Why We Have Daylight Saving Time

[Psalm 51:17]

Why We Have Daylight Saving Time
11/2/13
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/why-we-have-daylight-saving-ti/19480657

Winter is approaching and our days are continuing to get "shorter," as the number of hours in a day remain the same but the number of hours of daylight decrease. On Nov. 3, daylight hours for most of us will end even earlier in the evening when we move our clocks back an hour to end daylight saving time. Many people will change their clocks, but do they know why?

Daylight saving time was primarily started in the United States for the sake of conserving energy. The Standard Time Act was passed in 1918, which officially established time zones and incorporated daylight saving months into federal law. This was during World War I, when national efforts were made to conserve materials for the war effort. It was believed that if daytime hours could correspond better with natural light, fewer tasks would need to be done at night. Homes would need to use less energy to stay lit.

After the war, daylight saving time was revoked. When food conservation became mandatory in the United Sates during World War II (rather than just being encouraged as it was in WWI), daylight saving time was once again instated. Referred to as "War Time," it spanned from early February until the end of September.

After the war "Peace Time" was back in effect and the issue of daylight saving time was handled on a local level. This led to a great deal of confusion as different locations were constantly operating at different times. The Uniform Time Act was passed in 1966 to solve the problem. States were given the option to opt out of daylight saving time if they passed proper ordinances.

With daylight saving no longer a federal mandate, some states have chosen not to observe it. The only states that don't currently participate in daylight saving are Arizona and Hawaii, with several U.S. territories choosing not to follow it as well. Arizona has such intense heat in daylight hours that it's not considered a benefit for its residents to be out for as much of it as possible.

As for Hawaii, its location closer to the equator gives them more consistent "days" year round. They wouldn't be gaining, or losing, many daylight hours by observing the clock change.

Daylight saving time (also called "summer time") is observed in many countries all over the world, though the time frame for it varies. In the United States it ran from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in October until the Energy Policy Act was passed in 2005. As of 2007, daylight saving now runs from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.

The argument continues over whether or not daylight saving time makes enough of an impact on energy costs to be worth observing.

[Kilika]

Here in Arizona, it does make sense to not go by a time change. The main reason here is the intense heat of summer. Any outdoor-related work is done as early as possible in the day, as the afternoon gets too hot for about 3 months a year.

As for saving energy, I don't see it holding true, if it ever did.

Today, people primarily work outside of the home, regardless of weather, so that means you have all those places they work are running power, while the power usage at the worker's home is minimal for most during daylight hours as most work a daytime shift. So, if anything, there is even more power usage during the day no matter what time it is.

I think it all hinges on shifting power usage away from residents, making it available for business and industry.