Daylight Savings Comes Early This Year

It's that dreaded, confusing time of year where people all over the United States have to remember to set their clocks forward an hour. The change takes effect on Sunday, March 11 at 2 am.

The most immediate effect is the loss of an hour of sleep. For those who already skate by on minimal sleep, this is a trying time.

Occuring three weeks earlier than in previous years, legislation was passed in 2005 that enacted the change.

According to some sources, the move is expected to save 10,000 barrels of oil each day. This is because the time change takes advantage of actual daylight hours, so consumers will use less electrically powered light.

The change has some in the technology sector worried about devices that were programmed before the law took effect. Computers and other devices with direct connection to software upgrades will not be affected, but those that aren't will have to be changed manually, now and again in November, when the time goes back to normal one week later than usual.

Daylight savings time was first enacted during World War I as a means to save energy for war efforts by taking advantage of the increase in sunlight during the spring and summer months.

Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, setting the standard length for Daylight Savings Time.

Some areas do not observe Daylight Savings Time: Arizona (except some Indian Reservations), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Areas closer to the equator have a more equalized day and so do not need the change.

Sources:
MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com
About.com http://www.about.com