Flashes: March 5, 2014...Spring ahead

Envisioned by Benjamin Franklin, and "tested" during WWI and WWII in Britain and the US, Daylight Savings Time became law in 1966 under the Uniform Time Act.  The law did not require DST, but required that if a state followed it, it had to start and end at the same time across the country.  In 2007, we began following extended DST moving the start date forward to the beginning of March when it originally started at the end of April, and moving the end date back a couple of weeks from the end of October to the beginning of November.

Originally envisioned as an energy savings strategy to reduce nighttime electricity use for lighting during periods of long daylight, it is interesting to note whether and how much is saved:

• Some studies suggest it might be around 0.02% of total consumption.
• Some studies suggest it costs as much as 1% of additional consumption.

Interestingly enough, although there is no agreement on whether DST saves energy, most agree it saves lives...reducing fatal car crashes and pedestrian strikes.

Also, we seem to spend more thanks to DST...not that economic benefits drive decisions.

Enjoy the journey!