The history of Daylight Savings is a long and complicated one.
Daylight Savings Time (DST) is a system where clocks are set forward by one hour during the summer months. It was first introduced in the United States in 1918, but has since spread to many other countries around the world. It’s an idea that’s been around for hundreds of years, but only really gained traction in the 20th century. However, despite its widespread use today, DST has been met with a lot of opposition over the years.
When did Daylight Savings start?
The first person to suggest Daylight Savings was Benjamin Franklin in 1784. He suggested it as a way to save money on candles and firewood by waking up earlier and staying up later during summer months. In 1805, Englishman William Willett wrote about his own plan for daylight savings, suggesting that clocks should be advanced by 80 minutes each year so that more time could be spent outside during summer months.
Why do we have Daylight Savings?
“The energy crisis had already been getting worse for several years before 1973,” says Patrick Hickey Jr., president of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). “There were oil embargoes in 1973 and 1979.” The 1973 oil embargo caused gas prices to rise from $0.36 per gallon to $0.55 per gallon overnight.
“It’s not just about saving energy,” Hickey says. “It’s also about saving money.” According to ACEEE estimates, DST saves Americans $434 million per year on their energy bills.
