BBC NEWS | Americas | US time switch set to save energy

NOW THIS IS SMART

US time switch set to save energy:

"The US is switching to daylight saving time, or summer time, three weeks earlier than usual to cut fuel consumption and help the environment.

At 0200 EST (0700 GMT) clocks will move forward by an hour, shifting an hour of daylight from morning to evening.

Summer time will last until 4 November, a week later than in previous years.

The extra four weeks are expected to help cut energy consumption, as demand falls for electricity in the evening if it is still light.

The measure was signed into law in two years ago as part of the Energy Policy Act which aims to encourage new energy technologies.

Representatives Edward Markey and Fred Upton, who sponsored the amendment to the original bill, said it was expected to save $4.4bn in energy bills by 2020 and avoid the need to build more than three large electric power plants.

They said it also would save 279 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and avoid nearly 10.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

'The change in the beginning of daylight saving time is just one step towards making our country more efficient in its usage of energy and conscious of our environment,' Mr Markey said on Wednesday.

'Not only will Americans have more daylight at their disposal for four additional weeks in the year, but we will also see wide"