You probably know it by now (hopefully) that the day-light saving time has started three weeks Earlier this year than the usual time last year. The idea behind this was to save money by cutting the energy costs (by waking up an hour earlier). But Nick of Punny Money thinks that we’ll actually end up spending more.
- That extra hour of daylight isn’t coming from anywhere. No act of government can lengthen a day. All that’s happening here is that an hour of morning light is becoming an hour of evening light. So instead of having your lights on for an extra hour each night, you’ll simply have them on while you’re getting ready for work each morning.
- Schoolchildren in the dark. With sunrise pushed back so late, some kids may be waiting at their bus stops in complete darkness. You can bet a lot of worried parents will either wait there with their gas-guzzling SUVs running or simply drive them in for a few weeks.
- Software reprogramming. You Microsoft Windows users out there likely received a software patch for the earlier Daylight Saving start without realizing it, but Microsoft probably spent a good bit of money putting that patch together. Likewise many other computer systems will require adjustments to their calendars, and those adjustments often come with a hefty price tag for software makers.
- Schedule changes. Some businesses will have to alter their operating schedules to compensate for the earlier change in daylight. Airlines have already complained that flight rescheduling will cost them millions.
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If we don’t consider all those negative factors, then we’ll save some. How much? Well, If you have five 60W light bulbs, you can save a maximum of $0.86 by starting the DST 28 days early [(28 days )* (1 h/ day) *(5 light bulbs) * (60 W/ light bulb)*(1kW/1000 W)*($0.1022/kWh) = $0.86].
Eighty-six cents? Yeah, you heard it right!!
