Daylight Saving Time : Updated Guide 2023

Daylight saving time (DST) is a system for temporarily changing the official time of a country, state or region. In general, the objective is to reduce the consumption of electric energy through the greater use of sunlight during a period of the year.

In addition, the exchange of schedules also saves energy producing sources and reduces expenses in the production and distribution of electricity.

When Does Daylight Saving Time Start?

Daylight savings, adopted during the period of validity of the station of the same name, normally starts in the Southern Hemisphere during the spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it usually starts in March/April.

To find out when time changes take place in each country, just access our complete guide here: when does daylight saving time start.

When Is Daylight Saving Time End?

The differentiated schedule ends in early autumn and therefore covers the entire summer season. In the Northern Hemisphere, it normally starts in March/April and ends normally in October/November.

Access our complete and updated guide to specific dates and times here: when does daylight saving time end.

When do Daylight Saving Time Change?

Daylight savings changes occur on different dates according to each location. Therefore, the ideal is to know in which specific country or city you want to know the exact date so there are no setbacks.

That's why we made a table that will help you with all the information you need with all the countries that adopt this policy.

Why Was Daylight Saving Time Created?

As it was possible to perceive, daylight saving time has the purpose of reducing energy costs through the greater use of sunlight. It turns out that, in the second half of the year, especially in October, the days start to get gradually longer and the nights get shorter.

This phenomenon is called the summer solstice and it peaks on December 23, when we have the longest day and the shortest night.

Therefore, the idea is to advance the clock to take advantage of this extra light so that people, companies and public bodies turn on the lamps for a shorter time.

The Origin

The idea of daylight saving time was created by the American politician and scientist, Benjamin Franklin, in the year 1784.

The first adaptation took place in the early 20th century, during World War I, by Germany. For the country needed to save on coal spending due to the difficult times of combat and military spending.

Over time, other countries have also adopted the annual time change. However, the adoption of the timetable was not standardized, that is, it varied in duration and date every year. until the present day.

For more information check Wikipedia.

Benefits:

With the clocks advancing by one hour, regions that adopt the special time gain an additional hour of light in the late afternoon, putting off the activation of lamps and appliances on the way home after work. Historically, savings were around 4% to 5% of peak hour demand.

The government argues, however, based on data from the ONS, that the peak of demand in the summer shifted over the years from late afternoon to mid-afternoon, due to the activation of air conditioners in companies.

Electric sector experts who advocate the return of daylight saving time, however, argue that, given the severity of the current crisis, any energy savings, even if smaller than the historic one, is welcome.