Daylight Saving Time (DST) involves moving the clocks forward by one hour in spring and back by one hour in autumn. As a result, one day in spring lasts only 23 hours, while one day in autumn extends to 25 hours.
But does this system truly save energy? What are its effects on human health? Is it still necessary in today’s world?
In this article, we will explore the history, purpose, and modern implications of daylight saving time.
The History of Daylight Saving Time
The idea of daylight saving time was first suggested in 1784 by American polymath Benjamin Franklin. In a satirical letter published in The Journal of Paris, Franklin humorously proposed that people could save money on candles by waking up earlier. However, his proposal was not taken seriously.
In 1895, New Zealand entomologist George Vernon Hudson formally proposed daylight saving time. He argued that shifting the clocks by two hours in spring and autumn would allow people to make better use of daylight. However, his suggestion also failed to gain traction.
In 1907, British citizen William Willett presented a similar proposal to the UK government, primarily motivated by his desire to have more time for golf during daylight hours. Although his idea sparked debate, it was ultimately rejected.
However, the concept of daylight saving time continued to circulate, and in 1916, Germany and Austria-Hungary became the first nations to implement it as a wartime measure to conserve energy.
Since then, many countries have adopted and maintained daylight saving time, particularly during World War I, World War II, and the energy crisis of the 1970s. However, in recent years, many nations have started to abandon the practice.
Why Do We Move the Clocks Forward and Back?
In industrialized societies, working hours are typically fixed (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM). However, because daylight hours change throughout the year, people may find themselves commuting in darkness in the winter or wasting daylight in the summer. The goal of daylight saving time is to align human activity with daylight hours.
However, this system is largely irrelevant for agricultural societies. Farmers and livestock workers already adjust their routines based on daylight, so clock changes have little impact on them.
Where Is Daylight Saving Time Meaningless?
Daylight saving time is unnecessary in many parts of the world. For instance, in countries near the equator, daylight duration remains nearly constant throughout the year. In Pontianak, Indonesia—located precisely on the equator—the sunrise and sunset times barely change, making daylight saving time pointless.
Conversely, in polar regions, daylight duration varies dramatically throughout the year. In Longyearbyen, Sweden, the sun does not set at all for months during the summer and does not rise for months during the winter. Despite this, Sweden still observes daylight saving time nationwide.
Source: WeatherSpark
Daylight Saving Time Around the World
Today, only about 40% of the world’s population follows daylight saving time. The European Union voted in 2019 to abolish it, but implementation has been delayed due to Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. In the United States, some states are considering making either standard time or daylight saving time permanent.
The photo shows the countries that do and do not implement summer/winter time. The blue ones are those who apply it according to the northern hemisphere, the orange ones are those who apply it according to the southern hemisphere, the light gray ones are those who used it in the past but have now given up this practice, and the dark gray ones are those who have never applied it. Source:Wikipedia
Does Daylight Saving Time Really Work?
The effectiveness of daylight saving time has been debated for years. For many people, it simply means adjusting their clocks twice a year and experiencing one night of extra sleep in autumn and one night of lost sleep in spring. But research suggests that the effects of this time change go beyond minor inconveniences.
1. Disruptions to Sleep and Health Risks
Time changes disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm, leading to sleep deprivation, fatigue, and reduced concentration. Studies have linked daylight saving time to an increase in heart attacks and traffic accidents, especially in the days following the springtime change.
2. Does It Actually Save Energy?
While daylight saving time was originally intended to reduce energy consumption, modern research shows that the impact is minimal. Electricity use is no longer primarily driven by lighting, reducing the effectiveness of the policy.
3. Economic Impacts
Frequent time changes complicate business operations, travel schedules, and financial transactions.
The Atlantic magazine has criticized daylight saving time with the following statement:
“Changing the clocks is wasteful, unnecessary, and even dangerous!”
Conclusion: Should We Abolish Daylight Saving Time?
Many countries are moving toward eliminating daylight saving time altogether. Scientific research increasingly suggests that the practice is outdated and has negative consequences for human health and daily life. Some nations are considering adopting permanent standard time, while others prefer permanent daylight saving time.
What do you think? Should daylight saving time continue, or should we abandon it?
The Effects on Energy Consumption
Most research on this topic overwhelmingly shows that daylight saving time (DST) is often ineffective in reducing energy consumption. Even when it does have a small effect, it is often negligible, and sometimes unexpected negative consequences eliminate any potential benefits. Several studies highlight these findings:
- In 2000, the Australian government extended DST by two months for the Sydney Olympics. A study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, found that the extension had no impact on electricity savings.
- A study in Indiana, USA, which has implemented DST since 2006, found that instead of saving electricity, energy consumption increased by 1-4% due to higher use of heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems.
- Numerous studies have linked DST to an increase in fuel consumption. However, a 2008 study in the United States did not confirm this correlation.
- A 2014 study reached the same conclusion: DST causes households to start high-energy-demand activities earlier, leading to increased use of heating and cooling systems and, ultimately, higher energy consumption.
- A 2017 meta-analysis reviewed 44 academic studies and concluded that the maximum electricity savings from DST were around 0.3%, which means a $100 electricity bill would only decrease to $99.70.
- A 2020 study in Slovakia found that DST did not significantly contribute to energy savings, estimating a maximum reduction of around 1%. When combined with previous meta-analyses, this figure was adjusted to a mere 0.5%.
- A 2021 study conducted in Turkey found that DST did not lead to any energy savings and suggested that this result is applicable across a wide geographical area.
Although some studies suggest that specific industries may experience financial gains from DST, when analyzed on a broader economic and societal level, it appears to provide no significant benefits while potentially causing substantial harm:
- Some studies indicate that traffic accidents decrease by 3-4% during DST. However, the same studies show that in the two weeks following the clock change, traffic accidents increase by up to 11%.
- The U.S. National Golf Foundation estimated that DST could generate $200-300 million in annual revenue for the golf industry, while the European Union suggested that the service sector might see a 3% revenue increase. However, DST negatively impacts media revenues, drive-in food services, cinemas, and theaters. For instance, a 2007 change in DST reportedly caused North America to lose between $500 million and $1 billion due to lost business opportunities.
- DST reduces revenue from prime-time television broadcasting, drive-in theaters, and other cinemas.
Scientific research overwhelmingly shows that the primary motivation for DST—energy savings—is not realized. While the practice might have made sense in the early 20th century, when inefficient incandescent bulbs and heating systems led to high electricity consumption, modern LED lighting, smart sensors, and highly efficient heating systems make DST an outdated and ineffective practice.
Psychological Effects
Some proponents of DST argue that even if it does not save energy, it provides psychological benefits. However, scientific evidence contradicts this claim:
- One study found that the spring clock change results in an average of 40 minutes of lost sleep on Sunday night. This minor sleep loss was estimated to cost the U.S. economy $434 million annually due to reduced productivity.
- Research in the UK and Germany found that transitioning to DST in the spring disrupts circadian rhythms, negatively affecting mental health. No significant effects were observed during the fall transition.
- A 2014 study found that people sleep 15-20 minutes less during the fall transition. They stay awake longer at home, consuming more electricity and experiencing sleep deprivation.
- Studies examining the effects of DST on different age groups show that younger individuals are more affected by sleep loss. Children and teenagers become more irritable and moody due to the change.
- A 2017 study found that sleep-deprived judges imposed longer prison sentences following clock changes.
Health Effects
The health impacts of DST are often overlooked, but research shows that it increases the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression, and some types of cancer. More specifically:
- The risk of ischemic stroke increases in the two days following a clock change.
- Heart attack rates rise by 10% in the weeks following a time change. However, studies indicate that heart attack rates decrease slightly after the fall transition in the U.S.
- DST disrupts sleep patterns, reducing sleep efficiency. These effects can persist for weeks.
- A 2008 study found that suicide rates among men increased following DST changes, though this correlation weakened when adjusted for seasonal factors. Similar concerns were raised in Kazakhstan and Russia, where DST elimination was linked to increased health risks and suicide rates.
- Despite the assumption that gaining an extra hour of sleep in the fall transition would be beneficial, research shows that very few people actually sleep longer during this period.
- DST has been linked to increased traffic congestion, leading to higher air pollution levels. Air pollution causes approximately 6.5 million deaths worldwide each year.
Socioeconomic Effects
Some proponents of DST claim that it benefits farmers. However, this is a misconception. In reality, most farmers oppose DST because their livestock does not follow clock changes. The U.S.-based agricultural research group AgAmerica explains:
A commonly repeated story claims that DST was introduced to give farmers more daylight hours to work. However, this is false. The agriculture industry lobbied against DST in 1919. Farmers still oppose DST today because it disrupts carefully planned schedules. For example, dairy cows accustomed to being milked at 5 AM cannot understand why they must wait an extra hour in the fall.
Additionally, DST negatively impacts international travel and business. For example, during the spring transition:
- The time difference between New York and London shifts from 5 hours to 4 hours, then back to 5 hours over a few weeks.
- The London-Sydney time difference changes from 11 hours to 10 hours, then to 9 hours.
- The New York-Sydney time difference shifts from 16 hours to 15 hours, then to 14 hours.
This inconsistency complicates scheduling and disrupts global business operations.
Time differences between 3 big cities in just 3 weeks.
Source:CGP Grey
DST: An Irrational Practice
Understanding why DST is ineffective does not require analyzing its consequences—it is inherently irrational. Trying to adjust daily activities by changing clocks rather than adapting schedules to natural daylight is equivalent to “adjusting astronomy to fit sociology.”
Imagine you realize you will be an hour late to a meeting. Would you change everyone else’s clocks to avoid being late, or would you simply reschedule the meeting? Clearly, the latter makes more sense. The same logic applies to DST—changing national time settings to fit human activities is illogical.
The Real Solution to Dark Mornings
The real issue is not that people dislike waking up in darkness. In most cases, they simply dislike waking up early for school or work. However, because these obligations feel unchangeable, people focus on adjusting the clock instead—no matter how irrational it may be.
Instead of changing the time, societies should reconsider:
- The necessity of early school and work hours.
- The structure of the 8-9 hour workday.
With scientific consensus now supporting the abolition of DST, many countries have begun moving toward a single, fixed time system. The world should abandon this outdated practice once and for all.
