So, we have all Sprung forward, but WHY?  This chart shows where DST (Daylight Savings Time) is still in use and where it is not.   Blue is where it is currently observed, Orange, where it is no longer observed, and Red, where it has never been observed.

OK, so we get an extra hour of daylight when we “spring forward”, but we loose an hour of much needed sleep each March, daily.  Do we get to make-up, or get that Read the rest of this entry »

     It’s that time of year again when we spring forward.  Only this year, we really got a jump on it, an entire two weeks earlier.  It turns out we can thank President Nixon for the idea.  He signed it into law back in January 1974.  It’s Indiana’s first time of jumping on board in thirty years. Not the whole state though.  It seems most of the state doesn’t want to be on it. Only the population hubs came onboard, so that they are in sync with Chicago, Cincinnati, and Louisville.  So, most of Indiana and Arizona are the only states that stick to Standard Time.  Studies have shown in the past that DST saves energy, in many cases increases productivity at work, and may be a factor in reducing crime rates.

     The longer days don’t just mean we have to get up earlier.  It is a great time to make some adjustments around the house that can help save money.  Here are five things you can do to get started.

     Open your shades, curtains, or blinds during the day to let the daylight in.  It helps reduce both heating and lighting costs.

     Reset the timers on interior lighting and HVAC sytems to coincide with your daylight work hours and hours of operation.

     Adjust your outdoor lighting to come on when you need it.  Especially in areas of walkways and parking.

     Change your timeclocks and security systems to reflect the longer days and seasonal holidays.

     Keep anything with a photocell clean, so the lights come on only in response to darkness, instead of when the photocell is dirty.