Daylight Savings: All About The History & Origin Of This Practice Of Turning Your Clock 1 Hour Forward

You must have often heard of the term “Daylight Savings.” However, if you’ve only lived in India, the concept must have confused you supremely. It is often touted as a practice which helps save energy but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a source that is forthcoming on how exactly it helps accomplish this. The simple answer to this is that it doesn’t. As it turns out, it’s one of those things that sounds confusing when you don’t know what it’s about and even more confusing when you do.

Daylight Savings: What Is It And How Did It Come About?

The practice of daylight saving essentially requires you to move your clock an hour forward. This is done with the aim that it will make daytime last longer. This practice is supposed to help in saving energy.

Though it gained popularity and widespread practice during World War One. Countries were strapped for cash and were trying everything in their power to save energy. Daylight savings was viewed as a way to accomplish that.

However, its origin can be traced back to as early as the 19th century. Many parts of the US, Canada and Cuba practice daylight saving. As you can imagine, such a confusing practice was not without resistance.

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How Does It, If At All, Help In Saving Energy?

It is claimed that by doing this, an hour is added to daytime thus reducing the need for electricity. Additionally, by reducing the time between sunset and bedtime, the hours when electricity is used are also lessened. So, it is believed that energy is saved.

Many believe that it was started to aid the farmers but as a matter of fact, many farmers are against this practice as it disrupts their schedule. Many countries have sporadically employed it but abandoned it just as quickly.

So, does it help in saving energy? Well, if you’re the kind of person who requires your clock to tell you when to turn on your lights rather than looking out the window, then sure, the practice is paramount in saving energy.

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Have you ever lived in a country that required you to practice daylight savings? Did you find that it helpful in saving energy? Let us know in the comments section below!

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