Shedding Daylight Savings Time

Shedding Light on... DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME Everything you need to know about the clock change 1784 The idea of Daylight Saving Time was first thought up by American inventor and politician Benjamin Franklin. His main motive then was not (as it might be now) saving energy or prolonging daylight hours, rather he wanted to reduce the need for people to spend money on candles. 1897 An entomologist in New Zealand, George Vernon Hudson, presented a paper to the Wellington Philosophical Society outlining a daylight saving scheme. 1907 In 'The Waste of Daylight' keen horse-rider William Willett first introduced the idea of British Summer Time (BST), also known as Daylight Saving Time. HORAS NON 1916 AESTIVAS Britain finally caught onto the merits of BST, and making the most of morning sunshine, by adopting BST a year after Willet's death. The epitaph on Willet's memorial is "Horas Non Numero Nisi Aestivas" (I only keep the summer hours). 1968-71 Known as the 'Permanent Summer', Britain stayed one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time for 3 years. Daylight Saving Time in the UK A number of efforts have been made over the years to adopt different time systems including: Up until the coming of the railways, people kept time by the sun. This was known as 'local mean time'. • The SDST (Single/Double Summer Time) system, putting the UK in line with the rest of Western Europe. O British Standard Time (GMT+1) was employed all year round from March 1968 until October 1971. The official Parliamentary report stated that there were net reductions in road deaths of: It was only in 1880 that GMT was adopted countrywide 3% IN 8.6% IN ENGLAND SCOTLAND Since the three-year trial period, which ended in 1971, a number of MPs have tried to change the clocks through private members' bills, with much of the resistance coming from north of the border. The British Summer Time Act 1972 stipulates that GMT... October March M TWT F 4 7 8 9 10 4 5 6 7 9 10 I1 12 13 14 15 II 8. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 The benefits to UK are that begins on the last Sunday of October and BST on the last we could potentially be: Sunday of March Happier During WWII (1939-1945) the clocks were moved forward twice Healthier a year (Feb and May), and back twice (Aug and Nov), in order to make Richer Less accident-prone maximum use of the daylight. 10 ...if we put our clocks forward to match Europe 8* +2HRS Daylight Saving Time around the world DST today is almost always one hour ahead, however over the years there have been several variants on this: Japan, India and China are the only major industrialised countries that China has had a single time zone since May 1, 1980. Half adjustment (30 minutes) or double adjustment (two hours), and adjustments of 20 and 40 minutes have also been used. They had summer DST from 1986 to have since abandoned the idea. do not have some form of daylight saving. 1991 From February 3, 1942 to September 30, 1945 most of the United States had DST all year; it was called "War Time." A half adjustment was sometimes used in New Zealand in the first half of the 20th EQUATORIAL COUNTRIES where the sun rises and century. sets at largely the same time - do not observe daylight savings, as there is little difference throughout the year. In Russia DST was abolished in 2011. Australia's Lord Howe Island (GMT+10:30) follows a DST schedule where clocks are DST is now used in over 70 countries worldwide. Only parts of Brazil observe DST and they include: Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. $200 million moved forwards 30 minutes to GMT+11, matching Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Brazil's electric utility estimates that DST saves PER YEAR. WHEN DO THE CLOCKS CHANGE? -1 12 12 10 EU CLOCKS CHANGE AT UK LAST SUNDAY IN MARCH +1 HOUR UK LAST SUNDAY IN OCTOBER -1 HOUR 0100 GMT POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME POTENTIAL NEGATIVES OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME HEALTH Cambridge University research suggests lighter evenings would cut 450,000 tonnes of C02 emissions from UK power stations and reduce peak demand for electricity by up to 4.3%." Time shift can cause sleep deprivation and has potential health implications. 'Abrupt' change to daily schedule increases risk of heart attack by 10% 3% The estimated % drop in crime with an extra hour of light. COMPLEXITY The constantly changing nature of DST dates and rules mean some countries are reluctant 1bn The boost in UK tourism in billions of pounds. to adopt it. 11.7% The % reduction in road casualties between 1968-71. AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITY People working in the agricultural industry have complained that less sunlight in the morning is detrimental to their work. 138m The savings for the NHS due to the above in millions of pounds. As well as improved: V Quality of life for the elderly v Conditions for trade with Europe V Safety and productivity within construction Public's views on DST 2 out of 3 people asked would support the change. A third of those asked believed it would improve their wellbeing. Almost half would use the extra time on extra leisure and sporting activity. When asked 11% expressed any concern for farming. directly, only Controversy A 2012 journal of Applied Psychology study found that the incidence of 'cyberloafing' *.. In 1999 Tongan King, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, put the clocks forward one hour in order to beat MONDAY CYBERLOAFING neighbouring Fiji to the millennium. "SURFING THE INTERNET FOR PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT OURING WORKING HOURS' 1200 During the WWII, double BST was invented as an energy-saving device, effectively putting the country on the same footing as mainland Europe. significantly increased in more than 200 metropolitan U.S. regions during the first Monday after DST in the spring, compared with the Mondays directly before and 1 week after the transition. GMT+1 in the winter GMT+2 in the summer In 1947, Britain reverted to normal. How To Prepare For The Leap Forward 1. Environment Viewing computers, laptops, television, tablets or other devices with bright lit screens just before you go to bed can disrupt sleep. The optimal bedroom temperature is 18C. Ventilation is also recommended. The darker the better to induce sleep. Turn off or shade any unnecessary light sources such as side lamps, clocks, phone chargers etc. 2. Mattress It is important to try a mattress that is comfortable for YOU. Always go to a retailer and try before you buy. MATTRESS SHOP. Most experts agree that you get what you pay for - so a cheap mattress could cost you dear in terms of p0or sleep quality. 3. Pillow Side sleepers need a firm pillow to support the neck and head. If you sleep on your back, a medium to firm pillow will help cushion your head. Soft pillows are best for those who sleep on their stomachs. Most people don't spend enough time trying a pillow - be sure to test a few out at your local bed specialist before you spend your money. 4. Exercise Try to exercise or be active at least once a day. Exercising right before bed can actually keep you awake instead of sending you off to sleep. 5. Daylight Expose yourself to at least 20 minutes of sun per day - Vitamin D from direct sunlight is related to melatonin, your sleep hormone. Try waking up with natural light in the morning by leaving your drapes or blinds open. 6. Food/Stimulants Eat light food in the evening. Cut down on caffeine - especially to0 late in the day. Sensitive people should stop drinking caffeine at least eight hours before bedtime. 11 7. Don't forget to change your clock! Sources: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jun/24/comment.mainsection2 www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/general/british-summertime-factsheet.aspx www.ctc.org.uk/file/public/daylight-savingbrf.pdf www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11643098 www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jun/21/10-10-campaigners-summer-time-clocks www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/dec/20/british-summer-time-changing-clocks-accidents-daylight www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sdst-report.pdf www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2112595/Daylight-savings-time-2012-Losing-hour-raises-risk-heart-attack-Monday-morning.html news.nationalgeographic.co.uk/news/2013/10/131028-when-does-daylight-savings-time-end-november-3/ www.rmg.co.uk/explore/astronomy-and-time/time-facts/spring-forward-100-years-of-british-summer-time voices.yahoo.com/the-advantages-disadvantages-daylight-saving-5646098.html?cat=7 www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn03796.pdf +TEMPUR PRESSURE RELIEVING MATTRESSES AND PILLOWS