Daylight Saving Time

• Context (TH): The US President wants to end daylight saving time in the U.S.

What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)?

• Daylight saving time (DST) or summer time is the practice of advancing clocks by one hour during summer months. In DST, evening time is increased by sacrificing the morning hours.
• Typically, users in regions with summer time (some countries in the extreme north and south) adjust clocks forward one hour close to the start of spring and backwards in the autumn to standard time.
• Significance: It aims to improve energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial lighting, making it relevant to climate change and energy overconsumption. It is considered an environmentally sustainable concept.

History and Adoption of DST

• The practice was first suggested in a whimsical essay by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. Australia, Great Britain, Germany, and the US adopted summer Daylight Saving Time during World War I to conserve fuel by reducing the need for artificial lighting.
• Current Practice: Today, DST is practised in around 70 countries, including the European Union.
• India’s case: India does not observe DST, primarily because countries near the Equator do not experience variations in daylight hours between seasons.

Problems Associated with DST

• Operational and Communication Issues: It can cause problems for businesses, travel, and communication as coordinating activities across regions with different time observances becomes more complex.
• Health Consequences: These disruptions can lead to negative health effects, including increased risk of sleep disorders, reduced cognitive function, and higher incidence of heart attacks and strokes.
• Sleep Disturbance: The time change can disrupt people’s sleep patterns and circadian rhythms.
• Possible Surge in Energy Demand: In certain regions, time change can actually lead to increased energy consumption due to greater reliance on heating & cooling systems during extended daylight hours.
• Time Zone Disparities: Not adopted universally confusion and inconsistencies across different zones.