Daylight Savings Time is Not Really About Saving Energy

Now I know that Ben Franklin pushed for "Daylight Savings Time".  (Oh forgive me, word purists, it's Daylight Saving Time. No actually it is what English speakers say it is.  We manage our own language.)

But to continue, we've learned that Founding Father Mr. Franklin said pushing time ahead one hour would save energy.  Just on the basic level, getting up on a frigid morning and using more coal or wood to heat while you change clothers, and candles to dress by isn't actually saving energy, unless...  You know I've heard that that in the eighteenth century, well to do men weren't actually expected to get up until noon.  

So, it's possible that both Franklin's Early to bed  Early to Rise, and his push for Daylight Savings Times was actually a way to save money in old colonial homes of the wealthy.  Even in a good home for the day, I'm sure the insulation wasn't enough to keep the heat in until the 2 or 3 am bedtime that many of the elite preferred and the fires would be kept high until everyone was snuggly.

 Contrast those conditions with today, when students often have to get ready and travel mile or two to high school (granted elemetary and middle schools are usually closer) to get there by 7 am.  With DST then it's 6 am.  I remember trying to drag the car out covered with heavy dew that took a twenty mins of warm defrost to dry the moisture off the interior of the windows.  I used to start the car up set the defrost, lock the car and go back in the house when I had to drive the kids to school in the winter. But then again gas was cheaper then.  And I can't imagine getting kids to school at 7 or 8 am in the MidWest when it's now actually 6 or 7 am.

What about kids that must take a public bus or even make transfers?

I've read about many studies that show that at least high school students would do better if they were allowed to start school later and get out later.  Add to this the fact that they get out about 3 hrs before many parents can get home.  What if they started school later and got out about: 4 pm giving time for traffic to die down before high rush hour, but not that much time before parents get home.  I know I will have discussed this in other posts, but I still think it's valid.  But about DST.

I have former posts with links to other reports that show the bad effects of DST real purpose, and one from last year showing that the Congress was shown proof about a year ago that DST does not save energy.  Luckily, about a year ago people had the primaries to distract their minds, because Congress did nothing.  

Daylight Savings Time is Really About More Money for Business 

Business Now Eyes Winter for Shopping Boosting Daylight SavingsTime Change 

Post based on October 2007 report from New York Times "City Room": An Extra Hour of Halloween Daylight? Thank the Candy Lobby

And last year's  Daylight Savings Time uses more energy, not less.

I know I gripe about this twice a year, but then I go on with my life, and I won't be wailing on and on about how Barack Obama hasn't fixed my pet peeve.  I just think people shouldn't be fooled by the words of business lobbies even which are repeated by the news media about twice a year.  I'd swear they have the same motto as PT Barnum. 

tags: ben franklin  daylight savings time  congress  lighting  

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