Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Daylight saving myths
Can't help myself. Western Power research published in The West Australian today shows that there was a barely measurable increase in energy consumption during the daylight saving period last summer instead of the decrease which is always hyped by its supporters. I'm guessing there would have been more of an increase if we hadn't had a milder summer than usual given that coming home when it is close to the maximum temperature (the hottest times of the day in summer are usually 2:00-3:00 pm Western Standard Time which is 3:00-4:00 pm Daylight Saving Time) will inevitably lead to more use of air-conditioners. But will logic affect this debate? We must wait and see.
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5 comments:
As much as I dislike daylight saving, I'm wondering if the research published in the West Australian took into account that perth population is increasing at a rate greater that 500 people per week or a total of 29,910 over 12 months (from bureau of statistics)
Hmm. i don't know but the increase was so minute as to barely be statistical so I guess we have to wait and see - or look up the actual research.
It would be interesting to see if the research was done properly. If it turned out we were using less power because of daylight saving, I'd persevere with it for that reason alone. But if turned out there was no difference or our power usage was actually worse, there's no way I'm voting for it. Of course, I probably won't be given a choice.
I'm glad not everyone likes daylight saving. I'd rather have the daylight early in the day rather than late, but I suppose people who work until 5.30 apprecaite the daylight lasting until 8.00pm.
While I sympathise with the evening people who can't/don't want to get up in the early part of the day I can't/don't cope well in the later part. My argument - intensified by every morning I have to get up in the dark - is that Nature designed us as we are so why not just accept that some are larks and some are owls and live naturally? That way neither of us is favoured?
Of course recent research shows that daylight saving has the same disruptive effect on people's physical well-being as shift work and that the effect doesn't wear off in a few weeks as we have all been told it does but persists for the duration. So where is the gain?
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