The clocks are changing this weekend, marking the end of British Summer Time.
After Northern Ireland’s warmest summer, according to The Met Office, clocks will go back on Sunday.
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When do the clocks change?
Our clocks will go back by one hour on Sunday at 2am, making it 1am. It marks the end of British Summer Time, and the start of shorter days and longer, darker nights.
However, people will get an extra hour in bed on Sunday.
Is the change really needed?
Daylight Saving Time was a concept first proposed by William Willett in 1907, while the practice of changing the clocks twice yearly dates back to 1916, initially to boost industrial productivity and conserve fuel used for lighting and heating across Europe during the First World War.
However, since then society has changed.
Some believe benefits of abolishing the change include money savings on energy consumption and less disruption to circadian rhythms.
If it was abolished, would it make a difference?
Not overly.
Dr David Laverty, a Reader in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science argues that modern electricity use is dominated by activities such as electronics, cooking and heating, which are largely unaffected by a one-hour shift in the clock.
So, any reduction in energy use from the clock change is “likely to be negligible.”
What else can we do?
Dr Laverty believes we need to adapt the ways in which we consume energy, rather than adapting the clock, through smart appliances that run when electricity is cheaper or more abundant, or pricing systems that vary by time of day.
The Consumer Council is encouraging customers to do this.
Raymond Gormley, Head of Energy Policy told The Irish News: “Use this hour wisely, to see if you can save costs on your electricity, gas or home heat and oil.
“For electricity consumers, we’ve got switching comparison tables and tools. Go on, put on your details and that will output different scenarios where you can save money on your tariffs.
“Being on a standard tariff is the most expensive way to pay for your energy. Look at ways you can change either your payment method or supplier. It’s the same for gas.
“For home heat and oil, the daily oil price checker shows people what the cost of oil is so you can make an informed choice as to when to buy oil.”
