BST - Environmental Benefits

[Lancashire Lad]

There appears to be very real social, economic, and environmental benefit to be gained if Britain were to adopt British Standard Time yearlong.

For example, recent studies predicted annual reduction in UK electricity consumption of 885Gw (Gigawatts), with attendant annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 447 thousand tonnes. (Based on present day demand).

Indeed, if Britain were to adopt CET (Central European Time), predicted reductions in electricity demand would be 934Gw (Gigawatts), with attendant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 472 thousand tonnes.

BST would also have the effect of shifting quite substantial amounts of electrical usage from evenings to mornings, thus reducing peak overall demand requirements on daily basis.

Other advantages would include: -

Significant reductions in death and serious injury on Britains roads. - The BST trial during the years 1968-1971 proved this to be the case. (There was actually an increase of 900 people killed or seriously injured in the mornings, but a reduction of 3600 killed or seriously injured in the evenings, when compared to previous averages).

More daylight available for leisure activities. - Over the 12 month period, BST would provide for an average additional 55minutes per day of evening daylight.

Potential advantages for tourism, reduction of crime, and harmonisation with Central European Time (benefits associated with travel, communications, business interaction etc. etc.).

The main objections to adopting BST seem to be centred around the fear of potential problems of schoolchildren travelling in darkness for a greater percentage of the year, and getting them to go to bed early enough on lighter evenings. (Following the 68-71 BST trail, National Farmers Union representatives stated that the darker mornings were not of major concern to the farming industry.)

Food for thought!

Regards,
Mike.

[Hobjob]

You make good arguments, but in our current nanny state anything that increases the risk of anything to children is a non starter.

[Jaeviatrix]

Might it not make things safer for children on their way home from school? If they stayed for any kind of after school activity they'd be home in darkness instead? Not to mention the carbon cliche-it is them who will ultimately see the consequences/benefits?
Wouldnt it be nice to have slightly longer evenings in winter?

[Jim Ford]

I believe there's a Native American saying:

'Only a white man would think that if you cut 6 inches off the top of a blanket, and sew it on the bottom, you'll end up with a longer blanket!'

Jim

[david156]

It wouldn't matter to me one way or the other.
If I want to hear the dawn chorus I get up at dawn and when I want to see nightjars in summer I go at dusk. I want to hear and possibly see the Tawny owls in the local woods tonight so i'll be there before dusk - whatever time that is?
Whether its GMT or BST we still get the same amount of daylight hours.

Cheers David

[davejg]

Originally Posted by Jaeviatrix

Might it not make things safer for children on their way home from school? If they stayed for any kind of after school activity they'd be home in darkness instead? Not to mention the carbon cliche-it is them who will ultimately see the consequences/benefits?
Wouldnt it be nice to have slightly longer evenings in winter?

PoSPA have already said this:
RoSPA : Press Release : RoSPA CALLS FOR SWITCH TO LIGHTER NIGHTS TO SAVE LIVES
This goverment would rather listen to a few SCOTTISH landowners than their own safety body.

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

....'Only a white man would think that if you cut 6 inches off the top of a blanket, and sew it on the bottom, you'll end up with a longer blanket!'....Jim

Originally Posted by david156

....Whether its GMT or BST we still get the same amount of daylight hours....Cheers David

My post infers no suggestion of greater amount of daylight, simply that the many people with traditional fixed working hours, will see the benefit of more of their free time being in daylight hours.

That, along with the evidence of fewer road death casualty, energy savings, and the business and leisure/travel advantages of harmonisation with Central European Time, in my opinion, would make the prospect worth reconsidering.

Regards,
Mike.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by davejg

PoSPA have already said this:
RoSPA : Press Release : RoSPA CALLS FOR SWITCH TO LIGHTER NIGHTS TO SAVE LIVES
This goverment would rather listen to a few SCOTTISH landowners than their own safety body.

A cheap shot poorly made - why would only a few Scottish Landowners be affected? I suspect a lot of ordinary people in Scotland might not like winter days when it doesn't get light until 10:00am.

[davejg]

As I remember, the last time this was discussed in parliament, certain large scale scottish farmers were the only people lobbying against lighter nights, could not scotland set their own time, after all they have their own assembly.

[RobSutton]

After the 1968-71 British Standard Time experiment a poll in Scotland showed that 61% of the population wanted a return to the old system of BST and GMT rather than adopting BST all year round.