Time change allows Mexico to make major energy savings: expert

The time change in Mexico will allow the country to make major energy savings across the country, a researcher said.

Mexico switched to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, bringing clocks forward by one hour.

This switch would allow Mexico to save an amount of energy equal to the total annual electricity usage of the east-central state of Tlaxcala, said Manuel Martinez Fernandez, a renewable energy researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

"Until now, energy-saving measures have been fueled more by economic necessity than by conviction," a UNAM statement quoted Martinez Fernandez as saying.

"It is important to change the mentality. The United States has reduced energy consumption per capita by 40 percent while maintaining slight economic growth, thanks to government policies. We need to enter a similar cycle to convince people," he added.

The expert suggested that the government launch community actions, such as "efficient, sustainable and comfortable" public transport options, and called on each person to contribute to saving energy. Endi