Daylight Savings Time (DST), the practice of setting the clock ahead by one hour during the summertime to extend evening daylight, has been part of our lives for more than a century. But who was the genius behind this shift in time?
The credit of inventing daylight savings time goes to George Vernon Hudson, a postal worker, and entomologist from New Zealand.
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Who Invented Daylight Savings Time?
Daylight Saving Time was first proposed by George Vernon Hudson in 1895. Hudson, a postal worker from New Zealand who also had a keen interest in insects, made this proposition so that he would have more daylight hours to devote to his passion for studying and collecting insects.
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Despite significant resistance to his idea initially, it eventually caught the attention of people in different parts of the world.
In England, the concept of DST was independently proposed by William Willett in 1907. While cycling early one summer morning, Willett, a prominent builder and outdoor sports enthusiast, noticed many Londoners sleeping through a large portion of a summer’s day.
This observation prompted him to the idea of DST and he published a brochure called “The Waste of Daylight,” advocating the benefits of adjusting clocks.
What is the Purpose of Daylight Savings Time?
The main purpose of Daylight Saving Time is to make better use of daylight during the longer days of the year. By moving the clock forward by one hour, people can have longer evening daylight, which inspires increased activity during the later hours of the day.
This concept is closely tied to energy conservation. During DST, the need for artificial lighting in the evening is reduced, potentially saving energy. However, the actual energy savings gained from DST remains debated with studies drawing mixed conclusions.
Some other perceived benefits include a reduction in crime rates, improved road safety, and potential benefits to physical health due to additional exposure to sunlight.
Origin of Daylight Savings Time
The concept of DST, despite being suggested by Hudson and Willett, was not immediately adopted. It took the pressing circumstances of World War I for DST to be formally implemented.
Germany was the first country to adopt DST in 1916 to conserve coal during wartime.
The idea quickly spread throughout Europe and other parts of the world. Britain adopted DST in 1916, followed by the United States in 1918. After the war, most countries ended DST, bringing it back for World War II and removing it again when the war ended.
However, over time, many countries have continued observing DST, with adjustments and modifications to the start and end dates.
Why Was Daylight Savings Time Created?
The original premise upon which Hudson and Willett based their theory was to make better use of daylight by adjusting the clock to accord with the pattern of the rising and setting of the sun.
The goal was to increase productivity and allow for increased recreational time during the longer summer days.
As stated earlier, during World War I, Germany was the first to embrace DST, not for recreational reasons, but to conserve energy. The reduction in the use of artificial lighting during the longer daytimes would result in more coal for the war effort.
This rationale for energy conservation has remained a popular argument for DST, despite conflicting evidence of its effectiveness.
When Did Daylight Savings Time Start in the U.S.?
Daylight Saving Time was first introduced in the United States in 1918 during World War I for the purpose of conserving fuel. However, it was not standardized until 1966, under the Uniform Time Act.
The Act was amended several times, the latest being the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which extended the length of DST.
Today, DST starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Each state has the option to reject DST, with Arizona and Hawaii being the only states currently choosing not to observe it.
The Controversy Surrounding Daylight Saving Time
While Daylight Saving Time has its benefits, it is not without controversy. Critics argue that the energy-saving benefits are negligible – people may use less light, but they might use more air conditioning and heating depending on the season.
There’s also a concern about health impacts due to disrupted sleep cycles when the clocks change. Studies have shown that the “spring forward” transition can lead to various health issues, including sleep deprivation, an increase in heart attacks, and traffic accidents.
Likewise, the shifting of time causes confusion across different sectors, such as travel, computers, and even for those performing religious obligations dependent on certain hours of daylight. Critics suggest that adopting a permanent standard time would be more beneficial and cause less confusion.
Daylight Savings Time around the World
The adoption of Daylight Saving Time is not uniform across the globe. Currently, about 70 countries observe DST in at least a portion of the country. In Europe, it is typically referred to as “Summer Time.” The European Union has standardized the start and end dates for DST – from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.
Not all countries observe DST, including many close to the equator, because daylight hours there change little throughout the year. Other countries, like Russia and China, have stopped observing DST altogether.
Significant DST Adjustments in History
Over the years, there have been several significant adjustments to Daylight Saving Time. The biggest adjustment in the U.S. came in 2007, as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act extended DST by four weeks – from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
This extension aimed to save more energy, but studies have found the effect to be negligible.
During the 1973-74 Arab Oil Embargo, as a measure to conserve energy, President Richard Nixon extended DST to a period of ten months, from January 1974 to October 1974 and then again from February 1975 to October 1975.
This became a very unpopular move, as people were waking up in the dark during winter, which ended up consuming more energy.
Set Your Alarms
Despite the controversy and inconsistencies, Daylight Saving Time has remained in practice in many parts of the world for over a century.
Regardless of the controversies, people continue to make efforts in maximizing daytime usage and energy conservation.
However, the debate to keep or eliminate DST continues, mirrored by the ticking hands of time.
References
https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/889112/summary
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079212001141
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0748730419854197
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945700000320
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167268114000821