Timezone Offset Math

<?php
$event = new DateTime('2016-12-01', new DateTimeZone('America/New_York'));
$offset = $event->getOffset();
$domath = ($offset / 60) / 60;
echo $domath;
?>

<?php
$event = new DateTime("''.$episode_countdown_year.'-'.$episode_countdown_month.'-'.$episode_countdown_day.''", new DateTimeZone('America/New_York'));
$offset = $event->getOffset();
$domath = ($offset / 60) / 60;
echo $domath;
?>