Jay Sawyer of Chester Dr Talks About the Pros and Cons of Daylight-Saving Time

Jay Sawyer of Chester Dr Talks About the Pros and Cons of Daylight-Saving Time

History of DST

 DST was implemented in the United States nationally on Mar. 31, 1918 as a wartime effort to save an hour’s worth of fuel (gas or oil) each day to light lamps and coal to heat homes.  It was repealed nationwide in 1919, and then maintained by some individual localities (such as New York City) in what Time Magazine called “a chaos of clocks”.  It was in the year 1966 that the Uniform Time Act made DST consistent nationwide.

DST in the US

 Jay Sawyer of Glenview, IL highlights that in the United States, 48 states participate in Daylight Saving Time.  Arizona, Hawaii, some Amish communities, and the American territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) do not observe DST.  55% of Americans said they are not disrupted by the time change, 28% report a minor disruption, and 13% said the change is a major disruption.

Jay Sawyer’s Opinion

 According to Jay Sawyer of Glenview, IL, 40% of Americans would prefer to stay in Standard Time all year and 31% would prefer to stay in Daylight Saving Time all year, eliminating the time change.  He has further observed that later daylight means more people shopping after work, increasing retail sales, and more people driving, increasing gas and snacks sales for eight months of the year.

Impact of DST

 Jay Sawyer of Chester Dr understands the barbecue industry estimated their profits increased $150 million for one month of DST.  In 2007, an estimated $59 million was saved because fewer robberies were committed thanks to the sun being up later.  Compared to Phoenix, Arizona, which does not have DST, Los Angeles, California, shoppers spent 3.5% less at local retailers after DST ended in the fall.

Thank You Jay Sawyer, Chester Dr