Next Sunday 26 March, as usual, the clocks will change to daylight saving time. The clocks will have to be adjusted and 2:00 a.m. will become 3:00 a.m., i.e. the clocks will go forward by one hour.

TRUTH OR MYTH IN THE ENERGY SAVING OF THE TIME CHANGEOVER

Since 1940, Spain has been changing the time twice a year. But… Will there be a definitive change? At the moment it does not look like this will be the last change, as the government has fixed the start and end of summer time until 2026.

The aim of the time change is to adjust the working day to the hours of daylight in order to make better use of daylight and save energy. This change corresponds to the beginning of spring, when the days start to last longer and temperatures rise, giving way to summer. But does the time change bring about energy savings?

According to the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), the time change allows a 5% reduction in electricity consumption, which is equivalent to 300 million euros per year, between homes and businesses. For this to happen, it is necessary to dispense with artificial lighting when it is not necessary and make intelligent use of energy-consuming equipment, such as heating, domestic appliances, etc.

There are theories that defend and affirm that the time change has positive effects depending on the climate, but, on the other hand, there are hypotheses that affirm that the time change has negative effects on people’s health by affecting their mood.

As we have mentioned, for the time being, the time change will continue, but to save energy we can follow some tips on our own, such as:

  • Use energy-saving LED bulbs, as in the long term it always pays to choose this type of lighting because of its duration and the difference in consumption.
  • Buy efficient low-consumption appliances and use ecological programmes.
  • Keep the house at the right temperature. For example, by installing a thermostat that regulates the heating temperature to avoid sudden changes in temperature.
  • Insulate the home well to keep it warm or cool, as a large part of a home’s heating needs are due to heat loss, mainly through doors and windows.

Do you want to know more about energy? Access the Nara Solar blog.