Daylight Saving Time: Love it or Leave It?

 

Daylight saving is implemented in over seventy countries worldwide and affects over a billion people each year.  Like many events from the past, the origin is debatable, but the fact remains that the point of Daylight Saving Time is to take advantage of the longer periods of sunlight to save money.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) was used during ancient times as daily schedules such as farming needed to make the most out of the availability of sunlight.  First adopted as a way to conserve fuel during World War I, many countries reverted back to standard time post war, but modern use of DST started in the 1970’s as a result of the 1973 oil embargo.  During this period, major industrial countries faced petroleum shortages and DST saved the U.S. 10,000 barrels of oil each day.

Not only are the origins of the time change debatable, but so are the reasons for the change, namely cost savings; some believe the savings are insignificant.  The true measure of DST is personal. 

Many people treasure the extra hours of daylight which allow them to spend much more time outdoors in the evenings after work.  Other people say the change negatively affects their sleeping patterns, moods and stress levels.  An Australian study confirmed that suicide rates rise in the weeks following the end of daylight saving.

Not only could overall health be affected, but it wreaks havoc on meetings, airlines, and Amtrak.  In order for Amtrak to keep their published timetables, when clocks fall back all U.S. trains that are running on time stop at 2:00 a.m. and wait one hour before resuming.  In the spring, trains become an hour behind and just keep running trying their best to make up the lost time.

 

I would imagine that most people do enjoy the additional time that Daylight Saving offers, I for one love that its light until 9:30, but going back to standard time in the fall is rough!

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