November 3, we’ll “fall back” an hour and gain some extra sleep. But is this practice still helping the environment?

The concept behind daylight savings was simple: shift the clocks to save energy by using less artificial light. But as technology advances, many question if it still helps reduce our carbon footprint.

When we “fall back” an hour in November, the idea is to gain more daylight in the winter mornings. This shift was initially thought to lower electricity use. But does it still work?

Recent studies suggest that while daylight savings can still save energy in some places, the impact is much less than it used to be. Some regions even see increased energy use in the mornings.

In 2024, some parts of the U.S., like Arizona and Hawaii, do not observe daylight savings. These areas decided that the benefits don’t justify the hassle of changing the clocks twice a year.

Legislators tried to make daylight savings permanent. The Sunshine Protection Act, passed by the U.S. Senate in 2022, aimed to keep daylight savings year-round. However, it stalled in Congress.

As we face growing concerns about climate change, some experts suggest revisiting daylight savings. Could more precise use of the time change help save energy and benefit the environment?

In some parts of the country, like the northern U.S., daylight savings might still reduce energy use during long winter nights. But in warmer areas, it could lead to increased energy consumption.

For those of us concerned with living more sustainably, the debate over daylight savings is important. Should we keep the practice, modify it, or do away with it entirely?

While it might seem like a small change, daylight savings affects millions of people and impacts how we use energy. It’s more than just a clock change; it’s about how we adapt to our environment.

As daylight savings time ends this November, consider how these changes affect not only your schedule but the environment as well. Every small shift in energy use can make a big difference.