A local sleep expert is cautioning lawmakers to follow the science when considering changes to twice-yearly time adjustments.
The sun won’t crest the horizon in Edmonton until nearly 10:00 a.m. on December 21st now that Alberta has adopted Daylight Saving Time on a permanent basis.
Dr. Sheila Garland of MUN’s Sleep Health and Wellness Lab says the decision by some provinces to adopt Daylight Saving Time year-round goes against established scientific evidence.
Dr. Sheila Garland (via Memorial University of Newfoundland)
“The evidence is clearly in favour of Standard Time over Daylight Saving Time. There is no question, there’s no ambiguity in terms of the science.”
“Permanent Standard Time generally is more in line with our Circadian rhythms…and we know that the exposure to sunlight in the morning hours is the most important anchor for those biological processes.” That includes energy, mood and concentration.
