zzzZZZZzzzzz.......hrumpf? oh, excuse me, I dozed off.... :-) Actually, a very complete answer, Mike. What encylopedia or web source did you copy it from? I hate DST too. One of MANY good reasons to live in LOVELY Arizona! ~~trisha "Lightning" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Baja Fleg" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 4:13 PM Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] 20 things it takes a lifetime to learn > You asked for it.... > > The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time (called "Summer Time" many places > in the world) is to make better use of daylight. Daylight Saving Time also > saves energy. Studies done by the U.S. Department of Transportation show > that Daylight Saving Time trims the entire country's electricity usage by a > significant, but small amount, of less than one percent each day with > Daylight Saving Time. We save energy in both the evening and the morning > because we use less electricity for lighting and appliances. Energy use and > the demand for electricity for lighting our homes is directly connected to > when we go to bed and when we get up. Bedtime for most of us is late evening > through the year. When we go to bed, we turn off the lights and TV. In the > average home, 25 percent of all the electricity we use is for lighting and > small appliances, such as TVs, VCRs and stereos. A good percentage of energy > consumed by lighting and appliances occurs in the evening when families are > home. By moving the clock ahead one hour, we can cut the amount of > electricity we consume each day. Daylight Saving Time also saves a small > amount of energy in the morning when we rise. Studies show that 70 percent > of all Americans rise prior to 7 a.m. during the workweek. During the summer > months, sunrise is very early in the morning, so most people will wake after > the sun rises. Because the sun is up, we will turn on fewer lights in our > homes. Thus, we actually use less energy in the morning. > The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin > (portrait at right) during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in > 1784, in an essay, "An Economical Project." The energy saving benefits of > this were recognized during World War II, when clocks were put two hours > ahead of GMT during the Summer. This became known as Double Summer Time. > During the war, clocks remained one hour ahead of GMT throughout the winter. > Daylight saving has been used in the United States and in many European > countries since World War I, when the system was adopted in order to > conserve fuel needed to produce electric power. In 1918, in order to > conserve resources for the war effort, Congress placed the country on > Daylight Saving Time for the remainder of WW I. It was observed for seven > months in 1918 and 1919. The law, however, proved so unpopular (mostly > because people rose earlier and went to bed earlier than we do today) that > the law was later repealed in 1919 over President Wilson's veto. It was > continued in a few states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island) and some cities (New > York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and others. During World War II, the United > States observed year-round Daylight Saving Time (from February 2nd, 1942 to > September 30th, 1945). From 1945 to 1966, there was no federal law about > Daylight Saving Time. So, states and localities were free whether to observe > or not to observe Daylight Saving Time and could choose when it began and > ended. This, however, caused confusion -- especially for the broadcasting > industry, and for railways, airlines, and bus companies. Because of the > different local customs and laws, radio and TV stations and the > transportation companies had to publish new schedules every time a state or > town began or ended Daylight Saving Time. During the Arab-Israeli War in > October 1973, Middle East members of OPEC issued an embargo against the sale > of crude oil to Israel's Western allies. In the United States, gasoline > became scarce and prices jumped 40 percent, crimping the American economy. > Following the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, Congress put most of the nation on > extended Daylight Saving Time for two years in hopes of saving additional > energy. This experiment worked, but Congress did not continue the experiment > in 1975 because of opposition -- mostly from the farming states. > > In 1974, Daylight Saving Time lasted ten months and lasted for eight months > in 1975, rather than the normal six months (then, May to October). The U.S. > Department of Transportation -- which has jurisdiction over Daylight Saving > Time in the U.S. -- studied the results of the experiment. It concluded: > > Daylight Saving Time saves energy. Based on consumption figures for 1974 and > 1975, The Department of Transportation says observing Daylight Saving Time > in March and April saved the equivalent in energy of 10,000 barrels of oil > each day -- a total of 600,000 barrels in each of those two years. > > Daylight Saving Time saves lives and prevents traffic injuries. The earlier > Daylight Saving Time allowed more people to travel home from work and school > in daylight, which is much safer than darkness. And except for the months of > November through February, Daylight Saving Time does not increase the > morning hazard for those going to school and work. > > Daylight Saving Time prevents crime. Because people get home from work and > school and complete more errands and chores in daylight, Daylight Saving > Time also seems to reduce people's exposure to various crimes, which are > more common in darkness than in light. > > The Department of Transportation estimated that 50 lives were saved and > about 2,000 injuries were prevented in March and April of the study years. > The department also estimated that $28 million was saved in traffic accident > costs > > > Daylight Saving Time was changed slightly in 1986 when President Reagan > signed Public Law 99-359. It changed Daylight Saving Time from the last > Sunday in April to the first Sunday in April. No change was made to the > ending date of the last Sunday in October. This was done ostensibly to > conserve energy during the month of April. Adding the entire month of April > is estimated to save nationwide about 300,000 barrels of oil each year. > > You asked for it!!! > On a side note I hate DST!!! > > Michael > Team TJ. > > > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp > > > _______________________________________________ > Az-Geocaching mailing list > Az-Geocaching@listserv.snaptek.com > http://listserv.snaptek.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching >