What the hell is up with the mummy?! ([info]serialkarma) wrote,
2005-07-19 14:33:00
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  • Mood: confused

Please to clarify why more daylight savings time = energy savings!

[info]jink98, you in particular will be interested in this:

US lawmakers push a longer day to save energy.


But okay, I'm confused. And mostly that's because it's the middle of the afternoon, which is my worst time for being alert and cognitively functioning, not to mention the time I'm most inclined to be intellectually lazy.

Why exactly does extending daylight savings time by two hours save the country energy? On the one hand, they say stores and other businesses will be open while it's still daylight for more months out of the year. But farmers are apparently concerned because this means they'll have to start their workdays in the dark. Does that only apply to farmers? What about people who leave early to get to work?

How does this work, exactly? Can somebody with a bit more brainpower explain this to me in very simple terms?

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  • 12 comments

[info]teneagles

July 19 2005, 19:04:24 UTC 6 years ago

The national energy consumption rate drops by a little more than 1 percent when DST starts -- which doesn't sound like a lot, but is actually a fairly significant amount. The reason for this is that nearly 25 percent of the electricity used by individuals and businesses is devoted to lighting and small appliances, i.e. telly, radio, computers. The longer it's light at night, the less lighting is being used, and the greater the chances that people will be engaged in activities outside the home -- not watching tv, surfing the net, etc. Also, because DST reduces the period between sunset and bedtime by one hour, that's an entire hour of energy consumption saved.

While it's true that pushing the morning light back by an hour means that people are getting up in the dark, the type and duration of power consumption that occurs in the morning uses far less total power than is seen after sunset. Only during the four darkest months does DST not save enough energy to be beneficial, and the gov't wants to push it out by the two months that are currently not being used to full advantage.

[info]serialkarma

July 19 2005, 19:32:25 UTC 6 years ago

While it's true that pushing the morning light back by an hour means that people are getting up in the dark, the type and duration of power consumption that occurs in the morning uses far less total power than is seen after sunset. Only during the four darkest months does DST not save enough energy to be beneficial, and the gov't wants to push it out by the two months that are currently not being used to full advantage.

Ahhhh, that's it. That makes sense, then! Thansk! Hm. Now I'm inclined to go find out more about the history of DST.

[info]celli

July 20 2005, 00:55:34 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you *so* much for explaining that! Finally after all these years it makes sense. :)

[info]sbbo

July 19 2005, 19:17:51 UTC 6 years ago

This doesn't seem to make sense to me, but that's because changing the time doesn't effect how much light there actually is.

[info]serialkarma

July 19 2005, 19:33:20 UTC 6 years ago

but that's because changing the time doesn't effect how much light there actually is.

Yeah, that was my problem too, but [info]teneagles does a good job of explaining why it could be beneficial anyway.

[info]issaro

July 19 2005, 20:18:14 UTC 6 years ago

Did you know that the Department of Transportation has direct regulatory authority for the Uniform Time Act of 1966? Including setting of the time zone lines (for DST) and keeping track of who does and doesn't observe DTS? For instance, if some town in Indianna decided to observe DTS, they would contact the DOT. Or in Nebraska, if a town stradles the time line or runs along it and can show it's better to be in one zone or another, they can switch. Neat huh?

[info]serialkarma

July 19 2005, 20:59:46 UTC 6 years ago

Huh. Nifty! Why particularly the DOT?

[info]issaro

July 19 2005, 21:14:44 UTC 6 years ago

Because what time it is affects interstate transportation. I think it was the Railroad companies who invented time zones to begin with so that there trains crossing country knew what time it was and so did everyone else. And DOT took it over because it was transportation related. I *think* at least. Could so be very very worng =)

[info]teneagles

July 19 2005, 21:57:16 UTC 6 years ago

The system of time zones we use was invented by Sir Sanford Fleming; you're quite right that it was the railroads' use of it to standardise their schedules that popularised it and led to its adoption as International Standard time.

Usage of Standard Time was made mandatory by the US Congress in 1918, and regulatory responsibility was given to the Interstate Commerce Commission. When DOT was created in 1966, it took control.

[info]jupotter

July 20 2005, 12:54:44 UTC 6 years ago

I haven't even my coffee yet and it makes so much sense. Thanks.

[info]serialkarma

July 20 2005, 14:06:08 UTC 6 years ago

See, this is why I love LJ. I just *know* somebody out there will be able to answer my question! Fabulous!

[info]issaro

July 21 2005, 00:43:58 UTC 6 years ago

Awesome! I love when random shit I think I made up is actually kind of right! I don't know if it's scarier that I was headed in the right direction or that you knew all that to begin with *G* Thanks!
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