Rushing the season ?
By now everyone has to be aware that most residents of the United States will be moving their clocks ahead one hour this Sunday morning, making the switch to Daylight Saving Time. The changeover comes three weeks ahead of the more familiar first Sunday in April. That's the work of the U.S. Congress, which hopes to save Americans some energy and cash by providing an extra hour of daylight in the evening.
I'm not sure how the math on that works out. After all, we will need the lights for an extra hour every morning. But it will be nice to drive home from work each day with some light in the sky.
So what, exactly, can we expect Sunday morning in Baltimore as a result of the time change?
Well, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory's sunrise and sunset tables, the sun will rise over the city on Sunday morning at 7:25 a.m. EDT, instead of 6:25 a.m. EST.
That means, as the days grow longer this spring and the sunrise continues to get a bit earlier each day, we won't get back to a 6:25 a.m. (EDT) sunrise until April 18. That's a good thing if you like to sleep late in the dark; a bad thing if you like to wake to daylight.
On the other hand, the sun will set Sunday evening in Baltimore at 7:09 p.m. EDT, instead of 6:09 p.m. EST. The change thus buys us three weeks of later sunsets. But on April 1, when the time change would have occurred under the old law, the advantage is lost. The sun will set that evening at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
So what do you think? Does it makes sense to start Daylight Saving Time in winter? Will we really save any energy, or money? Is it a problem that it will be darker when kids and commuters head out in the morning? Does it make any difference at all? Leave us a comment.
Comments
I would much rather it be light in the morning for the safety of our children than to save a few bucks....where's the beef? Where's the study? What are our (current) lawmakers thinking (of our children or a political stance)?
Posted by: Scott | March 9, 2007 11:45 AM
Didn't they do this back in the 70's during the oil crisis? I remember walking to school in the dark, and the crossing guards, in the dark directing us across the street in the dark. I don't think it lasted long because it caused more problems than it was worth, but my memory could be false.
Patty
Posted by: Patty Bolgiano | March 9, 2007 2:23 PM
I think we should stop all of this nonsense with springing forward and falling back, and stay on Daylight savings time permanently. I would much rather have it lighter at the end of they day as opposed to the early morning. Once we spring forward on sunday we should never change the clocks again.
Posted by: Steve in Bel Air | March 9, 2007 3:18 PM
For Patty: You're right. President Nixon signed the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act in January 1974, during the OPEC oil boycott. The nation went on Daylight Saving Time for 15 straight months, until April 27, 1975, when we reverted to the old schedule. You can read more about the history of DST here: http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/b.html
Posted by: frank roylance | March 9, 2007 3:46 PM
We're on "Daylight Saving Time" more of the year than we are on Standard Time. It's a stupid idea, but if we're going to do it, they should quit calling it "Daylight Savings" and just call it oh, I dunno..how about "time"?
Posted by: jain | March 9, 2007 8:22 PM
Who cares about the energy saving thing there are more important issues...kids have a chance to play outdoors longer (they do still play don't they?), no settting sun creating traffic havoc rush hour because people can't seem to buy a simple pair of sun glasses; and most importantly because I am sick of winter and more daylight reminds me that it will be warm soon!
Posted by: Shadow | March 10, 2007 8:40 AM
What I would really like is for the entire Eastern Time Zone to shift eastward so that we are on the western edge which would shift sunrise and sunset later all the time. And while I'm at it wishing for the impossible, I would like us to have as much sunlight as the northern latitudes do in the summer, and as the southern latitudes have in the winter. More sun! I hate the darkness.
Posted by: Cathy Kleeman | March 10, 2007 1:58 PM
Moving DLST ahead a few weeks is a good thing. Tuesday and Wednesday will be beautiful days, highs in the seventies, and the later sunset will allow people to enjoy the weather a little longer after school or work.
Posted by: Pat | March 12, 2007 2:13 PM