Showing posts with label daylight saving time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daylight saving time. Show all posts

It's that time again: This weekend change your clocks, change your batteries

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Daylight savings time will begin on Sunday, March 10 at 2am local time. Clocks will go ahead one hour; part of the twice-annual time change that affects Washington State.

The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) along with the National Fire Protection Association want to remind residents to change their home smoke alarm batteries when changing your clocks. 

Because working smoke alarms are a critical element of home fire safety, the SFMO supports any and all efforts to reinforce the importance of working smoke alarm batteries. It’s simple – working smoke alarms save lives.

When it comes to smoke alarms, the SFMO asks that you follow these safety tips:
  • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. They should also be interconnected – if one sounds, they all sound.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.
  • A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall.
  • Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.
  • Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years. If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
  • There are smoke alarms for the hearing impaired. Smoke alarms that are equipped with strobe lights flash when the smoke alarm sounds. The lights warn people of a possible fire.
  • For those who are hearing impaired and are asleep, a pillow or bed shaker device can wake them so that they can escape. Most shakers are activated by the sound of a smoke alarm. Research products and select the ones that best meet your needs.
  • Don’t Forget – A closed door may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire, so close the doors to your bedroom every evening before going to sleep.
For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-596-3929.

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The shortest day, the longest night

Friday, December 22, 2023

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Greetings on the Winter Solstice - the shortest day, the longest night

We've made it through the long, dark nights and now minute by minute the days will be longer every day. You can tell the difference even when there's no sun.

Light at 4pm - thank goodness - and bah humbug to all those 'experts' claiming that standard time is better for us somehow. I want my Daylight Saving Time!

--Cranky Editor


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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Time Change

Saturday, November 4, 2023

 

November 5th at 2am, that is!


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Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend - clocks go back an hour

Friday, November 3, 2023


Yes, we voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. So did Oregon and California and other states.

The problem is that it requires congressional action. Enough said.

We still have to turn our clocks twice a year and this weekend is the date.

So turn your clocks back an hour to Standard Time before you go to bed on Saturday night.


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Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend and PSE offers tips to keep energy costs down

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

PSE offers tips for the end of Daylight Saving Time - Sunday November 4, 2023 at 2am

It’s the time of the year again for big jackets, warm drinks and setting your clocks to fall back an hour.

The winter season is quickly approaching and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is providing tips for customers to keep energy costs down during the colder, darker months.

Get smart with your thermostat.

You can save as much as 10% a year by simply turning your thermostat down 7-10°F for 8 hours a day. Install and properly set a smart thermostat to make this happen automatically. PSE also offers discounted smart thermostats on the PSE Marketplace.

Weatherize and replace old insulation.

Proper weatherization can save more than $200 a year in reduced heating and cooling costs. 

Insulation is like a blanket for your home – the heavier the blanket, the warmer your home will be in the winter. 

Even adding insulation to a newer home can pay for itself within a few years. 

You can put sweeps along the bottom of your doors or purchase and install inexpensive window sealing kit to block cold drafts. PSE also offers a variety of rebates on weatherization upgrades and window replacements.

Optimize your heating system

Heating can account for up to 60% of monthly energy costs. Schedule a check-up for your heating system to make sure it’s running as smoothly as possible. 

If you have a furnace, check and clean your filters regularly to optimize your equipment’s performance. 

Replacing an inefficient heating system can also help you save on energy bills and improve the comfort of your home. PSE's rebates can make the purchase of an energy-efficient heating system easier on your wallet. Learn more at pse.com/heating.

Update outdoor lighting with LEDs.

Now is the time to check outdoor lights as extreme temperatures can shorten the lifespan of lightbulbs. If you can, replace traditional incandescent lighting with LED fixtures, which use 6 times less energy.

Download PSE’s mobile app before bad weather hits.

Find information on power outages, monitor your energy use and pay bills – all from your fingertips! The myPSE app is available for free in your app store now.

Whether you're buying a home, remodeling or just looking to spend less, you can use PSE’s rebates and offers to save on energy efficiency upgrades. The more efficient your home becomes, the lower your bills can get. Learn more at pse.com/lower.


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Whitney Potter (and the State Fire Marshal) say: Change your clocks this weekend - it's Daylight Saving Time

Friday, March 10, 2023

Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2:00am. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office wants to remind everyone that when changing your clocks, remember to test your smoke alarm at the same time.

The following safety tips are recommended:
  • Install smoke alarms in every sleeping area and test them at least once a month.
  • It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms so that if one alarm sounds, they all sound.
  • Alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers should be utilized for those with hearing disabilities.
  • Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for 10 years from the manufacture date, not the date of installation. 
  • If the alarm chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away.
  • When changing a battery, follow the smoke alarm manufacturer’s instructions which specify which batteries must be used. The smoke alarm may not work properly if the wrong kind of battery is used.
  • In accordance to Washington Administrative Code 212-10, landlords are responsible for the installing and testing of smoke alarms prior to a tenant moving in. 
  • Once the tenant takes possession of the rental unit, the tenant is responsible for all maintenance and testing unless agreed upon prior to the tenant moving in. Failure of the owner to abide by the terms of any such agreement does not relieve the tenant of the responsibility to maintain the smoke alarm devices in a fully operational condition at all times.
For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-596-3929.



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Turn back - Turn in: Clocks go back, ballots go in

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Turn back - Turn in
Melting clocks on Etsy; ballot photo by Alan Charnley

Now that you have reset your clocks from the power outage, turn them back an hour.

Unless you have a tree down over the road, you should be able to get out Sunday to turn in your ballot to a drop box or post office box.

Right now we have more drop boxes than post office boxes, but take your pick.

That may be an exaggeration. Let's see.

Blue boxes: 
  • Post office in Gateway Plaza on N 185th. 
  • By Subway Sandwiches in Ballinger Terrace. 
  • Town Center LFP?
  • Bitter Lake post office - drive up
Drop boxes:
  • Town Center LFP by City Hall
  • Shoreline Library NE 175th and 5th NE
  • Aurora Park n Ride N 192nd and Aurora
--Diane Hettrick



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: We heard this last year

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Change your clocks before you go to bed on Saturday night. 
Spring ahead - fall back.



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Change your clocks and check your smoke alarms this weekend - and don't forget to vote

Friday, November 4, 2022

This Sunday, November 6, 2022, marks the end of daylight savings time. 

The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office encourages you to check your smoke alarm when turning back your clocks.

And everyone is reminding you to turn in your ballot!
 
Smoke alarms will save your life in the event of a fire, but only if they are in good working condition.
 
Follow these guidelines for all home smoke alarms:
 
  • Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, in hallways outside bedrooms, and on every floor of the home, including basements. Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.
  • Install smoke alarms that have strobe lights and bed shakers for those who are hard-of-hearing or deaf.
  • Smoke alarms with non-replaceable 10-year batteries are designed to remain effective for up to 10 years from the manufacture date. If the alarms chirps, warning that the battery is low, replace the entire smoke alarm right away. Also, replace the smoke alarm if the manufacture date is more than 10 years old.
  • Press the test button to ensure your smoke alarm is working properly. Also make sure everyone in the home knows the sound a smoke alarm makes and how to respond if it goes off.
  • It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.
  • Rental housing must also have working smoke alarms. Contact your landlord or property manager if your rental home does not have smoke alarms installed. Maintenance and testing of smoke alarms is the responsibility of the tenant.
  • Contact your local fire agency for additional assistance. Many local fire agencies have smoke alarm programs that may provide free devices and installation.
 
For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-596-3929.
 


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Get ready to set your clocks back on November 6, 2022

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Washingtonians will “fall back” on November 6 and will turn their clocks back by one hour, returning to standard time. 

Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill in 2019 to establish permanent daylight saving time, keeping clocks “sprung forward” year-round. 

However, a congressional waiver is required before that can happen. 

The U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 this spring, which could institute permanent daylight savings time if the U.S. House of Representatives and President Joe Biden both approve.



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CORRECTION: SPRING AHEAD this weekend into Daylight Saving Time

Friday, March 11, 2022

 

Spring FORWARD

Fall BACK

2am Sunday, March 13, 2022 or before you go to bed Saturday set your clocks and non-wifi devices an hour ahead. 

Phone, computer, TV will be ok but the coffee pot is always a surprise.

Oh, and ignore what I said yesterday. I'm a little dyslexic with time changes.

--Diane Hettrick


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Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday - change your clocks - change your batteries

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Cartoon by Whitney Potter

By Diane Hettrick

Did you forget we were on Daylight Time?

I think many did. I've been getting press releases for months that leave out the D for Daylight when they give the time for events. It doesn't seem to have made a difference locally but might have been a problem for people who were in different time zones to begin with.

So now we get to go through the pain of time change again.

Spring ahead - Fall back.

We set our clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday, November 6, 2021. The time change happens at 2am on Sunday, November 7, 2021. 

Or maybe it happens at 3am, which becomes 2am.

Back in olden days, before clocks on phones and computers and cable boxes, to find the accurate time you called the Time Lady. There was a special phone number. The female voice would say "At the tone, the time will be ...2:01am .. (beep)" It would be repeated endlessly for every minute of the day.

I once stayed up until 2am to hear what the Time Lady would do about the time change. But she did nothing except move on through the minutes after 2am. I didn't bother to stay up longer but I presume that 2:59am went to 2am.

Washington, Oregon, and California have all passed laws to go permanently onto Daylight Saving Time. We haven't because it takes congressional approval. We could go permanently to Standard Time without congressional approval, but not Daylight Time.

If you didn't know already, on Sunday you will find out which of your timekeeping devices are connected to the internet and which are on their own.

And you'll find out just how many clocks you have in your life.

And speaking of changing things - this is the designated time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Even wired in smoke detectors have back up batteries that need to be changed. Carbon monoxide detectors may have batteries too.



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Time to Change Your Clocks

Saturday, March 13, 2021

 

Reminding you just in time - change your clocks this weekend




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Heads up: Change to Daylight Saving Times this weekend

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Yes. We did vote to remain on the same time year round. So did Oregon and California. 

So why do we have to lose time this weekend when we set our clocks ahead an hour?

It's because of a strange federal law that says states have the authority to move full time to Standard Time, but not the authority to move full time to Daylight Saving Time.

So here we are. Saturday night before you go to bed, set your clocks ahead an hour. "Spring ahead - fall back".

The one positive thing is that with church services virtual, you won't have to be embarrassed pulling into church an hour late because you forgot to set your clocks.

--Diane Hettrick

Correction: Saving - not Savings. No guarantee I won't get it wrong in the fall. DKH

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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Time change

Friday, October 30, 2020


Change your clocks before you go to bed on Saturday night.



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CORRECTION: Fall back - time change 2am Sunday

Monday, October 26, 2020



APOLOGIES from your calendrically-challenged Editor. You did not miss Daylight Savings Time. I just put the dates for the wrong weekend. Change your clocks this coming weekend: October 31 - November 1, 2020.

Corrected article:

This year is so strange already that a shift in the space time continuum won't make it any worse. I hardly know what day it is, let alone what time. Of course staying up all night and having no schedule and getting three hours of sleep might make a difference - what? did you say something?


Just turn your clocks back before you go to bed Saturday or at least before 2am Sunday. October 31 - November 1, 2020 in case you were wondering.

Oh and before you ask, yes we did vote to stay on daylight savings time all year. It's just that it has to be approved by congress. If we stayed on standard time all year we could just do it. Oregon and California are also waiting on congress.

--Diane


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Reminder from Whitney Potter: Spring forward

Saturday, March 7, 2020




Yes, we still have to do this. It requires congressional action before a state is allowed to move permanently to daylight saving time, so we'll probably be doing this for a long time.

Move your clocks ahead an hour. Most are online and will take care of themselves but not microwaves, clocks on stove, coffee pots (I think), and a few other things that will surprise you.

--DKH




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Spring ahead - Fall back - get ready for time change next weekend

Monday, March 2, 2020

Yes, you are remembering correctly that the Washington state legislature approved permanent Daylight Saving Time last year.

But you still have to turn your clock ahead on Saturday.

That's because Federal law says that states may choose to remain permanently on Standard Time - but it doesn't offer the option of Daylight Time.

It would be a simple fix but no congress member wants to spend the time to get a bill passed.

Seven states have passed legislation to approve year round DST: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.

So for now, we will still Spring Ahead and later on, Fall Back.

In springtime the clocks are moved forward from 2:00am to 3:00am and in fall they are moved back from 2:00am to 1:00am.

--Diane Hettrick



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And change your clocks...

Saturday, November 2, 2019



Saturday before you go to bed is the best time to change your clocks.

When I was young, I stayed up one time until 2am to hear the Time Lady make the change. If you are old enough, you will remember that you could call a telephone number to find out what time it was.

"At the tone, the time will be 1:59am. (Beep!)" Sadly, she just went on to 2am, then 2:01am. Apparently the change came at 3am. But I went to bed and will never know.

DKH



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Heads up! and clocks back this weekend

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Sorry folks - we have to change our clocks this weekend.

Washington state voted to remain on Daylight Saving Time but it has to be approved by congress...

Spring ahead - Fall back.

Saturday before you go to bed, set your manual clocks back an hour.

We'll tell you again on Sunday morning but you will already be at church at the wrong time.



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