Much ado about nothing or something we should fear and dread? That clearly depends on who you ask. This year’s early entry into Daylight Savings Time has some people scurrying to cover all the bases while others are content to sit calmly back and let March 11 come and go, hopefully without incident.  The general consensus seems to be that the Y2K non-event caused enough unfounded panic to last a lifetime.

The Energy Policy Act of of 2005 (EPACT) mandates that Daylight Savings Time begin two weeks earlier and last two weeks later in an effort to save energy. Daylight Savings Time “makes” the sun “set” one hour later and therefore reduces the period between sunset and bedtime by one hour. This means that less electricity is used for lighting later in the day.  We also use less electricity because we are home fewer hours during the “longer” days of spring and summer. Most people plan outdoor activities in the extra daylight hours. When we are not home we don’t turn on the appliances and lights.

For many widely used devices automatic updates to the new time should be relatively easy. Cell phones will likely flash the correct date and time because that information comes from the service providers’ networks.  The Internet will automatically update clocks on many personal computers, provided their software is relatively current.

Microsoft cautions that some of its older products (including Windows XP SPI and Windows NT4) will require manual upgrades. The company’s web site provides detailed instructions on how to update various products. Just to be on the safe side, Microsoft urges customers to double check meetings scheduled during the four weeks that are being added to Daylight Savings Time this year. According to Microsoft’s website: “Users should view any appointments that fall into these date ranges as suspect until they communicate with all meeting invitees to make sure that the item shows up correctly on everyone’s calendar, both internally and externally.”

Some airlines fought the change saying it would cost millions of dollars to change domestic schedules to match landing and takeoff spots at international airports. The president signed the bill in August of 2005 and the whole matter seemed benign until corporate and government officials began to realize what the March 11 onset might involve.

The early onset of DST has the potential to be disconcerting for those who schedule their lives strictly with electronics.  People with gadgets that have built in clocks designed to automatically change back and forth from DST to Standard Time based on the old school may have issues. While some newer electronics have already been programmed to convert to the new DST older gadgets like televisions, VHS/DVD player/recorders and clock radios will need to be manually reset.  And while you’re at it, don’t forget programmable thermostats, smoke alarms, security systems and guest room clocks.

The early onset of DST could get a little dicey if you have an online business that guarantees 24 hour shipping or where there are other online time sensitive specifications. That’s where your web host comes in. Your web host will help you ensure that your business sails along without a glitch as you bask in the added hours of sunshine.

While most computer gurus agree that this change is no cause for major alarm they are recommending that you take a minute to check the date on your computer on the following days:

• March 11, 2007: the new start of DST. Your clock should “spring forward” one hour on this day. If you’ve applied the appropriate patches and have automatic adjustment enabled, it should do this automatically.
• April 1, 2007: the old start of DST. Your clock should not change on this day. If you failed to update, it might change.
• October 28, 2007: the old end of DST. Your clock should not change on this day.
• November 4, 2007: the new end of DST. Your clock should “fall back: one hour on this day.

It is also a good idea to take a glance at any of your programs that handle scheduling and appointments. Shakespeare warned us about the ides of March so maybe we should still be a little wary about March 15. March 11, however, will (hopefully) be no cause for concern.