By: Emma Wu
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a well-known phenomenon in the US in which we turn our clocks ahead an hour of standard time to make use of more sunlight in summer, fall, and spring. This concept is implemented by setting clocks forward one hour during late winter or spring and setting them back one hour during the fall. As a result, there is a 23-hour day in the spring, where we lose an hour of sleep, and a 25-hour day in the fall, where we gain an hour of sleep.
This idea was first proposed by Benjamin Franklin as a satirical article saying that waking up in the summer would economize candle usage and considerably increase savings. However, the true origin of the scientific concept of DST is from New Zealand scientist George Vernon Hudson who proposed a paper to the Wellington Philosophical Society suggesting a 2-hour shift forward in March and a 2-hour shift back in October. This concept kept arising in various areas around the world as a serious consideration; however, in the end, it was not implemented.
This concept was finally brought back to life and implemented by Canadians in 1908 in Port Arthur, Ontario, which is nowadays Thunder Bay. The idea eventually globalized when Germany implemented DST in 1916, during World War I to minimize the use of artificial lighting to save for the war effort. Following World War I, many European countries reverted back to standard time and began the implementation of DST, as well.
The Standard Time Act was passed by Congress in 1918, officially implementing DST in the US. Much of the rationale behind this was due to the clock-based work days we had. In both industrialized, as well as agrarian societies, our work is done during the daylight hours. Agricultural work and routine is dependent on the length of the daylight’s hours. Industrial work, as well as school, are a general 9-5 routine and remain constant year round. As such, the nationwide switch forward can benefit the workers, leading to waking up an hour earlier during the spring and summer. This allows for an extra hour of sunlight for people to complete their daily routines in. Furthermore, DST is said to reduce the need for energy consumption; however, the overall reduction of energy is debated. DST is a phenomenon that has occurred for over 100 years and is currently under consideration for implementation in the future.
