Every year we almost forget to do something unless we're reminded. No, it's not paying a bill or wishing someone a happy birthday (although this is common); instead it is a simple action that takes place every November. It is called the end to Daylight Savings Time (DST), and it just took place this past weekend.
In a way, I think Nov. 6 might just be one of the greatest days of the year. The first Sunday in November, which happened to be Nov. 6 this year, happens to be the day when we gain an hour of sleep just for going to bed. We don't have to be on good behavior or receive this extra hour simply as a prize. It just comes naturally. I mean, who doesn't need more sleep voluntarily?
The only downside you might be able to find about the end of DST is that the mornings are earlier and the days are shorter. That means that daylight appears around 6 a.m. and darkness closes out the day around 5:30 p.m. It might be depressing for some of you to go and eat at D-Hall and then realize it is dark once you leave. I know that's always the case for me, as I enjoy the sunlight.
Now if you thought it seemed like things were a bit extended this year when it comes to DST, they weren't; you're just not used to the new pattern yet. According to the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, DST was extended to the first Sunday in November from the last Sunday in October in 2007. That equates to a full week of extended days. Not to mention the move balanced out the springtime, having DST begin in March rather than the first Sunday in April.
The whole idea behind the change was the hope that it would save the country energy. With longer days came less need for lighting and therefore less electricity. But did it work? According to data from the U.S. Department of Energy, about 1.3 trillion watt-hours of energy could be saved during that extra month of daylight. There is no real solid data to support this claim since this change is so new and many of the fruits of its labor are just now coming to light.
While DST is great, who came up with the overall idea? It wasn't really a person, but more of a change in society. In the 1800s, most localities adopted to setting their own times. However, new transportation developments, most notably the railroad, meant that a more standardized system had to be created. Jennifer Vernon explains in "The History of Daylight Saving Time" from National Geographic that in 1883, official time zones were established thanks to the railroad industry. Time zones were then officially adopted into law by Congress in 1918.
One other interesting thing you may not realize is there is no real law that says a state or territory must partake in DST. The only law is that of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which states no area may switch back to standard time on the last Sunday in October. The decision in 1966 allowed for the Uniform Time Act, standardizing across the board the dates for the beginning and end of DST. However, this act did not stipulate that every state needed to observe DST.
As stated before, not every locality observes DST. For example, in the U.S., Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands do not observe DST.
The concept behind the time change is simple. More people are up and about when the sun is shining. Why not extend the amount of sunlight people can take advantage of? The only people who may not truly benefit are those who work a night shift or possibly farmers who are required to be up before daylight.
So the next time November rolls around, make sure you are early in marking on your calendar the importance of the first Sunday in the month. It's the day when you can sleep in an extra hour and wake up happy instead of grumpy (if you live in the observed localities). And who would have imagined it's all thanks to the government.
