Daylight Saving Time or DST is a unique method of making the best use of daylight during the summer months. Daylight offers some of the greatest benefits to mankind in various fields of work.

Fact 1 What Is Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time, also referred to as Summer Time is a system of advancing the timings in the clocks especially in the summer months by only an hour. The result of this is that in the evening hours also daytime or rather light of the sun is experienced for more than one hour. However, the early morning sunrise timings have to be sacrificed for it. This is done mostly in regions where summer time is adjusted in clocks by forwarding one hour more of daylight. With the approaching spring time, the clocks are again adjusted according to standard time.

Fact 2 History Of Daylight Saving Time

According to historical evidences, this innovative idea of saving daylight was thought out by Benjamin Franklin around 1784 during his visit to Paris as an American delegate. It was known to all by his essay “An Economical Project”. Franklin’s friends, who had invented a new kind of lamp were overwhelmed by his new idea and highly appreciated it. Even after Franklin returned to America, they were in touch with him as they wanted to develop his idea.

However, around 1907, William Willet who was a London builder, took up the idea seriously and in the pamphlet named “Waste of Daylight” propounded it. He proposed to advance the clocks 20 minutes only on Sundays during the month of April during the summer and reduced 20 minutes again on the four Sundays only in the month of September.

Today, Daylight Saving Time is used mainly to save energy and use sunlight in better ways. But this idea had been suggested many years ago and was supported by scientists also because of the many advantages that can be enjoyed by the system.

Fact 3 How DST Is Used Today

Daylight Saving Time today is used in more than seventy countries around the globe because they have realized the effects of an extra hour of sunlight. The dates from which the clocks are changed vary from one place to another and so also the ending dates. For example, Summer Time in the European Union and the period of advancing the clocks is the same as that in the United Kingdom. DST begins in March end, i.e. on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday in October. This has been the schedule in both the countries for many years. However, Benjamin Franklin favored the idea of rising earlier. Therefore once the clocks are advanced one hour more, then the sunrise and sunset will be an hour late from the next day in comparison to the standard time.

Fact 4 Sole Aim Of Daylight Saving Time

The main purpose of DST is to make a better use of sunlight that illuminates the entire world without having to use artificial lights thereby saving energy and power. The advantages of this system have been enjoyed mostly by retailers, sports world and all other activities that are done mostly when the sun shines.

Fact 5 Controversies Regarding DST

Some people however, did not support this idea. They argued that if sunlight is present even after their working hours, evening entertainment is hampered.But it is true that energy can be saved to some extent if electricity is not required for an additional hour of a day. A lot of energy can be conserved for better use.