Daylight Savings Time is in effect TODAY

What is the purpose of daylight savings time? Why do we have to change our times to better fit daylight? Why not just change our schedule? Daylight savings time effects a lot of people, and some even negatively, so why can’t the people who need more daylight just wake up an hour earlier instead? Why should everyone have to lose an hour of sleep to accommodate them? When your county or area chos e to participate in daylight savings time… they did it for a reason.

Believe it or not, Daylight Savings Time was discovered in the 1700’s by Benjamin Franklin. In 1907 William Willet introduced the idea of setting our clocks ahead in the summer by 80 minutes could save over 2.5 million dollars in electricity.

Winston Churchill was the first person to make daylight savings a law in 1916 when he was on a mission to save coal during WW1. After that, many countries started utilizing DST to save money during wars, and now continually practice it today. Over 1.5 billion people in the world practice Daylight Savings Time (DST). This is 25% of the world’s population. Many countries in North America and Europe, plus a few areas in South America, Africa, and Australia all practice DST.

One of the main benefits of daylight savings time is that we are allowing ourselves to use more daylight while we are awake. If the sun is out more when we are awake, then this allows us to utilize the sunlight more, and hopefully use electricity by not turning on so many lights. If the sun is out we can make use of natural sun light, and keep the lights off more in our homes, offices, and buildings. This can save energy, plus save us money on our electricity bills!

Other benefits of turning our clocks forward an hour in the summer includes: the reduction of accidents and fatalities from car crashes, reduction in violent crime, and families can enjoy long summer evenings together outside, which could potentially increase activity and decrease obesity. But do these benefits out way the inconveniences of daylight savings? Is it worth the embarrassment of potentially being late to meetings or church? Many people do not see the significance in the benefits of Daylight Savings Time, but hopefully now you understand the advantages of simply turning your clocks ahead an hour today. It really is worth the loss of an hour a sleep, or a confusing, embarrassing morning.