Daylight Saving Time Explained: Why We Spring Forward

Daylight Saving Time was first implemented by Germany in 1916 to conserve coal during World War I. The idea was simple: shift an hour of daylight from the morning when most people are asleep to the evening when they are awake and using electric lighting. The United States adopted it in 1918. The EU voted to abolish DST changes in 2019 but implementation has been delayed indefinitely. The evidence for energy savings is weak, with modern studies finding savings of 0.5 percent or less, partly offset by increased air conditioning use in warmer evenings. Health studies show spikes in heart attacks, traffic accidents, and workplace injuries in the days following the spring forward transition. Sleep researchers recommend abolishing the practice entirely. Despite this, DST remains politically entrenched.