The change in season not only affects our lifestyle, including health patterns, eating habits, and mood, but also prompts adjustments in the animal kingdom: hibernation, bird migration, and tree shedding. Amidst these natural shifts, it’s essential to recognize – what daylight saving is in the US.
One of the most notable changes we can observe is days. A key factor in our lifestyle change during the fall is that days get shorter and nights longer, which means that there is a decrease in daylight.
As a result, schools can start late (you must be aware of the summer and winter timetable differences in school), and our time spent on outdoor activities can decrease. With this change in days, many states changed their clocks to achieve maximum productivity. Read below this article to find out more about daylight savings.
What is Daylight Saving
The idea of changing the clocks with the seasonal change was first proposed by New Zealander entomologist and astrologist George Hudson. He proposed the idea that, during spring, we should change the clocks by two hours. His ideal aim was to have more sunlight in the summer, which allowed people to enjoy more sunlight after work.
When is Daylight Savings
It is important to note that the geographical location of a certain place plays a major role in the phenomenon, too. While the places near the equator might not have any major changes, the places far from the midline can see drastic effects. While George Hudson’s idea completely made sense, it was not practically used until World War 1.
In 1951, Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were the first to implement daylight saving time. They noticed that with the days getting shorter, a lot more energy was being used in lighting, which caused more coal usage. With daylight savings, they could save energy resources. The coal could then be used for the war.
Read More
Because the main fuel back in those times was coal, electricity was not as accessible to them as it is to us now. Changing the clocks would not only save the expenses that went into electricity, but it would also conserve more coal. And because it was a time of war, this was an important step.
When Does Time Change?
Many people tend to ponder- what is daylight saving in US? The time when the clocks move forward is called daylight saving time, and the rest of the year is called standard time.
In the United States, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. This means in November, the clocks are turned back an hour, resulting in earlier sunrises and sunsets.
Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?
With the winter approaching, our access to sunlight is restricted. As humans, we are oblivious to our need to spend time in the sun. Not only is it good for our physical health, but it also affects our mood. With a decrease in sun time in the winter, daylight savings ensure more time in the golden rays after work. It also promotes outdoor activities.
Right after its execution, the United States saw a great conservation in gas and electricity bills, too. It was thought that the money saved could go towards something more important, like the war.
Evident Impact of Daylight Saving Time (DST)
Daylight Saving Time (DST) affects our lives in different ways, both good and not-so-good. While many people are intrigued to know what is daylight saving in US, others wish to explore its major impacts. The phenomenon changes how we use energy, impacts our economy, and can even affect our health. Here, we’ll look at some of the main ways DST influences things.
Positive Impacts of Daylight Saving Time
- Energy Efficiency: DST is implemented to optimize energy consumption by utilizing natural daylight during extended evenings, reducing the reliance on artificial lighting and heating and contributing to energy conservation.
- Economic Boost: The prolonged daylight hours during DST positively impact economic activities. Increased opportunities for outdoor engagements, shopping, and tourism provide a stimulus to local economies.
- Health and Recreation: Longer evenings encourage outdoor recreation and exercise, fostering both physical and mental well-being among individuals during the DST period.
- Agricultural Advantages: Farmers may experience improved productivity due to the additional daylight hours offered by DST, facilitating extended working hours for agricultural tasks.
- Tourism Opportunities: The extended daylight in the evenings creates a more conducive environment for tourism, attracting individuals to engage in leisure activities and travel, thereby benefiting the tourism industry.
Negative Impacts of Daylight Saving Time
- Health Challenges: The biannual time changes associated with DST can disrupt sleep patterns and circadian rhythms, leading to short-term health issues such as fatigue, concentration difficulties, and an increased risk of accidents.
- Technological Disruptions: The automated time changes during DST transitions can pose challenges for various systems and technologies, potentially causing disruptions in computer systems, software applications, and electronic devices.
- Communication Complexities: Coordinating schedules across different time zones becomes intricate during DST transitions, resulting in confusion and disruptions in communication and workflow for organizations operating globally.
- Safety Concerns: The adjustment to the new schedule during the days following the time change can heighten the risk of accidents, particularly impacting public safety in sectors such as transportation.
- Debated Environmental Impact: Despite the intended energy savings, the overall environmental impact of DST is a matter of ongoing debate. Some studies question its effectiveness in significantly reducing energy consumption, adding complexity to the environmental considerations associated with this practice.
Is Daylight Saving Time Becoming Permanent?
While it is understandable why daylight saving time UPSC was administered successfully in the earlier years when coal was the main source of fuel, things have drastically changed since then. At this point in time, individuals wish to know what is daylight saving in US and how long would it stay in action?
|
Area |
Positive Effects |
Negative Effects |
|---|---|---|
|
Energy Usage |
Reduced reliance on artificial lighting and heating. |
Potential disruptions in energy-efficient technologies. |
|
Economy |
Boost in outdoor activities, shopping, and tourism. |
Productivity challenges and economic adjustments during transitions. |
|
Health |
Extended daylight promotes outdoor recreation. |
Short-term disruptions to sleep patterns and well-being. |
|
Agriculture |
Increased working time for farmers. |
Disruptions in daily schedules and potential coordination issues. |
In the past, electricity was not as accessible as commonly and efficiently as it is today. The tungsten bulb was not as economical as our current CSF and LED bulbs; hence, the expense has gone down as well. Also, with the changes climate change has brought, more daylight means more usage of air conditioning, and people prefer to stay indoors. This results in increased electrical consumption. Therefore, the main purpose of daylight-saving energy is defeated.
Another major drawback of daylight savings is the overall sleep health of the population. The change in time disrupts normal sleeping patterns, causing a decrease in the quality of sleep for an individual. Poor sleep is attributed to a decline in health. People are more prone to strokes, depression, and fatigue.
Also, states like Arizona, which have a seething temperature, would avoid any extra time in the sun, making it one of the states in America to reject daylight saving time. It is also to be noted that daylight saving time isn’t a homogenous phenomenon. Using Arizona as an example, while the state rejects daylight saving, the Navajo Nation, situated in the northern part of Arizona, still considers it. The Hopi reservation that lies inside the Navajo Nation, which, like the other parts of Arizona, also ignores daylight saving.
Daylight saving time did not impact the work structure in older times due to a lack of interconnectivity between different time zones. But now, with the world becoming a global village, it is difficult to schedule meetings due to the bigger difference in the time zones brought by daylight savings, because while some places do practice it, others don’t.
Is it Daylight “Saving” or “Savings” Time?
The technically correct version is Daylight Saving Time, popularly abbreviated as DST, but Daylight Savings Time has also been used quite popularly, so much so that both terms have been in use interchangeably.
“Summer time” is also a popular term used for the phenomenon.
What States Are Getting Rid of Daylight Saving Time?
- As per a vote held in 2019, the European Union voted against daylight saving time. The passing of the law was postponed and held due to the Corona outbreak.
- 19 states in America have already voted to make daylight saving permanent, which means there will be no seasonal change in the clocks.
- In Australia, western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland also do not use daylight savings.
Conclusion
While George Hudson only had good intentions when he came up with daylight savings, and while it was also extremely reasonable in terms of money, things have acutely changed since. With the advancement of technology, the efficiency of electrical machines has seen a dynamic shift. It is crucial to understand what is daylight saving in US and gauge all its implications in detail.
It is highly probable that daylight savings might only address issues that do not even exist anymore. Considering its health implications as well, it is understandable why many states want to stop going through the hassle of changing their clocks twice a year.
But in countries like Germany, where this has been accepted uniformly for a long time, there seems no harm in continuing with daylight saving.
When is Daylight Savings – FAQs
What is daylight saving in US?
A seasonal change in the clocks is called daylight saving time, while the rest of the year is called standard time.
Is it daylight savings or savings?
The correct term is daylight saving time, but daylight saving time has also been widely accepted.
When does daylight saving start?
Daylight saving starts in the second week of March and ends in the first week of November.
Does India have daylight saving time?
No, due to its close proximity to the equator, India does not experience any drastic seasonal changes. Hence, there is no need for daylight saving time.