Ready to spring forward tonight at 2 a.m.? Today's WP reports that Congress is considering a bill called the Sunshine Protection Act that would have us observe daylight savings time for the entire year. Supporters of the bill cite public health studies showing spikes in depression, heart attacks and sleep disorders immediately following time changes.
Economic research also is influencing the debate. A 2015 study found that crime decreased in the spring with later sunsets (and was not offset by more crime in the morning). Another study found that there were no energy savings resulting from daylight savings time in the summer. Daylight savings time reduces demand for lighting, but these savings have dissipated as lights have become more energy efficient. Also, workers come home earlier than they would have under standard time and run the air conditioning more.
I am not sure how the politics on daylight savings sort out; to my knowledge no one has yet asked Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez her opinion.
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