Learn how daylight saving time works and the benefits and challenges of this time-shifting practice. Find out how to adjust to the time changes and make the most of extended daylight hours.
Daylight saving time is a strategy adopted in several locations around the world to make the most of natural sunlight. Historically, it was widely used throughout the 20th century in response to various economic and environmental challenges. Brazil adopted it for the first time in 1931. The last year the country implemented this timetable was 2018. Its main purpose is to save electricity.
Summary of Daylight Saving Time
- Daylight saving time was widely adopted throughout the 20th century as a way to save artificial energy.
- It works by advancing the clocks by 1 hour at the beginning and by setting them back by 1 hour at the end.
- The central idea behind its adoption is to increase the use of natural lighting and, consequently, save on artificial lighting.
- It has important advantages, such as the use of natural light, greater commercial activity and the encouragement of physical activities.
- The lack of significant data in terms of artificial energy savings is an argument used by advocates of its end.
What is daylight saving time for?
The main purpose of daylight saving time is to save energy . The main idea behind its use is to make the most of sunlight for human activities. It is used to take advantage of natural sunlight and , consequently, save on artificial lighting .
How Does Daylight Saving Time Work?
Daylight saving time operates by advancing clocks by 1 hour at the beginning and by setting clocks back by 1 hour at the end. The idea is to make the most of natural light sources during the summer season . Therefore, clocks are set back by 1 hour in the spring, lasting throughout the summer and ending at the beginning of autumn , when clocks are set back by 1 hour.
Advantages and disadvantages of daylight saving time
Daylight saving time is a controversial model of civil time, considering that it changes the daily lives of the population, resulting in broad public debate. The table below presents some advantages and disadvantages of the model:
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Countries that adopt daylight saving time
The adoption of daylight saving time varies greatly among countries around the world. As happened in Brazil in 2019, many countries adopt it intermittently depending on economic and environmental variables. Currently , the following countries and regions of the planet have adopted the model:
- America: examples include Uruguay, Chile, and parts of Canada and the United States.
- Europe: examples include member countries of the European Union and nations such as Norway and Ukraine.
- Asia and Africa: most countries on these continents do not use daylight saving time, with the exception of Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, among others.
- Oceania: examples include New Zealand and parts of Australia.
The birthplace of the idea of daylight saving time originated in the United States at the end of the 19th century . A local scholar named Benjamin Franklin observed that, at a certain time of year, solar radiation reached the Earth’s surface for a longer period of time. Thus, the idea was conceived that this characteristic should be used to develop different activities and, consequently, to save artificial energy.