why did we start doing daylight savings time?

Question

ive been told it was so the farmers could have an extra hour,, but why didnt they just wake up earlier? i mean movin the clock back does not mean there will be any more sunlight.

Answer 1

Although Benjamin Franklin first suggested daylight savings time, he did so not for farming, but to SAVE CANDLES. See this site http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/franklin3.html

The idea of DST was first put into practice by the German government during the First World War, between April 30, 1916 and October 1, 1916. Shortly afterward, the United Kingdom followed suit, first adopting it between May 21 and October 1, 1916. On June 17, 1917 Newfoundland became the first North American jurisdiction to adopt DST with the passing of the Daylight Saving Act of 1917. On March 19, 1918, the U.S. Congress formally established several time zones, which had been in use by railroads and most cities since 1883; at the same time they made DST official, effective March 31, for the remainder of World War I. It was observed for seven months in 1918 and 1919. The law, however, proved so unpopular, mostly because people rose and went to bed earlier than in current times, that it was repealed in 1919, when Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto of the repeal.

One of the major reasons given for observing DST is energy conservation. Theoretically, the amount of residential electricity needed in evening hours is dependent both on when the sun sets and when people go to bed. Because people tend to observe the same bedtime year-round, by artificially moving sunset one hour later, the amount of energy used is theoretically reduced. A 1975 United States Department of Transportation study showed that DST would theoretically reduce the country's electricity usage by 1% from March to April, if implemented during these months.[3] These numbers have been supported in Mexico, which began implementing daylight saving time in 1996. Evaluations show national savings of 0.7% of national electric consumption (1.3 billion kWh (TWh)) and reduction of peak load by 500 MW.[4]

Part of the reason that it is normally observed only in the early spring, summer, and early autumn instead of the winter months is that the amount of energy saved by experiencing sunset one hour later would be negated by the increased need for artificial morning lighting due to a later sunrise. During the summer most people would wake up after the sun rises, regardless of whether daylight saving time is in effect or not, so there is no increased need for morning lighting to offset the afternoon drop in energy usage. Another reason for not observing daylight saving time in the winter is concern about children walking to school in the dark.

Another argued benefit of DST is increased opportunities for outdoor activities. Most people plan outdoor activities during sunlight hours. Other benefits cited include prevention of traffic injuries (by allowing more people to return home from work or school in daylight), and crime reduction (by reducing people's risk of being targets of crimes that are more common in dark areas).

When the U.S. went on extended DST in 1974 and 1975 in response to the 1973 energy crisis, Department of Transportation studies found that observing DST in March and April saved 10,000 barrels of oil a day, and prevented about 2,000 traffic injuries and 50 fatalities saving about U.S. $28 million in traffic costs.

Answer 2

On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, DST will begin on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Congress retains the right to resume the 2005 Daylight Saving Time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete. Springing forward may not help save energy, according to a study by the University of California at Berkeley.

U.S. plans to cut electricity usage by lengthening daylight saving time may backfire, the report said. Lengthening daylight saving time by several weeks was included in energy legislation passed in 2005, with the goal of saving energy equivalent to 100,000 barrels of oil a day

Answer 3

On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the flexibility coverage Act of 2005. This Act replaced the time exchange dates for daylight hours Saving Time interior the U.S. commencing up in 2007, DST will initiate on the 2d Sunday in March and end the 1st Sunday in November. The Secretary of ability will checklist the effects of this alteration to Congress. Congress keeps the main appropriate to renew the 2005 daylight hours Saving Time schedule as quickly as the dept of ability learn is finished.

Answer 4

Daylight savings time was started during WW-1 in order to conserve fuel that produced electric power.
Starting this year daylight savings start the second Sunday in March instead of the first Sunday in April. And will end the first Sunday in November.

Answer 5

That's true, for farming. It's not that there was more sunlight, it just that it made more sense to begin the day when the sun was up. Therefore the time is adjusted to dawn. Energy savings was not really considered since this was sponsored by Ben Franklin.

Answer 6

actually, most people dont know. but my great great great great grandfather, he was on the inside of a government conspiracy. he documented this in his diary, which is now in possession of the Boston museum. He indicated that several government leaders were out having this wild drinking spree, a president, vice president and several senoir cabinet personal. As the early morning dawn settle acrossed the massechuesettes landscape, behold!!! a UFO landed in a nearby cornfield! they stumbled over cautiously but with great curiosity. As the crafts lights and engine began to turn off, (blam)!!! a landing ramp crashed to the ground and the door opened! Through the dust, morning haze and shadows crept out an alien being of small stature. The government officials being 40 sheets into the wind approached the being and befriended it. The creature being of super intelligence learned english immediately. He said he was dying of thirst, so the boys had several jugs of rum, needless to say, they got the alien totally stoned and drunk. During the course of partying, the officials said, wow you are super smart. we are a young new country in this land what shall we do to make it survive and prosper become the greatest nation of all nations? the alien bleched, scratched his azz, farted and replied, boys. I really like you, i will help you if you help me. we must negotiate for these matters...What i propose to give you is a document which will make your nation great and last forever. as my culture has lasted 10,000 years.the good old boys were ready to give anything...what can we offer you in return? the alien replied, turn the dang clocks back an hour so we can buzz in here undetected, and one more thing...(sure sure), there is land way out west that you dont even know of yet. designate it for ever as a place of our refugee..name it area 51. so they all agreed amongst themselves...the alien scribbled on a parchment paper and passed it to the president. what is this? this is our rules of life on my planet, make them yours. call them your constitution. Folks, this is exactly what happened...now you can go see the diary of my great grand dad up there in the Boston museum of scientific facts it is titled the diary of Jedidiah Smith....

Answer 7

It allowed us to do more work before the sun goes down. It also saves a lot of energy.

Answer 8

Ben Franklin proposed it as a joke, but the government took him seriously

Answer 9

This saves Electricity, Oil and other energy

Answer 10

PUTS DAYTIME WORK IN DAYLIGHT..SAVES ENERGY...

THUS WE SHOULD JUST ADJUST THE CLOCKS AND BE DONE WITH IT...