Daylight Saving Time

[english si]

Key treatment for SAD is artificial dawn machines to act as alarm clocks. Late dawns will increase the issues, though obviously the best solution is to fly south for winter!

[StogieGuy7]

As with most things, politicians and special interests have bastardized the entire DST concept.  It used to be 6 months of standard time, 6 months of daylight savings time.  But, it's gradually moved to almost 8 months of DST and 4 months of ST.  Absurd.  I am fully in favor of shifting time zones in the USA to keep DST all year 'round. 

The "kids at the bus stop in the dark" straw-man argument is BS, just as it was BS in 1974.  In fact, it's even more BS now because lifestyles have changed and more kids are involved in after school events now and somehow manage to survive walking home in the dark at 4:30 or 5 in the winter! Plus, fewer parents let their kids stand at the bus stop unaccompanied anyhow.  Frankly, it's a weak argument, I've heard it most of my life, it's always been total crap and let's move on. 

Face it, there would be less energy usage overall if DST stayed in effect all year and we would save a lot of hassle (and money) by keeping our clocks on the same time all year round.   That said, such a proposal would likely coincide with an overall shift in the TZ boundaries (eastward), so that we would not have states like Michigan and Indiana with extraordinarily late sunrises in December.  But it could be done and would put the entire argument to rest. 

[english si]

Face it, there would be less energy usage overall if DST stayed in effect all year and we would save a lot of hassle (and money) by keeping our clocks on the same time all year round.

Indiana found that to be the case - Standard time year round used less energy in the summer than having DST during the summer. While there are no recent trials for winter DST, I can imagine it having the same effect - negative energy savings.

[NWI_Irish96]

As with most things, politicians and special interests have bastardized the entire DST concept.  It used to be 6 months of standard time, 6 months of daylight savings time.  But, it's gradually moved to almost 8 months of DST and 4 months of ST.  Absurd.  I am fully in favor of shifting time zones in the USA to keep DST all year 'round. 

The "kids at the bus stop in the dark" straw-man argument is BS, just as it was BS in 1974.  In fact, it's even more BS now because lifestyles have changed and more kids are involved in after school events now and somehow manage to survive walking home in the dark at 4:30 or 5 in the winter! Plus, fewer parents let their kids stand at the bus stop unaccompanied anyhow.  Frankly, it's a weak argument, I've heard it most of my life, it's always been total crap and let's move on. 

Face it, there would be less energy usage overall if DST stayed in effect all year and we would save a lot of hassle (and money) by keeping our clocks on the same time all year round.   That said, such a proposal would likely coincide with an overall shift in the TZ boundaries (eastward), so that we would not have states like Michigan and Indiana with extraordinarily late sunrises in December.  But it could be done and would put the entire argument to rest. 

I pass by several bus stops on the way to work and see plenty of kids walking to and waiting at bus stops without parents.  Just this past Friday did sunrise occur before I arrived at work, and it's another couple weeks before sunrise occurs before I leave for work.

[texaskdog]

My kid's kickball league plays until around 8:15.  The league would be done if DST was done away with.

[kphoger]

Well, that seals it.

[Road Hog]

I can see a time in the next 50 years when time zones become considered quaint and the whole world switches to Zulu time (GMT). Locals can adjust their schedules accordingly, i.e. NFL early-afternoon games kick off at 1800 GMT and bedtime is 0400.

[Pete from Boston]

I can see a time in the next 50 years when time zones become considered quaint and the whole world switches to Zulu time (GMT). Locals can adjust their schedules accordingly, i.e. NFL early-afternoon games kick off at 1800 GMT and bedtime is 0400.

Rocket cars and jet packs will come sooner than you will eliminate the concepts of noon and midnight.  True, as you point out, some businesses would prefer global time, but most business is local, and people will surely resist.

[kkt]

Those fields that need global time can already use Universal Time if they want to.  Astronomers, computer networks, the military.  That most other people choose to use local civil time might tell you something.

[J N Winkler]

Zulu time is one example of a culture-neutral time--most of us don't want to live in a culture-neutral world.

[02 Park Ave]

Elimination of time zones would be a major step towards globalisation.

[vdeane]

Zulu time is one example of a culture-neutral time--most of us don't want to live in a culture-neutral world.

UTC is used by, among other places, the UK, so it is in no way, shape, or form culture-neutral.  If we all wanted to switch to a culture-neutral time, we'd have to find a time zone used by nobody, and switch to that.

[hotdogPi]

Zulu time is one example of a culture-neutral time--most of us don't want to live in a culture-neutral world.

UTC is used by, among other places, the UK, so it is in no way, shape, or form culture-neutral.  If we all wanted to switch to a culture-neutral time, we'd have to find a time zone used by nobody, and switch to that.

UTC+24:00, maybe?

[vdeane]

That's just UTC on a shifted day.  There don't seem to be any full hours that aren't currently used (except perhaps UTC-13 or something?), but there are plenty of half hours available.

[english si]

UTC is used by, among other places, the UK

Nope. UTC =/= GMT (or even WET).

UTC follows GMT to within 0.9 seconds (by adding leap seconds), but they are not the same.