Daylight Saving Time in Virginia

2027 Time Change Schedule

Time Until Next Change

Economic Impact of DST in Virginia

The economic implications of Daylight Saving Time in Virginia are significant and multifaceted. Retail businesses often report increased sales during DST months due to extended evening daylight hours, which encourages shopping and dining out. The tourism and recreation industries particularly benefit, with golf courses, theme parks, and other outdoor venues seeing revenue increases of up to 5%.

However, the transition periods create temporary disruptions. Studies estimate that the Monday following the spring time change results in approximately $422 million in lost productivity nationwide due to sleep deprivation and adjustment issues.

Agricultural Considerations

Farmers in Virginia have historically had mixed feelings about DST. While the original justification for DST included giving farmers more daylight hours, modern farming practices rely heavily on the sun's position rather than clock time. Dairy farmers particularly note that cows don't adjust their biological clocks, creating temporary disruptions in milking schedules.

Energy Consumption Patterns in Virginia

Recent studies on energy consumption during DST in Virginia show modest savings of approximately 0.8% in electricity usage. However, these savings are offset by increased gasoline consumption as people take advantage of extended daylight for travel and recreation. The net energy impact remains a subject of ongoing research and debate among policy makers.

Preparation Tips

✓ Update your car clock, microwave, and other manual clocks that don't auto-update.

✓ Use the extra evening daylight in summer for outdoor activities and vitamin D.

✓ Consider the time change when scheduling meetings with people in other time zones.

✓ Be extra cautious driving the Monday after the spring time change - accident rates increase.