Q. What are the new dates for daylight savings time in 2007 and why are we doing it?
A. Between 1986 and 2006, Daylight Savings time began in the first Sunday in April and ended the last Sunday in October. Next year it will begin the second Sunday in March and run until the first Sunday in November, adding about a month to daylight savings. The main reason for the change is to save energy. 25% of electricity used for lighting and small appliances is mainly used in the evenings when families are home. Studies conducted in the 1970's show that we can save 1% of our energy use each day with Daylight Savings Time. During the spring and summer we have longer days and spend more time outdoors, using less energy indoors.
Source: Gattings, John and Brunner, Borgna. 2006. "Daylight Saving Time: A trip around the world reveals that time isn't a synchronized science." Information Please: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/daylight1.html
