Energy Saver News; WattBusters - Halloween - The Trick or Treat of Daylight Saving Time

This year, we get to say goodbye to Daylight Saving Time at 2AM, October 31st, on Halloween morning. Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and reverts back to standard time at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. Depending on who you talk to, DST can be either a trick or treat.

The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin during his stay as an American delegate in Paris in 1784, in an essay, "An Economical Project." Some of Franklin's friends, inventors of the oil lamp, were so taken by the scheme that they continued corresponding with Franklin even after he returned to America.

In 1883, standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads but wasn't established into U.S. law until the 'Standard Time Act' on March 19, 1918. The act also established daylight saving time which was not well received then. Daylight saving time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law. Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early in World War II, and was continuously observed from February 9th, 1942 to September 20th, 1945. After the war its use varied among states and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.

During the Arab-Israeli War in October 1973, Middle East members of OPEC issued an embargo against the sale of crude oil to Israel's Western allies. In the United States, gasoline became scarce and prices jumped 40 percent, crimping the American economy. Following the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, Congress put most of the nation on extended Daylight Saving Time for two years in hopes of saving additional energy. In 1974, Daylight Saving Time lasted ten months and lasted for eight months in 1975, rather than the normal six months (then, May to October). This experiment worked, but Congress did not continue the experiment in 1975 because of opposition, mostly from the farming states. In 1986, a law was passed permanently shifting the starting date of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987. Adding the entire month of April is estimated to save nationwide about 300,000 barrels of oil each year. The ending date of daylight time has remained the last Sunday in October.

In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time. The closer you live to the North or South pole, the longer the summers. Thus, Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time) is not helpful in the tropics, and countries near the equator do not usually change their clocks.

According to a poll done by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans now like Daylight Saving Time because "more light in the evenings give them time to do more in the evenings." It sounds like you early birds are stuck with worms while the rest of the population gets to bask in the evening light.

There are some tangible, positive effects that result from Daylight Saving Time. It saves energy. We trim the entire country's electricity usage by about one percent EACH DAY with Daylight Saving Time. It doesn't sound like much, but the U.S. is a big country. In the average home, 25 percent of all the electricity we use is for lighting and small appliances, such as TVs, VCRs and stereos. A good percentage of that energy is consumed in the evening when families are home. When we're able to stay outdoors longer in the extra daylight hours, we're not turning on lights and appliances. There is less energy savings in the winter months because of late sunrise.

Another substantial benefit of longer daylight hours is the reduction of pedestrian and traffic fatalities. Improved visibility decreases (by four times) the likelihood of pedestrians being killed on the roads. Early birds should be aware that the dangers shift from evening to morning.

There is a reduction in crime with DST. People complete more errands and chores in daylight and exposure to various crimes seems reduced.

Occasionally people complain about daylight saving time. A frequent complaint is the inconvenience of changing many clocks, and adjusting to a new sleep schedule. For most people, this is a mere nuisance, but some people with sleep disorders find this transition very difficult.

Another complaint is sometimes put forth by people who wake at dawn, or whose schedules are otherwise tied to sunrise, such as farmers. Farmers often dislike the clocks changing mid year. As one poultry producer noted, "Chickens do not adapt to the changed clock until several weeks have gone by so the first week of April and the last week of October are very frustrating for us."

Come Halloween morning, be a good ghoul and say goodbye to Daylight Saving Time until April 3rd, 2005. It's been a treat.