[Prince]

Back in 2005 it was announced that DST would be reduced in 2007. Instead of ending at the end of March, it will end at the beginning. This weekend is the first reflection of that switch. It will also start a month later, so end of November instead of end of October.

When oil and gas prices went through the roof after Katrina, it seemed like the DST changes were put in place. I could be wrong, but I think the change was made by the government so that we could save oil. Unfortunately, cutting DST only will reduce about 10,000 barrels of oil per day, if I remember the numbers correctly.

All of this seems like a huge hassle with the possible computer glitches, changes in electronic programming, and over all general costs of doing such a switch. With all of this, it doesn't seem worth the 10,000 barrels of oil per day that would be saved for 7 weeks a year.

So what is the real reason for changing DST times?

[nemo]

I have pondered this subject myself. I think DST is daft. Astronomical time for the win!
If we feel the need to mess with the 00.00-is-midnight and 12.00-is-noon concept, we might as well use GMT (or some other arbitrary standard time) globally and adjust our local schedules to suit us best.

[strider3700]

DST changes where made entirely as a test of an energy saving concept. Basically they are hoping to save a crap load on lighting costs for a few months out of the year. If the changes don't work out congress in the US has the right to go back to the old system.

Not sure about the amount of oil saved but I'd assume the electricity saved will be substantial. Besides I'm looking forward to an extra hour of light in the evening right now.

[nemo]

I have no objection to the notion of making the most out of the bright hours of the day - I just think that resetting all clocks twice a year is a stupid way to go about it. Just get up an hour earlier (or whatever) and be done with it. Noon should be noon!

[eastbay]

I'm just guessing, of course, but isn't this daylight saving nonsense saving about the same amount of energy as turning out the lights in Las Vegas for about an hour?

Seriously folks, I know everyone says it's all about saving energy, but I have my doubts.

[jdmartin]

I couldn't care less about the reason for moving. I can't wait for it to get here. Changing your own schedule around doesn't work that well for people who work, since most jobs don't tend to say "OK, everyone come in an hour earlier and go home an hour earlier".

[TheDude]

Is it part of the PNAC?

[I_Like_Plants]

One reason I have heard for DST is, since Americans are all cars now, DST cuts down on the times driving looking right into the sun and thus it cuts down on accidents.

Originally DST was to save candles, way back in the day. People at that time did not know that 200 years hence to be American would mean to eat 30,000 calories a day, use 200 slaves' worth of energy to get around, etc.

[WildRose]

http://www.timeanddate.com/laws/us/ener ... t2005.html

Most parts of Canada and US have adopted the same changes to DST this year. Apparently, it's being done to see if consumption of energy (mainly in business, I guess) can be reduced (Energy Act of 2005). Also, I read somewhere else that it only makes sense that Canada adopts the same changes because of trade, business between the two countries.

[dunewalker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Prince', 'B')ack in 2005 it was announced that DST would be reduced in 2007. Instead of ending at the end of March, it will end at the beginning. This weekend is the first reflection of that switch. It will also start a month later, so end of November instead of end of October.

[Prince]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('woodcutter', 'I') think you have this backwards. DST (Daylight Savings Time) is enacted in the spring, then removed in the autumn. The dates of change are being discussed, but as the clocks are turned forward in the spring, we enter into a zone of artificial time, until we return to natural time in the fall (ie. when noon on our clock corresponds to the zenith of the sun). Hopefully I got this right...

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '(')ie. when noon on our clock corresponds to the zenith of the sun)

[nemo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 'C')hanging your own schedule around doesn't work that well for people who work, since most jobs don't tend to say "OK, everyone come in an hour earlier and go home an hour earlier".

[sysfce2]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mekrob', 'B')ut true noon at 'noon' is very rare (with or without DST), is it not? I believe that true noon occurs roughly at 12:30. Of course true noon will be even further off thanks to DST.