Daylight savings all the time?

[Ken G]

Should we stay on daylight savings time all the time? Such a proposal has been bounced around here in Iowa. The idea is, in WWII, this in fact occurred, because it apparently does save energy. So why don't we do it at all times? The safety of kids on morning school buses doesn't seem to matter a lot if they are coming home in the dark instead. And the transition catches drivers by surprise and may actually cause accidents. Why not stay on it all the time? After all, noon doesn't come anywhere near the center of most people's day. Is there some reason we should prefer our darkness late in the day rather than early?

[Taks]

the problem is that all of those reasons are anecdotal at best, and actually proved wrong by all the places that don't ever go on DST (arizona, for example). IMO, we should stay on standard time always (which is now).

oh, and the energy thing is a farce as the energy savings are offset by the increase in air conditioning use. there is an economic factor, but some companies benefit and others lose. net gain is zero.

taks

[aurora]

Either we should have it all the time, or none of the time.

In the far north or far south (for example, in Canada or the northern US States, or in Argentina) daylight savings is stupid in the summer since it already is light until late in the evening without shifting the clock an hour.

Arizona and Hawaii have it correct, just don't bother.

[OptimusShr]

In the far north or far south (for example, in Canada or the northern US States, or in Argentina) daylight savings is stupid in the summer since it already is light until late in the evening without shifting the clock an hour.

Arizona and Hawaii have it correct, just don't bother.

Agreed. We have more daylight because of the rotation and tilt of the Earth and not by setting back clocks.

[Taks]

indiana does too, but they're switching over in 2006. that's only because of the trade issue with neighboring states, however.

taks

[swansont]

Agreed. We have more daylight because of the rotation and tilt of the Earth and not by setting back clocks.

It's more daylight when people tend to be awake. Without setting the clocks forward, the sun would be up at e.g. 5 AM and set at 7:30 PM where I live on July 21. I think most people stay up past 7:30, and only a small fraction of us are up and about by 6 AM.

[trinitree88]

In a lighter note....the local radio DJ suggested that everybody should turn their clocks ahead by 23 hours instead of back one.....that way you get one more day this year than everybody else! Now...what are you going to do with it? pete.

[hhEb09'1]

After all, noon doesn't come anywhere near the center of most people's day.

But it would be even farther off if we were on full time daylight saving time, right? Compared to standard time.

[Jens]

Should we stay on daylight savings time all the time? Such a proposal has been bounced around here in Iowa. The idea is, in WWII, this in fact occurred, because it apparently does save energy.

OK, I have a simple question about this. If we move the clocks ahead one hour permanently, won't people eventually adjust by changing their schedules back one hour? If suddenly we move the clocks ahead, people who are used to setting their alarm clocks at 7 will continue to do so. But eventually, young people may start getting up at 8 instead of 7. And then, companies will start to begin work at 10 instead of 9. And then you have people waking up at the same time as before the change.

If we really want to go back to a more natural pattern, how about shutting off the electricity grid at 9 o'clock every night?

[swansont]

OK, I have a simple question about this. If we move the clocks ahead one hour permanently, won't people eventually adjust by changing their schedules back one hour? If suddenly we move the clocks ahead, people who are used to setting their alarm clocks at 7 will continue to do so. But eventually, young people may start getting up at 8 instead of 7. And then, companies will start to begin work at 10 instead of 9. And then you have people waking up at the same time as before the change.

This assumes a degree of organization that is unprecedented. To a large extent schedules are dictated by employers, so you'd have to have them all conspire to shift their schedules around, otherwise it would cost them money.

When the clocks spring forward, I could choose to sleep in and get up at the same solar time. But the traffic patterns I avoid by getting up earlier are going to foil me unless everyone else agrees to do the same thing. I don't see it happening.

[aurora]

Daylight savings time assumes that we are too stupid to adjust our schedules ourselves, and someone has to tell us when to get up and when to go to sleep.

If we just left it alone, people would set their own schedules, stores would open and close when it made the most sense.

In Hawaii, most stores close at 4 PM, because that makes the most sense for them.

[The Mangler]

4 PM? That seems a little early... Why does that make the most sense? Do people stop shopping after that?

[swansont]

4 PM? That seems a little early... Why does that make the most sense? Do people stop shopping after that?

Of course they do - the stores are all closed!

[Ken G]

Of course they do - the stores are all closed!

The only person still shopping is Yogi Berra...
(By the way, I can't verify this claim-- I lived on Oahu but don't remember the store hours being unusual. Then again, what's a store?)

[aurora]

4 PM? That seems a little early... Why does that make the most sense? Do people stop shopping after that?

In the smaller towns, yes. In the cities, of course, places are open later hours or 24 hours. But most people start work early in the morning, when it is cool, and then leave work early. Since the sun sets close to the same time year around, and since when it sets it is headed straight down, there isn't that long lingering twilight we get in higher latitudes.

So, they get their outdoor stuff done early.

they didn't need daylight savings time to tell them when to start work and when to leave work. They figured out what was best for themselves.

I think it also has to do with TV. In previous decades (before internet, before 100+ cable channels, yes there was a time before the internet!) people tended to set their schedules by the major TV networks ("prime time"). If true, that would explain why people in the eastern US tend to stay up "late" while people in the western US tend to go to bed "early".

I realize I am oversimplifying, but I think TV viewing habits in the '60s and '70s tended to drive some of the behaviour we still see.

[swansont]

In the smaller towns, yes. In the cities, of course, places are open later hours or 24 hours. But most people start work early in the morning, when it is cool, and then leave work early. Since the sun sets close to the same time year around, and since when it sets it is headed straight down, there isn't that long lingering twilight we get in higher latitudes.

So, they get their outdoor stuff done early.

they didn't need daylight savings time to tell them when to start work and when to leave work. They figured out what was best for themselves.

I think it also has to do with TV. In previous decades (before internet, before 100+ cable channels, yes there was a time before the internet!) people tended to set their schedules by the major TV networks ("prime time"). If true, that would explain why people in the eastern US tend to stay up "late" while people in the western US tend to go to bed "early".

I realize I am oversimplifying, but I think TV viewing habits in the '60s and '70s tended to drive some of the behaviour we still see.

Since, as you admit, the sunrise and sunset times don't vary much, I don't see how you can conclude what the people would do under different circumstances. At locations closer to the equator daylight saving isn't needed for this very reason. Do people in Arizona actually adjust their schedules, as your thesis predicts?

[aurora]

Since, as you admit, the sunrise and sunset times don't vary much, I don't see how you can conclude what the people would do under different circumstances. At locations closer to the equator daylight saving isn't needed for this very reason. Do people in Arizona actually adjust their schedules, as your thesis predicts?

Well, when I lived in southern Arizona, I had to bike 6 miles to the University. In the spring and fall, I would leave home before sunrise, and I would stay at the U until the sun started to go down. For obvious reasons.

In the winter, I would leave after sunrise (unless I had an early morning class), as even in Tucson it can get frosty overnight in the winter.

So I adjusted my schedule to the sun when I lived in Arizona.

I'm sure other people there do something similar.

[swansont]

Well, when I lived in southern Arizona, I had to bike 6 miles to the University. In the spring and fall, I would leave home before sunrise, and I would stay at the U until the sun started to go down. For obvious reasons.

In the winter, I would leave after sunrise (unless I had an early morning class), as even in Tucson it can get frosty overnight in the winter.

So I adjusted my schedule to the sun when I lived in Arizona.

I'm sure other people there do something similar.

But that's an adjustment to temperature. Did the university change its schedule to accommodate the changes in sunrise? That is how I interpreted your contention. e.g. 8 AM classes in winter, but 7 AM classes in summer, to utilize the extra daylight.

[Wolverine]

The idea is, in WWII, this in fact occurred, because it apparently does save energy. So why don't we do it at all times?

The recent changes to DST passed by Congress adding two months worth beginning in 2007 not only repeated but relied upon these "energy saving" claims to effect their enactment.

From here:

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT), which has jurisdiction over DST, studied the results of the experiment. Based on consumption figures for 1974 and 1975, DoT reported that observing daylight time in March and April saved the equivalent of 100,000 barrels of oil each day, or approximately 1 percent of the nation's energy consumption.

I see the same figure claiming a saving of 100,000 barrels in the press as well, like here.

However... from here:

Based on consumption figures for 1974 and 1975, The Department of Transportation says observing Daylight Saving Time in March and April saved the equivalent in energy of 10,000 barrels of oil each day -- a total of 600,000 barrels in each of those two years.

I see the same figure claiming a saving of 10,000 barrels on other governmental pages, such as this one.

So which is it, 100,000, or 10,000? Not like an order of magnitude matters or anything.

Was satisfactory evidence ever compiled to substantiate the claim in either case? The source seems to be a DoT study performed during the energy crisis some thirty years ago, which doesn't appear to have been repeated.

Not trying to get political here whatsoever, mind you -- just looking for evidence regarding the above. They appear far-fetched to me.

[Ken G]

Exactly why we need our population to be better critical, and quantitative, thinkers! It's like they are thinking, 10,000 or 100,000, it's just another zero. Zero isn't anything, so it must be the same! A big number either way, right?

[gopher65]

People use more energy during the day then they do at night. Therefore longer daylight ours = more energy useage. People also tend to use airconditioners more when it is light (even if the temperature is the same).

[Wolverine]

People use more energy during the day then they do at night. Therefore longer daylight ours = more energy useage. People also tend to use airconditioners more when it is light (even if the temperature is the same).

Living in central Texas, I usually have to start running my (central) air conditioning around the clock in late April or early May, and can usually switch it off this time of year. This isn't based upon time, but exterior and interior temperatures. Be it 11:00, 17:00, 19:00, or 21:00, it's still hot out in the summer and my a/c will be running. If I don't run it continuously, it puts more stress on the system and is harder to cool my home rather than maintaining a consistent ambient temperature.

[The Mangler]

I agree, it can be just as hot at night, and that A/C better be kickin' or you're not going to get much sleep. (I can not fall asleep if I'm hot or sweating.) If you're going to run the A/C 24hrs., where does the savings come in?

[SolusLupus]

You can do what one man does in the SCA. Go without electricity. His name is Robin in the SCA, which is the Society for Creative Anachronism. Since we do medieval re-enactment (uhm, sorta), he's perfect for it... since he might as well be back in the Dark Ages. No heating, no electricity, and he lived with his dog until he had to put her down.

No, really. It sounds difficult, and it definitely would be at first. But when you think about it, when your body adapts to it, you grow less and less disliking of it. You get used to temperature fluctuations (though you would still need to take precautions to avoid overheating or freezing!)

For instance: If you eat tasteless gruel, you hate it when you compare it to your normal food. But what would happen if you had gruel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for years on end? You start to dislike it less and less!

Would I give up electricity? Heck no, I'm a wuss.

[Taks]

But what would happen if you had gruel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for years on end?

ritual suicide.

taks

[Gillianren]

You can do what one man does in the SCA. Go without electricity. His name is Robin in the SCA, which is the Society for Creative Anachronism. Since we do medieval re-enactment (uhm, sorta), he's perfect for it... since he might as well be back in the Dark Ages. No heating, no electricity, and he lived with his dog until he had to put her down.

No, really. It sounds difficult, and it definitely would be at first. But when you think about it, when your body adapts to it, you grow less and less disliking of it. You get used to temperature fluctuations (though you would still need to take precautions to avoid overheating or freezing!)

For instance: If you eat tasteless gruel, you hate it when you compare it to your normal food. But what would happen if you had gruel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for years on end? You start to dislike it less and less!

Would I give up electricity? Heck no, I'm a wuss.

You know, one of my favorite parts of SCA events is coming home after and taking a shower. But, yes, the events are pretty fun.

[SolusLupus]

ritual suicide.

Bah, your loss.

Personally, I would love to get used to eating gruel all my life. Then, I switch to nice steaks. The taste would be that much more exquisite.

As well, I'd hate to be like the Koreans, and eat such spicy food that it destroys all my tastebuds, and I can only taste and enjoy that which is spicy. One Korean kid I knew, had only about a few spoonfuls of soup left, and he dabbed more hot sauce into the remnant than there was remnant!

[SolusLupus]

Gillian - you're a member? O.O

[Gillianren]

Gillian - you're a member? O.O

What do you think the "ren" means?

But technically, no. Not currently. Haven't paid the membership fee. However, if I did, I would be in the Barony of Glymm Mere, Kingdom of An Tir.

[SolusLupus]

Ahhh, kewlies. Ansteorra myself.