Last year, Florida Senator Marco Rubio proposed the Sunshine Protection Act. The Senate passed the act, but the House of Representatives later denied it in its last session.
However, Rubio recently reintroduced the same bill on March 2, 2023.
If the Sunshine Protection Act passes, it’ll stop the tradition of turning back our clocks one hour every November and make daylight saving time (pushing our clocks one hour forward to standard time) year-round.
But what sort of impact would this legislation make? Let’s explore that question and what you could do with that additional daytime hour — including with your solar power.
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Daylight Saving: Its History and Context
For a little background, turning our clocks back one hour has been an American tradition since 1918. In an attempt to establish government oversight of time zones, Congress passed the Standard Time Act.
The idea of saving daylight hours goes as far back as a satirical letter Benjamin Franklin published in 1784. He suggested that the French fire their cannons to wake up citizens at sunrise alongside limiting the overuse of wax candles during night time.
[Related: Do Solar Panels Work at Night?]
Will the Sunshine Protection Act Pass?
Centuries later, at least 45 states have proposed their own legislation since 2015. This means they’ll either establish a permanent standard time or change their observance of daylight saving time.
However, states cannot legally make daylight saving time permanent.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), a state can observe daylight saving time, but it has to start and end on federally mandated dates. States can also exempt themselves from observing it — even if the Sunshine Protection Act passes. But ultimately, states don’t have the authority to follow a permanent daylight saving time.The DOT thinks handling state-by-state requests to drop daylight saving time will be tricky.
For now, the daylight saving tradition is here to stay — but the conversation isn’t over.
Impact of the Sunshine Protection Act
If the act passes, Americans will have more time to enjoy the sun during the darkest days of the year.
The bill’s supporters also argue that people will get better rest. In turn, they’ll be happier and more productive. And scientifically, sleep researchers think the brighter mornings that come with standard time more naturally align with the sun’s progression and our body’s internal clock.
There’s even evidence that calls for the end of daylight saving time because of physical risk. People have reported more car accidents and heart attacks in the days following the November time change.
But what about the solar energy benefits you can reap? Even if the bill passes, it won’t technically change how many hours your solar panels have to generate solar power.
Whether you’re waking up, working, having a meal, entertaining or sleeping, your panels will absorb sunlight and generate electricity as long as they’re on. They’re always working in the background doing the heavy lifting, allowing you to live your life with one less thing to worry about.
Now that we’ve covered the history and impact of Daylight Saving Time, how else can you use the extra daylight? Let’s take a look.
Ways To Use the Extra Daylight
Here are some fun ways to take advantage of the extra hour of daylight we get from daylight saving.
Have Outdoor Dinners
That extra daylight hour is a great excuse to have more family-style meals outside. So get that backyard or patio set up with comfy chairs and washable rugs, and get your dinner parties in full swing!
Buy Plants or Start an Herb Garden
Indoor and outdoor plants aren’t simply beautiful decor. Studies have shown they boost mood! You can adapt your morning routine to plant-tending — a great way to start the day peacefully rather than beelining to the coffee maker.
Catch the Sunset During a Walk
If you like to start your day right when the sun rises, you’ll likely have more leisure time later in the day. If that’s the case for you, take an evening stroll. You can catch the sunset as you wind down from work and all those daily duties.
Enjoy the Sun
This might seem like a no-brainer, but because there’s technically more waking daylight time, you can take advantage of it by being outside as much as possible.
Start reading or journaling outside. Absorb that good ol’ vitamin D. It’s great for the body — and the soul! Or should we say “sol”?
[Related: Tips To Save on Energy Costs: Solar Energy Savings and More]
Contact Freedom Solar To Harness the Sun’s Energy
Are you ready to leverage as much sunlight as you can? If so, get in touch with solar panel company Freedom Solar for a home solar installation.
We provide Maxeon (previously SunPower) solar panels — the highest rated panels on the market — and home battery backup, including the Tesla Powerwall. To ensure you generate as much solar power as possible for decades, we also offer a competitive 25-year warranty that covers your product, its performance and any future workmanship.
Looking for solar repair? Our maintenance and repair department can help you obtain maximum energy production and efficiency.
To get started today, call (800) 504-2337 or complete our online inquiry form for a free consultation.
Featured image via Unsplash