Daylight saving time is coming to an end in the US. Energy savings or changing habits?

Daylight saving time, a practice that affects nearly 400 million people in North America, is back in the spotlight as debates continue over its necessity.

This twice-yearly ritual of setting the clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall has been ingrained in American, Canadian and Cuban life for more than a century. However, recent legislative proposals and changing public sentiment are prompting a reassessment of its relevance in today’s society.

When does the time change?

Daylight saving time in the US and some other countries ends on November 3 at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks must be turned back one hour, meaning people will sleep an extra hour. The mornings will be brighter but it will get darker earlier in the evening. The saying “go forward, go back” serves as a useful reminder to set your clocks.

In the United Kingdom and other European countries, daylight saving time, also known as daylight saving time, ends on October 27.

Daylight saving time always begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November in the United States. This contrasts with the United Kingdom and the European Union, where daylight saving time begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October.

When is the shortest day in 2024?

The shortest day in 2024 will be December 21, which marks the winter solstice. Daylight hours vary significantly depending on the latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Areas near the North Pole will be plunged into total darkness, while southern regions will continue to receive more than 10 hours of sunshine.

Next year, daylight saving time will begin on March 9 and end on November 2.

Why was daylight saving time created in the US and how did it start?

The modern idea of ​​changing clocks with the seasons dates back at least to the late 19th century, when New Zealand entomologist George Hudson proposed it to conserve energy and extend summer daylight hours, something that would have benefited his own hobby of collecting insects. . after work.

The idea was slow to gain traction until World War I, when European states sought strategies to conserve fuel. Germany was the first country to adopt daylight saving time in 1916. The United States followed in 1918.

The practice went through many variations before the United States standardized it in 1966 in the Uniform Time Act, which allows states to opt out of, but not remain in, daylight saving time permanently.

Why is daylight saving time controversial?

A common myth is that the United States adopted daylight saving time to benefit farmers, but in reality many farmers oppose the practice for disrupting their schedules.

The original motivation for conserving fuel is also under debate, as studies have found little to no energy savings from the switch, according to the US Congressional Research Service.

Opponents point to other studies that have found adverse health effects linked to daylight saving time, such as an increase in fatal traffic accidents, heart attacks, strokes and lack of sleep in the days after clocks are moved forward one hour every March.

A March 2023 YouGov poll found that 62% of Americans want to end the practice of changing clocks, although only 50% preferred to keep daylight saving time permanent.

Do all US states observe daylight saving time?

No. Hawaii and Arizona, with the exception of the Navajo Nation, do not observe daylight saving time. The U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands also observe permanent standard time.

While daylight saving time is widespread throughout the United States, 19 states have passed laws to use it permanently if Congress allows it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Is the United States ending daylight saving time?

The United States won’t be ending daylight saving time anytime soon, although there is proposed federal legislation called the Sunshine Protection Act that would make daylight saving time permanent.

The legislation, introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, passed the Senate in 2022 but stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives because lawmakers couldn’t agree on whether to keep standard time or permanent daylight saving time. .

The group of senators reintroduced the bill last year and referred it to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for review. The bill would have to be approved by the Senate and House before President Joe Biden could sign it into law.

[Con información de Reuters]

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channelsYouTube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.