How permanent Daylight Saving Time could affect homeowners

Currently, most homeowners change their clocks twice a year: forward by one hour on the second Sunday in March and back by one hour on the first Sunday in November. However, this longstanding ritual may come to an end, thanks to the Sunshine Protection Act, which was passed by the US House and aims to make daylight saving time permanent year-round.If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the act would lead to lighter evenings and darker mornings.And whether it’ll work in your favor depends on where you live. Homeowners in Alabama, Florida, and Texas, for example, would enjoy more usable daylight while those in Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin could see much later sunrises and limited daylight hours.Regardless of where you live, it’s important to understand how permanent daylight saving time might affect your home and lifestyle.

That way you can prepare for the changes if the legislation does become law. With more daylight in the evening, you’ll be less reliant on artificial indoor lighting when you’re awake and active.And this could slightly reduce your electricity use. However, any savings may be offset by increased heating and cooling demands. “The dark, cold winter mornings that stem from permanent daylight savings would mean that your furnace will need to work harder before sunrise,” says Brandon Young, CEO of Payless Power in Fort Worth, TX. In the summer, the additional sunlight can keep your house warmer later into the evening, forcing your air conditioner to run when energy use is the highest. “As for the landscaping, additional sunlight can allow you to take care of your lawn in the evening rather than wait for the weekend.

You might also have to adjust when you water and maintain your lawn,” Young explains.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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