Daylight saving time is coming, and with it, longer, more light-filled days. Below, your Buzz round up of questions on the time change.
When is it?
We spring ahead the second Sunday in March.
This year the time change starts on Sunday, March 13
and ends Sunday, November 6. Not all states observe
the time difference: Hawaii, most of Arizona,
American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin
Islands opt out.
Why do we have daylight saving time?
The hope is that we save energy -- since
there's less of a need to switch on the lights if
natural light will do. Studies have shown the
electricity conserved on the new schedule is
actually pretty nominal. But look on the bright
side. Those longer light-filled days are sure nice.
Searches on the time switch have increased 797% in
the last week. The sunlight-deprived would like to
know "what is daylight saving time," daylight saving
time dates," and origins of daylight saving time."
What is the history of daylight saving
time?
Fun fact: The idea was first floated back
in 1784 by one Benjamin Franklin. While minister of
France he wrote the essay "An Economical Project for
Diminishing the Cost of Light." The idea failed to
see the light of day until practically 100 years
later, when the U.S. railroads instituted a
standardized time for their train schedules. That
time change was imposed nationally during the first
World War to conserve energy, but was repealed after
the war ended. It became the national time again
during World War II.
After that, it was a free-for-all of states deciding if they wanted it, and when it would start and end. Congress finally enacted the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which decreed that if a state chose to opt in to daylight saving, it had to be at the same time as everyone else.
Why does it start at 2 a.m.?
The website LiveScience explains that's
it's pretty much the least disruptive time of day to
make a switch. After all, most of us are asleep.
Those who work on Sunday usually start later than 2
a.m.
LIVE SCIENCE
http://www.livescience.com/
Don't lose sleep over it
While the shift is only one hour, according
to Health Day, sleep disorder specialists say you
should prepare yourself: You actually can lose sleep
over the time change. Experts suggest being well
rested before the time change by getting up and
going to bed an hour earlier. Our unscientific
suggestion: On Sunday, sleep in.
