It’s almost time to spring ahead!
While the increased daylight is surely a reason to get excited, those who favor their sleep might be feeling the opposite. Why? Because the start of daylight saving involves adjusting the clocks up one hour, resulting inone hour lessof sleep.
But don’t fret! The added sunlight at the end of the day is sure likely to help beat that end-of-winter doldrums. Just be sure toset any clocks that aren’t on a smart deviceaheadone hour before heading to bed Saturday night.
Despite the practice of daylight saving’s century-long history in U.S., (dating back to 1908 when it was first observed), the biannual clock-turning ritual may be a thing of the past.Congress has debatedfor decades whether or not to keep the tradition — and are continuing to discuss today.
“This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support,” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. said after reintroducingthe Sunshine Protection Acton March 7, 2023.
Florida isn’t the only state that has pushed to permanently adopt daylight saving time. In fact, other states have already chosen to abolish the practice and stay on standard time during the year.
Here’s everything to know about daylight saving time 2023, including the states that follow it and whether or not this will be the last year.
When did daylight saving time begin?
Daylight saving time may not be the most thrilling day on your calendar, but it does have a fascinating history.
The next major change came in 2007 when the Energy Policy Act of 2005 “extended the length of DST in the interest of reducing energy consumption,” according tothe National Institute of Standards and Technology.
As a result, daylight saving time was expanded to encompass about 65% of the year, beginning at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ending on the first Sunday of November.
Who is in charge of daylight saving time?
In 1966, the Department of Transportation (DOT) was assigned the responsibility of daylight saving time and all time zones in the U.S. because “time standards are important for many modes of transportation,“according to the department’s website.
Do all states participate in daylight saving time?
Matt Cardy/Getty
States have the final say on if they participate in daylight saving time. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not — the latter because it receives so much sunlight already. The islands of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands abstain as well.
What are the benefits of daylight saving time?
According to the DOT, daylight saving time is observed because it reportedly saves energy, cuts down on traffic accidents, and reduces crime.
Research varies as to whether or not the practice actually satisfies its reasonings —air conditioning units have shown to cost more energy in some areas— but at the very least, the extra hour encourages more time outside. And whether you spend that working out or sipping cocktails on the patio, a little more sunshine is never a bad thing.
When is daylight saving time 2024?
Daylight saving time occurs March 10, 2024 at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.
Will this year be the last time daylight saving is observed in the United States?
Getty
For years, U.S. Congress has debated whether or not to keep the bi-annual clock changes or end the nation’s practice for good. In 1985, Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) passed legislation extendingdaylight saving timeand again in 2005.
“Americans want more sunshine in the chilly, winter months, and Congress can deliver that to them,” he said at the time. Now, the lawmaker, dubbed “Sun King,” is speaking up once more, vowing that this can be the year that Congress ends the time-changing ritual.
“My opinion is, honestly, the sun doesn’t have any enemies,“Markey said perThe Washington Post, adding that moving the clocks forward permanently would enable hundreds of millions of people to enjoy more sunshine later in the day for various activities. The Senatepassed the billin March, butdied in the Houseamid safety and health concerns.
However, 19 states haveenacted legislation or passed resolutionsto provide for year-round daylight saving time in the last five years (if Congress were to allow such a change). “Becausefederal law does not currently allow full-time DST, Congress would have to act before states could adopt changes,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
source: people.com
