Sunday, October 29, 2006

Daylight Savings Time - Changes for 2007 and Beyond

Here's a story from NPR about the upcoming changes to the start and end dates for daylight savings time. I think it's interesting that the change can 'save' 300,000 barrels of oil, but I have to wonder just how much that changes our national energy outlook. Could we save even more by re-instituting the 55 mph speed limit? Could we save more by demanding that motor vehicles get better fuel economy? Could we save more by insisting that our transportation priorities are too heavily weighted toward private passenger vehicles?

On a personal note, I don't like the idea because it requires me to ride to work in the dark for several more weeks. Maybe I'm a sissy, but I really prefer riding in daylight. There are far fewer skunks.

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There's a New Day Ahead for Daylight Saving Time

by Carol Anne Clark Kelly

NPR.org, October 28, 2006 ยท On Sunday at 2 a.m., Daylight Saving Time ends. We move the clock back one hour to return to Standard Time, giving us a 60-minute bonus, so we really shouldn't complain. But even a one-hour shift can be discombobulating for many people, from international air travelers to cranky toddlers.

...Thanks to passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Daylight Saving Time will begin one month earlier in 2007 and will continue for an extra week. It's part of a phased move designed to conserve electricity and save an estimated 300,000 barrels of oil a year.

Many proponents wanted to extend Daylight Saving Time well into November, starting next year. A compromise was forged after Congress heard testimony from farmers concerned about their livestock, saying it would disrupt the cows' milking routines. Can cows tell time? Airlines executives worry about getting out of sync with the rest of the world.

* This year, Daylight Saving Time began on April 2 and ends at 2 a.m. Oct. 29

* In 2007, Daylight Saving Time begins on March 11 and ends Nov. 4

* In 2008, Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9 and ends on Nov. 2

* In 2009, Daylight Savings Time begins on March 8 and ends on Nov. 1

1 Comments:

Blogger Warren T said...

Perhaps I could get the cows mentioned in the article to explain the time change to my dogs. That way, I'd get to take advantage of that extra hour of sleep everyone talks about...

9:09 AM  

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