When the weather gets warmer, it’s enjoyable to come home after a long day and spend time outside. You can get fresh air while exercising, playing with kids or pets, or even grilling your favourite dinner. But, when it’s 6 p.m. and there is no sunlight, how can you expect to enjoy these evening activities? Make sure to remember this date, March 10, because you will gain an extra hour of daylight in the evening!
Remember to set your clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 10th for daylight saving time, but only if you’re in a participating location. This will cause sunrise and sunlight to happen one hour later than the previous day, resulting in more daylight during the evening. We change our clocks twice a year, once in the spring and once in the autumn. But do you know why we do this?
According to the website of America’s Navy, daylight saving time (DST) started in March 1918 after The Standard Time Act was passed. The main reason Daylight Saving Time (DST) was created was to save energy and make better use of natural daylight. Since March 1918, there have been numerous updates and changes made to the concept and laws that have been enacted.
The United States is one of 70 countries that take part in Daylight Saving Time (DST). After the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed, every state or territory in the U.S. had the option to choose whether to participate in or not participate in Daylight Saving Time (DST). In Indiana, the whole state follows Daylight Saving Time (DST). However, there are 80 counties in the Eastern Time zone and 12 counties in the Central Time zone.
Regardless of your time zone, on March 10th at 2 a.m., the time will change to 3 a.m. This change will give us more daylight in the evenings to enjoy activities and help save energy.
Who Invented Daylight Saving Time?
Prerau states that three people are responsible for the concept of daylight saving time. Benjamin Franklin was the first person in the 18th century. Franklin observed that waking up earlier in the morning allowed him to have more daylight hours to light up his home. He was able to use fewer candles that produced smoke and were expensive, which helped him save energy.
George Bernard Hudson was the second person in New Zealand in the late 19th century. Hudson was a scientist who studied insects and stars. He suggested the idea of adjusting clocks to be ahead of the current time to the Wellington Philosophical Society.
William Willett was the third person in the early 20th-century United Kingdom. Willett, who was a builder and member of the Royal Astronomical Society, proposed a bill in the British Parliament to make a time change official. Although none of the three individuals were successful in implementing their idea of saving daylight, the concept was later reintroduced for a different purpose – war.
When Was Daylight Saving Time Put Into Place?
In 1916, Germany was the first country to start observing daylight saving time to save fuel, which caused clocks to be set back. The U.S. Embassy in Berlin sent a message on April 8 to Washington, D.C., to inform them about the clock change initiative that happened two days earlier. An order has been made to change the clocks and add an extra hour of daylight to the day from May to September.
The dispatch mentioned that Germany believed changing clocks would save $23.8 million, which is equivalent to about $685 million in today’s dollars, by reducing the need for artificial light. Other European countries also began using daylight saving time, and then in 1918, the U.S. started using it as well. In 1919, Congress got rid of daylight saving time even though President Woodrow Wilson didn’t want them to. States were given the choice to keep doing the practice.
Reasons for Daylight Saving Time
During most of World War II, the US decided to keep Daylight Saving Time in place all year round. The idea was implemented to save fuel and maintain consistency. In 1945, when the war was ending, Gallup asked people how we should measure time. Only 17% of people wanted to continue observing what was then referred to as “war time” throughout the entire year.
In an effort to address the energy crisis of the 1970s, we experimented with implementing permanent Daylight Saving Time during the winter of 1973-1974. The goal once again was to save fuel. President Richard Nixon signed the law in January 1974, which was a popular move at the time. However, at the end of the month, Florida’s governor requested that the law be repealed because eight schoolchildren were hit by cars in the dark. Schools all over the country postponed their start times until the sun rose.
During the summer, the public’s approval decreased significantly, and in early October, Congress decided to change back to standard time.
In the US, states are not legally obligated to change their clocks for daylight saving time. Hawaii, most of Arizona, and some territories in the Pacific and Caribbean do not follow Daylight Saving Time. The US Senate passed legislation in March 2022 to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Lawmakers from all political backgrounds find the biannual time change annoying. The bill was approved by everyone’s agreement.
The bill was not voted on by House lawmakers in 2022. A group of twelve senators, from both political parties, reintroduced a bill on March 2, 2023. This bill aims to stop the practice of changing clocks and instead keep Daylight Saving Time permanently. Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida, introduced a bill in the House that is related to the Sunshine Protection Act.
Why Do We Need Daylight Saving Time?
Research conducted over the past 25 years has revealed that the one-hour time change disrupts our body’s natural rhythms that are synchronised with the Earth’s rotation. This has sparked a debate about whether Daylight Saving Time, in any form, is beneficial.
The problem is that for every argument, there is a counterargument. Some studies have shown that when people lose an extra hour of sleep, there is an increase in car accidents. Some studies have found that when there is an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day, the number of robberies tends to decrease. We also know that more people have heart attacks at the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. But what about our emotional well-being? People tend to be happier when there is an additional hour of daylight.
Of course, there is the economy, which provides the funds for all the outdoor activities in the sun. While saving energy was often cited as a reason for having Daylight Saving Time, the actual amount of energy saved is very minimal, if any at all.
Instead, the push for Daylight Saving Time mostly came from various sectors of the economy. In the middle of the 20th century, lobby groups representing the recreational sports industry, such as driving ranges, wanted to attract more customers who had finished their work for the day. It is easier to do things when there is more daylight in the evening.
However, the movie industry did not approve of Daylight Saving Time. You are less likely to go to a movie when it is sunny outside. Contrary to the myth, farmers also didn’t like it because it made it hard for them to transport their food to the market in the morning.
Things to Know About Daylight Saving Time
Making the Shift Can Increase Your Health Risks
“According to sleep expert Adam Spira, changing the clocks can lead to immediate negative health effects, such as heart attacks and strokes,” says Adam Spira, PhD, MA, a professor in Mental Health.
The change is also linked to an increased chance of experiencing mood disturbances and being admitted to the hospital. It can also lead to higher levels of inflammatory markers when the body is under stress. According to Spira, the chances of car crashes increase right after the spring forward. A study conducted in 2020 discovered that the time change raises the likelihood of deadly traffic accidents by 6%.
Less Sleep Means More Health Risks
When we move the clocks forward in the spring, it means we have to go to sleep and wake up earlier than our bodies are used to. According to Spira, this misalignment occurs during DST and can decrease the amount of sleep we can get, which is bad for our health.
“Not getting enough sleep can lead to negative effects on your heart health, increase your risk of diabetes and obesity, affect your mental well-being, lower your ability to think and perform tasks, and increase the chances of getting into a car accident,” he explains.
DST Could Become Permanent
There has been some talk in recent years about switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) through the Sunshine Protection Act, but Spira supports staying on permanent standard time.
The Sunshine Protection Act would permanently disrupt the alignment between our internal clocks and the time displayed on our clocks, watches, and phones. That would negatively impact the health of the population in the United States. The AASM strongly supports getting rid of DST completely and sticking to standard time all year round because there is overwhelming evidence of health and accident risks associated with the time change.
More After-work Sunshine Doesn’t Necessarily Mean a Healthier You
Sunlight is the strongest influencer of our internal body clocks, known as circadian rhythms. Spira explains that although having more time for outdoor activities in the evening is beneficial, being exposed to more light closer to bedtime can make it difficult to fall asleep at our usual bedtime and can reduce the amount of sleep we get each night.
Many of us wake up in the dark because we also lose light in the morning. Spira says that it is not good because being exposed to light in the morning helps us stay alert and maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
“Our bodies work best when we sleep and wake up in sync with the sun.” When it gets dark, our bodies release melatonin, which makes us feel sleepy. During the spring, when we switch to daylight saving time, we have more daylight in the evening.
Which States Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight saving time is currently followed in 48 states, except for Hawaii and Arizona. Prerau explains that the two outliers have unique reasons that set them apart from all other states.
“Hawaii is the southernmost state and the state that is closest to the equator,” said Prerau. “As we approach the equator, the times of sunrise and sunset remain relatively consistent throughout the year.” As a result, they don’t get as much benefit from daylight saving time as most other states. Furthermore, because Hawaii is far away from the mainland, the state is isolated and less worried about issues with neighbouring states.
However, Arizona faces a different problem – the high temperatures. Preraus mentioned that Phoenix and Tucson, which are the most populated areas of the state, are extremely hot during the summer. As a result, they do not desire additional daylight during this season. Furthermore, the state of Arizona is divided. The Navajo Nation in the northeast region of the state follows daylight saving time, but the Hopi Nation, which is surrounded by the Navajo Nation, chooses not to change their clocks.
Conclusion
On March 10th, the US will change its clocks forward by one hour to allow more daylight in the evenings. Daylight Saving Time (DST) was created in 1918 to save energy and make better use of natural daylight. The concept was first introduced by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, George Bernard Hudson in New Zealand, and William Willett in the United Kingdom. The US started using DST in 1916 to save fuel and maintain consistency during World War II. In 1974, the US experimented with permanent DST to address the energy crisis of the 1970s. In 2022, the US Senate passed legislation to make DST permanent, but it was not voted on by House lawmakers. In 2023, a bill aims to stop the practice of changing clocks and keep DST permanently.
Daylight saving time (DST) is controversial due to its impact on our body’s natural rhythms and potential health risks. Studies show that losing an extra hour of sleep can increase car accidents, robberies, heart attacks, and emotional well-being. The push for DST comes from various sectors of the economy, such as recreational sports, movie, and farming. Sleep expert Adam Spira warns that DST can lead to negative health effects, such as heart attacks, strokes, mood disturbances, and increased risk of car accidents. The Sunshine Protection Act has raised concerns about DST becoming permanent, but the American Psychological Association (APA) supports staying on standard time. Sunlight, which influences our internal body clocks, can also reduce sleep and wakefulness. Hawaii and Arizona are the only states that do not observe DST, due to their unique circumstances.
