It began over one hundred years ago. Since then, it has been repealed, reinstated, renamed, revised, and reestablished, and it’s still as unpopular as ever! What began in Germany in the May of 1916 as a way to conserve fuel during World War I, made its way to the U.S. two years later. And although it has been purported to help farmers, that is one of four myths surrounding this event.
What I am referring to is DST. And interestingly enough what these initials stand for is Myth #1. I, like many others, have referred to DST as Daylight Savings Time. It is really Daylight Saving Time, no plural on the savings part. Please indulge me for a minute…since the word “saving” acts as an adjective rather than a verb in this phrase, the singular form is grammatically correct. Thank you.
DST begins in the spring when our clocks are moved ahead one hour, and ends in the fall when our clocks are moved back one hour. Hence the sayings, “spring ahead” and “fall back” have been created to remind us what to do and when.
From my journal: April 2, 1995, Rolling Hills Estates, California
“Sun is shining, cool outside. Glad we remembered to set our clocks ahead bc Pam and Stan came by @ 11am…”
And now for a short history lesson on DST in the United States. In 1918, the Standard Time Act established DST to save fuel and lengthen the workday. Referred to as “Fast Time” it was repealed after WWI. Reinstated in 1942, it was renamed “War Time” and hung around until 1945. During this period, it began in early February and ended in late September. From 1946 to 1965 there were no set dates for DST causing major confusion coast to coast. So in 1966 the Uniform Time Act standardized the start and end dates for all states, except for Arizona and Hawaii that don’t observe DST. At that time DST began on the last Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. But in 1973 when the oil embargo took place, the U.S. Congress ordered year-round DST. Once the energy crisis was over, DST went through a few revisions. Then in 1987, DST shifted to the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October. Everything remained the same until the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was enacted that extended DST. Since then, it has started on the second Sunday in March and has ended on the first Sunday in November. Any questions?
Yesterday at 2 a.m. we “sprang forward” again. But why do we still adhere to this time change? If you ask just about anyone, you’ll most likely hear “to conserve energy and to enjoy more daylight.” But if you specifically ask a parent or teacher, you may hear something like “to make us grumpy by messing with our schedules”. A little research revealed that saving energy is Myth #2. A study done by the U.S. Transportation Department in the 1970s concluded that the total electricity savings during DST was a whopping 1%. In recent times with the widespread use of air conditioning in the summer months and heating in the early spring and fall, electricity costs actually rise. Also, as recreational activities increase during DST, so does gas consumption.
Myth #3 is that the extra hour of sunlight is beneficial for us. Yes, absorbing an extra dose of Vitamin D is good, but according to the American Heart Association, heart attack and stroke rates rise every time we spring ahead. Because DST changes our sleep cycle, workplace accidents, car crashes, and headaches, all increase.
You may have heard that farmers were thrilled about and even lobbied for DST so they’d have more time to work in their fields. Hello, Myth #4. In fact, agriculture industry workers forcefully opposed this idea. Losing an hour of morning light meant their milking schedules were off, and they had to rush their crops to market.
With these myths dispelled, where does that leave us regarding DST today? As it stands, several state legislatures want to get rid of it altogether. In March of 2022, the U.S. Senate approved of the Sunshine Protection Act that would permanently extend DST for the entire year, yet it didn’t pass in the U.S. House of Representatives. And in 2023, U.S. Senators reintroduced this legislation, but it remains on hold. Until a DST bill passes in the Senate and House and is signed by the president, we’ll continue changing our clocks twice a year.
Perhaps the notion of DST has run its course and its best to repeal it forever. But, in the meantime, while we wait for change, and we have that extra hour, maybe we should all get out there, and simply seize the daylight!
A Journal Journey 