Daylight Saving Time – why do we change?

Why do we use Daylight Savings Time?

The original idea, was conceived to save electrical energy for household lighting. As the days became longer and warmer, people tended to do more activities at the end of the day. These activities at the end of the day required lights to be turned on. It was reasoned that people wasted the daylight hours in the morning, by sleeping. If you advanced the time people woke in the morning, and had them go to bed sooner at night, you would use less lighting and therefore save energy. Thus we Spring Ahead and Fall Back by an hour.

Does Daylight Saving Time Work?

You’ll get both yes and no answers based on who you talk to. While the theory sounds good, there are several factors that come into play, to determine the net effect: shift-work, sporting venues in summer months, etc. Several studies have indicated there is a slight savings in energy use during the few weeks just after the time change. However, there also so studies that show an increased rate of traffic deaths due to the changes in time. How to we weight all the variables?

Why do we “Fall Back”

It would seem to me that most of the reasons to “Spring Ahead” also support “Staying Ahead”. As well, the disadvantages of making a change in time, such as increased accidents, poor concentration, etc., would be eliminated if we stayed with the longer daylight interval at the end of the day.

What are your thoughts on daylight saving time? Keep it as is? Stay with “regular” time?

Bruce – GreenTerraFirma.com

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Filed under: Climate Change, Uncategorized