Time to Spring Forward: Five Facts About Daylight Saving Time
Here’s everything you wanted to know about the time change this weekend.
When is it?
The time change begins on Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., when clocks are moved forward by one hour.
Why 2 a.m.?
The time change is set for 2 a.m. because it was decided to be the least disruptive time of day. Moving time forward or back an hour at that time doesn’t change the date, which avoids confusion, and most people are asleep, or if people do work on a Sunday, it’s usually later than 2 a.m.
Do all states observe daylight saving time?
Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t observe the time change. U.S. territories that don’t go on daylight saving time include American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Why do we have it?
The idea is to save electricity because there are more hours of natural light. Studies have shown the savings to be fairly nominal—the time change leading people to switch on the lights earlier in the morning instead or cranking up the air conditioning, for example.
What is the history of daylight saving time?
Fun fact: The idea was first floated in 1784 by one Benjamin Franklin. While minister of France, he wrote the essay “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light.”
More: Time to Spring Forward: Five Facts About Daylight Saving Time