Day light saving in tropical countries (Singapore)

[1. The background and Context (1-3 sentences)]

Introduction It is very common to have day light saving by turning the clock one hour earlier or later during winter and summer time in Europe or America. It seems hard for tropical countries to adjust the time change as there is no day light difference throughout the year. However, a small difference in sun rise and set can have impact on energy consumption in Singapore.
[2. Desired Behaviour Change (1-3 sentences)]

Currently, lights in the streets, public buildings and common corridors have standard operating hours throughout the years. As an experiment, we can switch off these lights by just 5 minutes to observe the impact, reaction and feedbacks from the public.
3. The Decision Making Process and Analysis (7-8 sentences)

Singapore is situated slightly north of the Equator. However, the possible sunshine % is different from January to December. Wikepedia provides the following breakdown: Jan to Dec (%): 47, 54, 52, 48, 48, 49,51,48,43, 42, 36, 36. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore#Climate) If all the street lights are based on November and December sunshine % of 36% to switch on and off, then there are rooms for street light improvement and management. By applying the day light saving technique, it is possible to save electricity by adjusting the timing of street lights in other months (Jan-Oct), especially in the months of February (54), March (52), and July (51). The percentage different (comparing February and Nov/Dec) is quite substantial and it means the timing sun rise and set is different too.

A universal lighting operating hour for streets, public buildings and corridors throughout the year is not the best option. We can start with 5-minute day light saving, and then with better research and technology we can shift to different intervals of 5, 10, or 15 minutes.
[4. The Nudge describe the nudge (7-8 sentences)]

This works like (automatic enrolment) the organ donation program in France. If you are not happy you can complaint and opt out. Singapore is a small and relative efficient country. The government can adjust the timing of street lights easily for example in February and March to test the effectiveness of day light saving. General public will not notice the change if they dont use the roads in that particular 5 minutes. Even they know the change, due to the sufficient sunshine in February and March, they will not be inconvenient. Anyway, there is still a feedback system for them to air their complaint (or opt out by asking the government to reinstall to the old timing).
[5. The Experiment (7-8 sentences)]

To make sure we can achieve the goal of electricity saving by adjusting the street light timing in February and March, we have to consider other non-monetary effects. We want to make sure the 5-minute saving will not cost traffic accidents and crime rate to go up. There are social and political costs if these things do happen. We will monitor the rate of traffic accidents and crimes when we start the experiment, for example, 6.25 to 6.30 am. (The street lights will turn off at 6.25 am instead of the usual 6.30 am in February/March. In fact, another turn on experiment can also be carried out for example from 6.30 pm to 6.35 pm. However, let consider the morning first.)

Information collected can then compare to Feb/March of previous years to check whether traffic accidents and crime situation are the same or increase/decrease. A third data collection can be complaints/feedbacks received during the experiment. Some people may find inconvenient or fear due to the 5-minute adjustment. A hot line can be set up to monitor this or a field study can be conducted to sample and randomly selected Singaporeans to get their feedbacks. Statistical analysis using both ANOVA and regression can be applied. If the results turn out to be good no effect on traffic accidents, crime rate or complaints, then the government can expand the day light saving programs to other months or even to public buildings, common corridors, schools etc. Benefit of the 5-minute electricity saving through day light saving is quite easy to measure. It is the voltage (kW) saved and cost per kW.
[7. Concluding Comments (1-3 sentences)]

Conclusion By making this small change in choice, it is possible to save energy consumption in Singapore. Even day light saving is common in America and Europe. However, the same technique can be adjusted to suit a tropical country like Singapore.