WATCH ABOVE: It happens every spring: March rolls around and your clock rolls an hour ahead with it. It’s called Daylight Saving Time, but some communities are doing away with the practice. Margeaux Morin has more.
EDMONTON — It’s a certain sign that the spring season is near. The perennial practice of rolling our clocks forward occurs this weekend. But is it actually that beneficial?
Dr. Sharon Morsink, an associate professor with the University of Alberta department of physics doesn’t think so.
“I really think Daylight Saving is not necessary.”
At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, clocks will “spring forward” an hour to 3:00 a.m.
“You basically make it lighter in the evening and darker in the morning.”
The concept of Daylight Saving started shortly after the first light bulb was invented. When people came home from work in the dark, they used more energy powering their lights. By lengthening the evening sunshine, energy was conserved.
For northern communities that see large seasonal swings in hours of daylight, the practice makes us feel like there is more sunshine in the summer afternoons. This can have a big impact on those with a case of the “winter blues.”
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But not everyone is on board.
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The province of Saskatchewan doesn’t take part in Daylight Saving. And, the state of Arizona doesn’t observe the practice either. Having an extra hour of afternoon sunshine means powering air conditioners for longer in the sweltering heat.
“While it tends to be cooler in the southern states during the morning, you’re not likely to use your air conditioner as much,” said Morsink.
Russia plans to abolish the practice this October, partly due to increased dark morning car accidents that occur during Daylight Saving time.
“Because of Daylight Saving, we get really late sunsets in June, but it’s not really necessary is it?” asked Morsink.
So what do you think? Should Canada continue the practice? Take our poll below:
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