Spring Forward, Fall Back

Here’s How It Started

In 1916, during World War I, Germany and its allies were the first to put daylight saving time into widespread use to conserve coal. Britain soon took a page from its enemies and followed suit.

The United States temporarily adopted Daylight Saving Time in 1918.  America was fighting World War I, and American leaders concluded that the additional hour of daylight would save fuel needed for the war effort. The war ended, so the national experiment lasted only one year, but many states continued to observe Daylight Saving Time on their own.  Congress set the clocks ahead again in 1942 during the Second World War and again during an energy shortage in 1973.

In addition to energy savings, many retail business owners favor Daylight Saving Time because it allows more daylight hours for shopping.  There is also some evidence that suggests that additional daylight contributes to fewer automobile accidents and a decrease in violent crime.

In the United States, every state but Hawaii and Arizona observes Daylight Saving Time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.  Hawaii is closer to the equator than the other states, and since the amount of daylight does not vary much, the Hawaiians feel Daylight Saving Time is unnecessary.  Summer temperatures in Arizona often reach 100o, so lawmakers in the Grand Canyon State decided it would be better to end the day early so Arizonans could enjoy an extra hour of cooler evening weather in the summer.

When will it begin and end?

2013:  March 10 to November 3
2014:  March 9 to November 2
2015:  March 8 to November 1
2016: March 13 to November 6
2017:  March 12 to November 5
2018:  March 11 to November 4

This in info is from Mr Dowling.com

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back tonight!

Do you like it when the time changes?  Do you think they should stop doing this?