Time to study

Opinion

Discussion

March 13, 2010

Anonymous The Kokomo Tribune Sat Mar 13, 2010, 11:26 PM EST

If you read the newspaper first thing Sunday morning and didn’t set your clocks ahead one hour before bed, you’re late for church.

Don’t be embarrassed. There are dozens of area families that’ll get a late start this morning. Daylight-saving time began at 2 a.m. today, and many Hoosiers still aren’t used to it.

Indiana started its statewide observance of DST four years ago. And though we’ve heard anecdotes of more time for evening recreation and increases in business activity, a 2008 study claims daylight-saving time is costing Hoosiers money.

University of California-Santa Barbara economics professor Matthew Kotchen and student Laura Grant analyzed 7 million meter readings of Indiana homes served by Duke Energy Corp. They found DST costs Hoosiers an extra $8.6 million in energy bills each year.

Higher air-conditioning costs in the summer and additional home-heating costs during spring and fall mornings are to blame, the study’s authors said.

A 2007 study of the temporary extension of daylight-saving time in two Australian territories also found increases in energy consumption, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Now, we won’t suggest Indiana do away with DST, or ask the U.S. Department of Transportation to put the majority of the state on Central Time. With Chicago at our northwest, Louisville at our south and Cincinnati at our southeast, those cities’ Hoosier commuters never will be happy about the time.

Besides, after several counties changed time zones, only to ask the Transportation secretary to switch them back again, we doubt the secretary’s office will ever take another call from an Indiana official.

But the UC-Santa Barbara study should compel the federal government to study DST’s affects on U.S. energy usage. The government also should determine whether daylight-saving time reduces crime and traffic fatalities, as its proponents claim.

“Springing forward” the second Sunday in March and “falling back” the first Sunday in November might not be worth the costs or the hassle of changing a clock in a car.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Opinion

If you say so
In an opinion piece we published Thursday, state Rep. Mike Karickhoff announced why he voted against “right-to-work” legislation. His reason: The community told him to.

February 5, 2012
Cheers and jeers - Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Karickhoff acted ‘cowardly’

The Rev. Robin Wentworth Mayer and Horst G. Mayer of Kokomo send the Jeer for state Rep. Mike Karickhoff’s silence during the “right-to-work” debate:

“Mr. Karickhoff, for someone who’s new to office, you’ve certainly learned the art of talking out of both sides of your mouth.

February 3, 2012
Let’s drug test our lawmakers
Perhaps it’s appropriate that a measure passed by the Indiana House this week would ask not only welfare recipients but Indiana lawmakers to consent to a drug test.

February 3, 2012
Editorial - Feb. 2, 2012: Peru delivers a message
The issue: Peru’s collection of $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed.

Our view: Aggressive enforcement can help a city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.

February 2, 2012
Karickhoff: Reason behind my ‘right-to-work’ vote
There is no doubt the “right-to-work” debate has brought mixed emotions, not only to our state but District 30 as well. There were only a handful of House Republicans who did not vote in support of this legislation. Let me explain why I felt it was necessary for me to vote in opposition to right to work.

February 2, 2012
Heinig: ‘Right-to-work’ law to arouse continued resistance
I wouldn’t call Gov. Mitch Daniels a charismatic leader, but he does possess some leadership skills. If he didn’t, he couldn’t have brought us this far along the happy trail to his economic Valhalla.

February 2, 2012
Applications made easier
This is an exciting time for the families of our community’s high school seniors. College acceptance letters are being distributed.

February 1, 2012
Take charge for safety
A 36-year-old Kokomo man is due in court today. He is to be arraigned on two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

January 30, 2012
The next chapter for "Right-to-WorK"
Democrats did the right thing Wednesday by finally showing up to allow a vote on the so-called “right-to-work” measure.

January 29, 2012
Cheers and Jeers Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012
‘True heart’ of the heartland

Tony Dungy, NBC football commentator and former coach of the Indianapolis Colts, sends this Cheer for the Super Baskets of Hope program for hospitalized children:

January 28, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Discussion

Time to study

Site Map

Contact Us