Daylight Savings Time a Bust?

[tulsa1603]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

quote:Originally posted by Johnboy976

It is nice to have more daylight. People are less depressed the more they are subjected to the sun during their day. Of course there is a point where there is TOO much daylight

There is not really any more daylight, just because we fiddle with our clocks.  If you want more daylight during your waking hours, just adjust the times you get up in the morning and go to bed at night the best you can.

Messing with our clocks has no effect whatsoever on the sun, the orbit/rotation of the earth, and the amount of daylight.  I think DST is a silly waste.

No kidding??!!  You mean it doesn't alter the earth's orbit??  

I think that DST is good for people who work a typical 8-5 schedule.  You get home at 5 and it's dark, you can't do anything in the yard, etc.  With DST, I can get home, mow the yard, and actually get some things done.  I'd rather wake up when it's barely light out if it means i can get home to sunlight.

[Conan71]

Wasn't part of the original idea for DST that individuals would consume less energy for lighting since it was assumed more people would be up in the evening hours rather than morning hours and they would need less over-all artificial light for their homes?

Seems like I heard that a long time ago.

[Steve]

I understand what you are saying tulsa1603, but the only time of the year it is dark at 5:00PM is late December-early January.  I don't know many people that do much yard work and mowing that time of the year anyway.  In the summer, standard time would mean darkness around 8:00 PM rather than 9:00 PM, still plenty of time to do outside work in the evening.  I still think DST is dumb.

[Steve]

From page A12 of today's World, reprinted from USA Today:

"GAS USE UP SINCE EARLY TIME CHANGE

Washington -- In a bid to save energy, Congress moved up daylight saving time by three weeks this year.  But so far, the change appears to have backfired after Americans last month used record amounts of gasoline as they got out to enjoy the extra hour of sunshine.
Average daily gasoline demand for the three weeks after the time change rose 2.8 percent from the same period a year ago and was the highest ever for the period, according to the Energy Department..."

Some argue that it was better weather and a "healthy economy," not DST that made for higher gas consumption.  I tend to think DST was the major contributor.  Lets just leave the clocks alone!  

[Rowdy]

quote:Originally posted by Steve

From page A12 of today's World, reprinted from USA Today:

"GAS USE UP SINCE EARLY TIME CHANGE

Washington -- In a bid to save energy, Congress moved up daylight saving time by three weeks this year.  But so far, the change appears to have backfired after Americans last month used record amounts of gasoline as they got out to enjoy the extra hour of sunshine.
Average daily gasoline demand for the three weeks after the time change rose 2.8 percent from the same period a year ago and was the highest ever for the period, according to the Energy Department..."

Some argue that it was better weather and a "healthy economy," not DST that made for higher gas consumption.  I tend to think DST was the major contributor.  Lets just leave the clocks alone!  

It is also important to mention the havoc this change does on some people's own body clocks.