AS the caretaker government is implementing a yearlong comprehensive plan for the power crisis, as part of this plan, i would like to propose the introduction of Daylight Savings Time. Those who have been in USA or UK during April or october, know how the clock springs backward or forward based on the season.
What is Daylight Savings Time?
Daylight saving time (DST), also known as summer time, is a conventional local time adopted by many countries of the world on a seasonal basis. DST is typically observed by adjusting the official local time forward, by one hour, for the spring, summer, and early autumn periods. Then at the beginning of winter the clock springs back to go to the real time.
The idea is simple. During summer time, we have early sunrise. However, most of this sunlight is wasted as people don't start the day till 7/8 A.M.
By moving the clock forward one hour through out the whole country, the sunrise is "delayed" by an hour and so is the sunset. So, sunset does not happen until 8/9 PM at the least depending on the region.
Benefits
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. 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.
DST allows more effective use of natural sunlight resource in summer time. Since there is less darkness in the "waking day," there is less use of electric lights. Theoretically, the amount of residential electricity needed in evening hours is dependent both on when the sun sets and when people go to bed. Because people tend to
observe the same bedtime year-round, by artificially moving sunset one hour later, the amount of energy used is theoretically reduced. A 1975 US Department of Transportation study showed that DST would theoretically reduce the country's electricity usage by 1% from March to April, if implemented during these months. These numbers have been supported in Mexico, which began implementing daylight saving time in 1 996. Evaluations show national savings of 0.7% of national electric consumption (1 .3 billion kWh (TWh)) and reduction of peak load by 500 MW.
The other benefit of DST is that because of increase of daylight, there are increased outdoor and economic activities. Most people plan outdoor activities during sunlight hours. For a country like Bangladesh, this would mean staying out till late in the day. Shopping centers being open late without turning on their costly lights. Similarly crime rate would be reduced if the nightfall does not happen until 8.30 pm.
Other examples
There are worldwide examples of countries adopting the DST in emergency situation. in 1973 during an oil crisis in the USA, the DST ran for an extended period of time saving 1000 barrel of oil a day. This notion is not necessarily a Western concept only. in times of war countries like iran, Sri Lanka, india adopted to DST. USA is also expanding the DST period by 4 weeks starting this year.
Challenges
The key challenge of implementing DST this year is technical adaptation. All software and computer have to adopt to the time change twice a year. However that should not be a big problem as most computers already account for Day light savings time. Businesses and systems will have to adjust. Similarly, another issue will be publicizing and educating the people about the time change. Changing the time in one's clock by an hour will be a new concept for many.
in conclusion, i must say that this is no slam-dunk solution to our power problem. But this one of many proposals to save every little KW of power during the upcoming summer. i would hope the CTG government would at least start this from this year on a trial basis.