Time is an Artificial Construct: Daylight Savings is a Lie

Ever wondered why you adjust your clocks twice a year? It is all linked to a widely practiced system, known as daylight saving time (DST). But why was it implemented and is it still relevant today?

The Dawn of Time: Sunlight and Civilization

Before modern technology, societies relied heavily on the rising and setting of the sun to divide their days. This natural occurrence acted as the clock of ancient civilizations. Waking up with the sun signaled the start of a new day, and twilight brought activities to a close. It was a simple yet efficient system intertwined with the rhythm of nature.

Moreover, this solar timekeeping was far more than just a daily to-do list. It was entwined with the major agricultural practices of civilizations. Planting and harvesting were planned according to the seasonal patterns of the sun. Spring, a time marked by longer daylight hours, suited planting. On the other hand, harvests were scheduled for fall, where shorter days provided relief from the summer heat.

Thus, the concept of time and its organization were strongly tied to nature’s clock. It was a wheel set in motion by the rising sun, which set with the twilight, regulating human life.

The Creation of Clocks

As societies evolved, so too did the methods for tracking time. With the invention of mechanical clocks, the previously so-called ‘natural’ concept of time became the standardized measure we know today. The onset of clocks marked a significant shift in the way time was perceived and used.

This technological evolution was driven primarily by the desire for more accurate and reliable timing devices. As societies became more intricate, reliance on the sun — a measure subject to environmental conditions — saw its limitations. The mechanical clock provided a more consistent, standard measure that was less affected by external elements like weather or geographic location.

However, this advancement was not without problems. Especially when railway travel became more common. On thoughtco.com Matt Rosenberg shared that “Each town would set their clocks to noon when the sun reached its zenith each day. A clockmaker or town clock would be the “official” time and the citizens would set their pocket watches and clocks to the time of the town.” and “Travel between cities meant having to change one’s pocket watch upon arrival”. Obviously this system would be super confusing when trying to read train schedules since the arrival times were based on local time.

Enter Sir Sanford Fleming. He was the guy that, in 1878, suggested the world wide time zones.. There was some math involved in the creation of these time zones, and they are still working brilliantly today. It is a much better system than have to do the math, on your own, each time you stopped while traveling.

The U.S. railways started using the time zones in 1883, but the use of these time zones wasn’t mandatory until Congress passed the Standard Time Act of 1918. And it was important to make Standard Time official so they could implement Daylight Savings Time (DST).

Daylight Savings Time: and so the lies begin

Daylight saving time is an obvious example in our understanding of time as an artificial construct, exemplifying humans’ drive to manipulate time. The British were the first to suggest DST. But the first adopters were Germany. In 1916 Germany decided to adopt DST, in hopes of conserving energy during WWI. A year later Great Britain also adopted it. As mentioned above, the United States passed an act to formalize Standard Time so they could also adopt DST. All these governments didn’t want to miss out on all the extra energy that would be created/saved by DST! By the time the U.S. passed its own DST, it was no looker just about energy savings. The Chamber of Commerce was a major supporter of the legislation. It was believed that leaving work while it was still daylight would encourage shopping and other economically boosting activities.

Imagine their surprise when there was firm opposition from the farm lobby. In fact they were very vocal opponents. They claimed that it decreased the early hours when farmers do work like milking cows and harvesting crops to sell. It took a year, but under pressure from the farm lobby, Congress repealed the measure in 1919.

In February 1942 it was back, when President Franklin Roosevelt implemented “War Time” a year-round DST. This lasted until September of 1945, after which there was no federal law for DST. Local municipalities could decide whether or not to adhere to DST. That all changed in 1966.

In 1966 Congress passed the Uniform Time Act. This established the 6 months on, 6 month off of Standard Time/DST rotation. States didn’t have to participate as long as the whole state exempted themselves. The newly minted Department of Transportation (DOT) was put in charge of enforcing DST.

Then came the Oil Embargo of 1973. Again, in an effort to conserve energy/fuel, Congress adjusted DST. This time they enacted a trial period of year-round DST. This trial was strongly debated. In favor: increased daylight evening hours, more recreation time, reduced demand for lighting & heating, reduced crime, and fewer car accidents. Against: children leaving for school during dark hours, morning accidents in construction industry, and decreased early hours to milk cows & harvest crops for farmers. After several morning traffic accidents involving schoolchildren, killing eight, Florida Governor asked for the law to be repealed. The trial ended in October of 1975.

DST remained unchanged until 1986, when it was changed to 7 months of DST and only 5 months on Standard Time. It was Extended a second time in 2007.

What do the facts say?

There have been several studies done in an attempt to find out the actual benefits of DST.

In 2008 the U.S. Department of Energy released it’s study of impact for DST extension. It reported 0.03% electricity savings for 2007.

In 2008 the National Bureau of Economic Research found that Indiana’s adoption of DST in 2006 increased energy consumption by an average of 1%. To be clear, consumption for lighting dropped but consumption for heating and cooling had increased 2-4%. The cost to average Indiana households was figured to be between $1.7 – $5.5 million per year.

The United States Chamber of Commerce praises the extension for increased shopping and commerce after work. The golf industry has reported $200 million of additional sales and greens fees. Not to mention the notable increased sales of Halloween candy. (If you can’t hear my eyes rolling, you are not listening).

With modern data tracking we can tell that people are turning off their TVs and getting outside more. But, we can also tell that there was never any energy savings. In fact, quite the opposite. In one study it was found that more energy was used because of the increased air-conditioning during the hottest part of the day. The energy saved by being outside is also a negative, due to people driving their cars to the activity area of choice. Thus using additional energy in the form of fuel/electricity for the automobiles. So, the promised energy savings – the presenting rationale for the policy – have never materialized.

Why do we still do it?

While the U.S. continues to observe daylight saving time, with the exception of Hawaii & Arizona, it is a subject of ongoing debate. This practice highlights how much humans have imposed structure onto time. Removing it from the natural cycle of daylight to which our ancient ancestors adhered. In some areas, the extension of DST in March and November has created artificially timed sunrise as late as 8:30am

Multiple states have proposed legislation to change observances of DST. Several have proposed using DST year-round (those that haven’t actually done any research into the past). Some states, like my own, have proposed to end it altogether. Very recently this was voted down because Oregon didn’t want to be the first on the West coast to change. One argument was that it would be too hard for people, that live in Washington and work in Oregon, to change one hour back and fourth each day. Literally that those people would be too simple to figure out the math of minus or plus one.

THERE IS ONLY 24 HOURS OF ANY DAY. THERE IS NOT MORE SUNLIGHT WHEN WE MOVE THE CLOCK THIS WAY AND THAT WAY.

Conclusion: Time, Human Ingenuity, and Societal Impacts

In this exploration, we’ve unraveled how the perception of time as an artificial construct has shaped human civilization throughout history.

• Time’s connection to nature was foundational in ancient societies. Humans once ordered their days by nature’s clock, rising with the sun and resting in darkness.
• The invention of mechanical clocks, a symbol of human ingenuity, brought consequential changes to our societies. It allowed for precise timekeeping that went beyond the natural cues of day and night.
• With the onset of DST in the United States, an additional complex layer was added to this construct of time. The intent was to better utilize daylight hours, but the continued practice has sparked an ongoing debate.
• Both proponents and opponents of daylight saving have compelling arguments. This reveals the inherent complexities of manipulating an artificial yet deeply ingrained system like time.
• Attempts at keeping daylight saving time year-round have resulted in a chaotic domino effect. Thus demonstrating our society’s sensitive dependence on the construct of time.

The narrative of time as an artificial construct is an intricate weave of technology, society, and human adaptability. As we move forward, how we choose to measure and manage time will continue to subtly shape our collective experience.