Daylight Savings Time - We All Know It, But Do We Really Love It?

First of all, let’s clarify what its purpose is.

In World War One, daylight savings time was used to conserve energy by having people use less electricity, as it gets darker earlier. 

There is a widespread myth that it was meant to benefit farmers, but the truth is actually quite the opposite - farmers were the biggest opponent to the change, largely because it interrupts factors such as the cows' readiness to be milked. 

Many propositions for Daylight Savings Time have been made in the past, dating back to as early as 1810 when the Spanish National Assembly moved all their meetings an hour ahead to make up for seasonal change (though they didn't move the clocks back). 

The first modern proposition was suggested in 1895 by a New Zealand entomologist named George Hudson. He advocated for this change because it allowed him to have more time to collect insects. A member of the parliament heard his concerns and tried to enact a bill, but did not succeed. 

Although his attempt was unfruitful, the idea caught on, with Canada being the first country to enact Daylight Saving on July 1st, 1908.

But the question here is not what it is. Rather, it’s this: why is it so controversial?

Religion plays a big factor in the controversy. For example, it makes davening for Jews much harder as it interferes with people’s ability to pray while also attending to their other needs. 

Energy saving could also be a concern, but, as multiple studies show, the actual energy conserved has little to no effect on the environment, as increased energy usage during other points in the day offset it. 

One of the biggest concerns that have been expressed is its negative effect on human health. Daylight Savings has been shown to negatively disrupt circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock that tells you when you are hungry, when to sleep, and when to wake up. This has been proven to be a leading cause in car accidents.

States in the US such as Arizona and Hawaii do not participate in Daylight Savings Time. States such as Indiana only started participating in 2006. 

Countries such as Mexico have adopted it, only to reverse course - Mexico changed their clocks back to standard time in 2022. The US has tried to stop the biannual clock change by considering the “Sunshine Protection Act” earlier this year, but it did not pass through Congress. 

In the end, Daylight Savings continues to spark debate because of its effects on people’s lives, health, and daily routines. Even though it was very practical in the past, the world has moved beyond it. Today, it just creates confusion. Even if it might not go away anytime soon, it will still remain one of the most controversial topics.