Daylight Saving Time Change - Useful or Useless?
Since 1980, we have regularly switched the clocks in Germany from standard time, or winter time, to summer time. The switch to daylight saving time, officially also called “Daylight Saving Time,” also takes place in the other countries of the European Union and in many other countries. The name alone shows what the introduction of daylight saving time was meant to achieve: making better use of daylight so that energy costs would fall. But does this effect actually work?
On 24/04/1784, the well-known physicist Benjamin Franklin first presented his theory for introducing daylight saving time. At the time, there was no electrical energy yet, but its introduction was already meant to reduce energy costs in the form of candles. However, it was not until World War I that the time change was actually implemented, and after the war it was largely abolished. Since 1980, though, the clocks have been changed regularly twice a year. On the last Sunday in March, the clock is set forward by one hour at 2.00 am, to daylight saving time. And on the last Sunday in October, it is set back by one hour again, so the hour between 2.00 am and 3.00 am occurs twice when switching back to standard time. The goal is clear: by switching to daylight saving time, natural daylight in summer is meant to be used better so that energy and hard cash can be saved.
Daylight saving time in practice
In fact, however, the positive effect of the time change is highly controversial. Although electrical energy is supposed to be saved in the evening hours, heating costs are said to rise in the morning hours. According to some studies, overall energy consumption has even increased, especially in the colder months of daylight saving time, such as March and October. While some people simply sleep through the time change, others actually find it difficult to cope with the change. Similar to jet lag, the internal clock is thrown off. For this reason, there is also said to be an increase in traffic accidents on Monday after the switch to daylight saving time. Some animals, such as dairy cows, also have trouble with the change. In addition, it creates extra cost and organizational effort for shift systems and timetables. And these are only some of the points critics raise about the time change. Whether it is really useful will probably remain controversial. However, if it only annoys you that you have to change all the clocks in the house, then the problem can be solved best with radio-controlled clocks that switch over automatically. After all, long summer evenings can still be enjoyed.
