Light switches and energy bills: does daylight savings still matter in 2025?
Twice a year, clocks across the UK shift forward or backward for Daylight Savings Time, and last Sunday they jumped back. An extra hour in bed?
While it may feel like a minor change, each year we see the shift has an impact on how energy is used, both at home and in local businesses across Yorkshire.
First introduced in the early 20th century, Daylight Savings Time (DST) was created to make better use of evening daylight and reduce electricity use. In a time when lighting relied heavily on electric lamps, shifting daylight hours helped cut usage during peak times.
Today, the conversation around DST continues. Energy-efficient lighting and modern smart systems have changed the way we consume electricity, raising questions about whether the clock change still makes a difference. Some believe it may even increase heating and cooling use during darker mornings.
Still, sunrise and sunset patterns can affect how and when systems are used. While not as dramatic as decades ago, noticeable changes still occur, especially when utility bills show seasonal fluctuations.
Many homeowners and businesses in our area take the clock shift in stride. Still, adjusting settings slightly can help prevent excess usage and manage costs more smoothly over time.
Powering up and down: the real energy impact of time change
When DST begins, habits naturally shift. An extra hour of daylight in the evening could mean fewer lights used around dinner, while cooler mornings may cause heating to start earlier. These shifts largely depend on local weather conditions, building use, and how systems have been programmed.
Homes often experience the most change. Later sunsets mean lights stay off longer, while earlier sunrises may delay the need for indoor lighting. Heating, on the other hand, may ramp up earlier when mornings are darker and colder.
Commercial properties can also be affected. Retail spaces might benefit from evening sunlight offsetting window lighting. Yet an office running fixed HVAC schedules could use more energy if systems operate before daylight begins.
Energy usage reports across regions with similar daylight patterns suggest modest but measurable shifts, especially where lighting and temperature control are concerned.
To adapt, ask these questions:
- Are your heating and lighting systems programmed with timers or daylight sensors?
- Have they been adjusted since the last time change?
- Are you paying attention to when lights and heating kick in?
Answering these can help pinpoint small timing mismatches that impact energy use more than expected.
Smart homes and time changes
With smart thermostats, timers, and lighting more common in homes and workplaces, DST has introduced a subtle challenge. These systems are designed to manage power more carefully, but they must sync with actual time to stay accurate.
Some devices update automatically with the time change. Others may require manual correction. It’s not uncommon to find systems running on outdated schedules. Even an hour off can create waste, like lights turning on in the afternoon or heating powering up far too early for need.
For businesses, automated energy systems help manage usage and track performance. After the clocks change, small errors in programming can lead to inefficiencies, especially during the high-demand hours these setups are intended to address.
Every time DST occurs, it’s useful to review your systems. Check your app or display hub. Confirm that every setting you rely on is still working within the right timeframe. A five-minute check can prevent days’ worth of small issues, including wasted power or tenant complaints.
- Check that your devices updated correctly.
- Look for unusual power spikes or unexpected light usage.
- Adjust timers to match new sunrise and sunset times.
Time to improve your electrical setup
DST continues to affect more than sleep. Be it keeping your heating reasonable on cooler mornings or making sure lights operate only when needed, small changes in energy use can add up quickly over each season.
Basic updates, like resetting a thermostat, adjusting lighting timers or updating control schedules, can bring noticeable improvements with almost no cost.
If DST has left you with timers out of sync or schedules running in the wrong hour band, help is readily available. Full Circuit Electrical is here to keep your smart systems current. Be it a single heating unit or a full commercial automation setup, we can ensure your settings suit each season.
Reach out now via our contact page to book a review or an energy efficiency checkup.
At Full Circuit Electrical, we’ve spent decades working with local clients in York, Harrogate, Ripon and nearby areas. Our experienced electricians offer straightforward, practical help to get homes and businesses running smoothly, without unnecessary extras or confusing upsells. Your DST clock may be old-fashioned, but the way your energy system reacts to it doesn’t have to be. We’ll help you get it sorted, properly.