Alternatives to Daylight Saving Time?

Wellington Grey writes "Daylight saving time almost upon us. The arguments about its possible benefits and drawbacks come up twice every year. Does it save energy or lives? Possibly, but it does definitely cause a great deal of inconvenience. My question is this: what do you think would be the best possible system to replace DST with? What is the best way for humans to deal with the inconsistent amount of light over the year and still foster coordination over disparate time zones?"

Comments

This is not a problem

[slashname3]

Do away with DST. If people want/need to get up earlier or later to take advantage of the daylight then JUST GET UP EARLIER OR LATER! There is no good reason to change the clock backward and forward. Lots of places don't do it and they don't have any problems. STOP DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

Re:This is not a problem

[pixelpusher220]

DST served a useful purpose at one time. It *does* reduce energy usage...for lighting. Back in the early part of the 20th century, the largest portion of home electrical usage was for lighting. Nowadays it's such a small part this savings has no measurable effect.

The effect it does have is actually increasing energy usage as people crank on the AC when they get home earlier in the daylight of afternoon and it's hotter. And AC is vastly more expensive to operate than a bulb.

Re:This is not a problem

[snl2587]

It was implemented before mankind had the ability to control light.

Be that as it may, I'm one to prefer natural light over artificial light, and it is simply not an option to change my schedule. The way I see it, DST year-round is much better. It really comes down to personal preference, though, which makes it really hard for any democratic-ish countries to change it.

Re:This is not a problem

[Hatta]

Exactly this. If it's too dark when you get up or when you want to open your business, don't change the clock, change the time you get up or open your business.

If that's too hard, lets have DST year round. Standard time is only in effect for a couple months anyway. Keeping DST through the winter would keep it light when most people get off work, which is when it actually matters anyway. I know I'd rather get up in the dark, and have an hour of daylight after work to play with, rather than getting up at dawn and wasting that hour getting ready for work.

Get rid of it

[frank_adrian314159]

See subject. Then make everyone talk in UTC. That should do it.

Re:Get rid of it

[camperdave]

Then make everyone talk in UTC. That should do it.

Almost. Everybody should be using 24 hour time as well. ie, it's now 20:40.

Re:Move to Arizona

[stoolpigeon]

I grew up in AZ - moved to a state that does daylight savings a couple years ago. I hate it. I never felt any lack for not having it or thought, "Gee, I wished we messed with the clocks twice a year."
 
We should replace it with nothing. Just eliminate it. It would simplify life at no cost.

Re:Move to Arizona

[ArsonSmith]

Sorry, once the government has adopted something you can't get rid of it. You can change it for better or worse (usually worse) but it is there for ever.

Re:Move to Arizona

[szark]

Sorry, once the government has adopted something you can't get rid of it. You can change it for better or worse (usually worse) but it is there for ever.

Like Prohibition?

Currently living in Arizona

[logicassasin]

Moved here from Michigan 5 years ago. I don't miss DST at all. I just know that when I wake up at 5am, during the spring/summer, it's nearly broad daylight and in the colder months it's pitch black out. Right now, it's pitch black at 5am, at 5:30, I see some sunlight, by the time I get in my car at 6-615:am, it's daylight.

Right now, I see the idiodicy of DST. You don't actually get more daylight, we just fool you into thinking you do.

Re:Move to Arizona

[evanbd]

Well, now we have the new Prohibition, in the form of the War on Some Drugs. Except this time around they decided they could do it without an amendment.

Re:Move to Arizona

[Anonymous Coward]

A comment indicitive of someone who lives relatively close to the equator. For those of us who see a 6-12 hour difference in the number of daylight hours it can make a real difference.

Re:Move to Arizona

[electrictroy]

>>>What is the best way for humans to deal with the inconsistent amount of light over the year

The electric lightbulb. Specifically a 5 watt compact fluorescent. It's amazing how I can pretend it's daytime even when it's 4 a.m. in the morning. A marvelous invention, and I no longer care if the sun is up or not, and DST is irrelevant.

The Sun is not a bulb

[violet16]

Not to stereotype Slashdot readers or anything, but I notice nobody sees any difference between sunlight and electric light. If you go outdoors during the day, you may be surprised to find daylight has many ambient properties not provided by your basement's fluorescent bulb (warmth, happy feelings, etc).

Re:Move to Arizona

[zakureth]

This might sound a little crazy but stick with me here:

If the daylight hours are changing such that you are not getting daylight at times that best match your schedule: change your schedule, not the clocks.

It's so crazy it could actually work...