Early Daylight Saving Time a Failure
Wed Apr 4, 2007 12:45PM EDT
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Hey, remember that trouble we went through all those weeks ago in updating our computer, PDA, and cell phone clocks so we could get with the U.S. government's decision to move Daylight Saving Time ahead by three weeks? Well, we did it all for nothing. The results are in: We didn't conserve any energy at all.
Turns out the conventional wisdom and some common sense really had it right: Setting clocks forward an hour in early March forced people to get up when it was still dark and cold outside, causing increased use of light and heat in the morning hours. Though we may have saved a little power in the evenings, any savings were offset by additional morning use. Reuters notes that most large utility companies are noting they have seen no change in power consumption over the last three weeks.
What's this mean for technology? Well, governments don't like to admit their mistakes, so I highly doubt we'll be returning to the slightly-saner standard DST schedule any time soon. And really, that would wreak even more havoc on your computers, as you'd have to unpatch or re-patch all the hard work you already did getting your systems ready for the change in the first place.
There's also that little issue that DST now ends in November. (Word has it the candy companies pushed for the change so trick-or-treaters could stay out later, thus increasing candy sales.) My bet is after a few years, after the current administration has ended, the DST rules will change again: We'll move back to an April "spring forward" but will continue to "fall back" at the November date.
Now give me a Twix.
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7 Posted by aceledon on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse
If we really wanted to save energy, we should have left the time as is, but be allowed to leave work an hour early. That would have saved lots of energy.- Mine!
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8 Posted by commorancy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse
As if the candy companies aren't already making a mint off of obese people today. Let's give a few more daylight hours to rot more kid's teeth, get them hooked to candy and make them even more obese. What a great idea!
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9 Posted by rorbincalendar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:51PM EDT Report Abuse
It's a shame that people like "commorancy" above no longer factor parents responsibility into what their children eat. To them it's always evil capitalist greed while adults are just powerless pawns in their master plan who can wash their hands of the parental duties and responsibilities. Are you people serious with this stuff?
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10 Posted by cwthe3rd on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse
The is NO DST in Arizona or Hawaii!
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11 Posted by elfinsong@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse
Oh rorbin, rorbin, rorbin you misspelled little bird. Your question: Who cares about saving energy..... well now that just says it all doesn't it?
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12 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
why don't we just abolish the daylight-saving(losing) time thing alltogether. I mean really, it was designed for farmers who got up early in the morning... and well, this isn't a farming-centered country anymore. and for those who are farmers, most have light towers or at least headlights.......so no, we don't need this [annoyance] any more.
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13 Posted by michael_w_anderson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:18PM EDT Report Abuse
Why do we need DST in the first place? It's a ridiculous notion that needs to be eliminated entirely. Doing it for the 'farmers, kids going to school, energy conservation, whatever' is a load of govt. speak hogwash.
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14 Posted by tkdnsacountry on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse
Who cares one way or another. Just pick a way and leave it the same all year round. Why keep switching back and forth. regardless if we havemore daylight in the mornign or the evening we still have 24 hours in the day. And on whichever end of the day the darkness falls more energy via the form of electric light will be used. Not that this little bit of electric light is the problem. Technology is ever changed and the moe technology is developed and makes it's way into the mainstream the more energy will be used. Also there will always be people who take everything for granted. In someways it is a good thing, and other ways it is bad. And I mean by this, that if you listen to people talk they will say they strive to give their children things that they did not have. Well, if you give it to them they are going to use it. If you don't teach them to conserve they won't learn. I mean reaally if you have a bag of chips as a snack in early afternoon and you know that you can have a whole new bag in the evening, why save any. On the other hand if yu have a bag of chips in the early afternoon bu tyou know that's all you are getting for the entire day, then maybe you will save some for later in the day. It's like a kid with money. He just has to spend it. Doesn't matter if he really wants what he's buying or not. But it have anything to do with rather we get up in the morning to darkness or light. If you're awake for 12 hours a day you are going to use the energy that you need for those 12 hours.
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15 Posted by elfinsong@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:53PM EDT Report Abuse
Actually in was to allow farmers to shop after getting out of the fields. Stores use to close at 5:30 or 6:00. Malls extended that to at least 9:00 and there are many places that are 24 hours. This practice wastes a lot of energy but negates the reasoning for DST
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16 Posted by degoose_99 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:40PM EDT Report Abuse
WE may or may not have saved any energy with Daylight Saving time coming early, but being from the South where the weather (up to this week) has been beautiful, I have been able to work in the yard, plant my flower beds, take long evening walks, or just sit outside and play with the dogs. Where before we were stuck inside because it was already dark outside. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET RID OF CABIN FEVER EARLIER THIS YEAR AND I LOVE IT
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17 Posted by mlwedell on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse
Hello?! Daylight savings has NOTHING to do with saving energy! This is strictly a ploy by the Chamber of Commerce (the biggest lobbying group in support of daylight savings -- check it!) and other retailers to make an extra buck! It's simple: studies have shown that people will simply do more shopping in daylight than at night. Imagine that you are driving home from work and its getting dark out: would you rather just get home so you can have dinner and go to bed or stay out and shop a little at some store on the way home? How about if instead of getting dark out, you still have an extra hour or two of daylight? Would you be more likely to stop at Best Buy or run into the mall (maybe eat something at the food court while you're there) knowing that you'd still get home before it gets dark out? Most people would -- and do! If anything, daylight savings INCREASES energy consumption of gasoline from vehicles being driven around longer. Let's not kidd ourselves about daylight savings having any part to play in energy conservation, it's simply not true.
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18 Posted by axispcc on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse
It stays lighter longer, sooner in the year. Forget saving energy.
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19 Posted by somebodys_here on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse
Everyone knows that DST was started after WW2 (or during, I can't really remember which), but it wasn't used everywhere. Then the government decided to basically make a law forcing you to observe it. Really it wasn't a law, as it was called "The Uniform Time Act of 1966" which stated that: "If you are to observe daylight saving time (DST), then you have to observe it uniforomly." Meaning that if the head or your local government wants to make everyone deal with that [illogical] WASTE of time, then you have to (deal with it). I've hated all this (governmental) controll over how we live our lives, but what can you do? Obviously they don't care about what the people think or they would've abolished it years ago. Just my opinion.
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20 Posted by lacar4u on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse
The change in Day Light Savings time could not happen soon enough to my liking, I wish like Arizona and Someparts of Indiana that we did not change our clocks at all. Getting up in the dark or semi dark as I found it, makes no difference, but having the light in the evening is much more convienent and allows you to finish projects in light. But if we can't joing them, I would rather they turn the clocks forward as soon as they could. Its much better for the economy also. thanks, dj
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21 Posted by kenlon76 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:49PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree 100% with your comments. Please count my vote if you're taking a tally.I will write my congressman about this. Thanks for your reporting your findings. Ken Wilhoite kenlon76@yahoo.com
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22 Posted by plateblks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:14PM EDT Report Abuse
To number 3 the electric meters are read by cell phone from different points in the area, from a contracted company with several trucks or cars loaded with all of the equipment. One of the companies is Cellnet.
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23 Posted by chevys4evr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:23PM EDT Report Abuse
the best thing we could do is tell the GOV. to get there nose out of our busness, leave things alone, go on an contune to screw us with more taxes (they r good at this) make some more stupid laws. yes they are really good at this. moving tiem ahead or back should have stoped a long time ago. it is stupid, does nothin but make a real mess of things and does not save time or money. ask Indiana, they never have change time, and it works real good there.
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24 Posted by sougent@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:34PM EDT Report Abuse
Though it may not have saved energy, I think it did have one benefit. I live and commute in Los Angeles, and I swear the traffic improved after the time change. I do know it consistently gets worse for a time after we switch in the fall, and now I'm convinced that traffic improves in the spring when DST hits then. So I'll take the change, anything that makes the commute better is ok in my book.
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25 Posted by joand318@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse
Don't be so anti U.S. government. Keep your mind open to new ideas and try them once in a while. Not everyone is out to get you. I used to go to work and come home from work in the dark during the end of DST. Now I get to see sunlight in the evenings! That is certainly worth the $3 and change it MIGHT cost me in utility bills.
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6 Posted by rorbincalendar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:51PM EDT Report Abuse
A failure? How? As far as myself, my family, and friends we were all glad for the extra daylight at the end of the day. We got to eat dinner and still take the baby out for a walk before dark. Who cares about conserving the energy or a little darkness in the morning, it added to the enjoyment of my LIFE! Thank you to the current administration!