Fall 2008 Day Light Savings Time

On March 9^th, 2008 people across North Temperate Zone will be losing an hour. This is due to the fall daylight-savings time change. Really no one is losing an hour. The purpose of fall daylight-savings time is to reset clocks from the spring daylight-savings time back to standard time.

The result, an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings. According to MSN Encarta, daylight-savings time was first introduced by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. The plan implemented much later however, around World War I, in order to conserve fuel needed for electrical power. The logic behind this is that by taking advantage of the extra sunlight in the morning (the earlier sunrise) means less need for lighting in the evening, which theoretically conserves energy.

Fall daylight-savings time has never really done me any favors. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that my alarm clock can reset itself, I can guarantee I'd be an hour late to work on the following Monday morning. Most newer electronic devices that utilize a clock are programmed to reset themselves. Computers, cell phones and even some alarm clocks all have been programmed to reset their internal clocks.

Other devices in your home may lack this "smart" (I use the word loosely) feature. Preparedness is your best ally in ensuring that all of the clocks in your home get reset for fall daylight-savings time. The easiest way to remember to reset your clocks is to make yourself a note and leave it somewhere where it will be highly visible to you. Both of the calendars in our house have Sunday, March 9^th, circled in bright red.

Taping a note up in the last place you visit before bed can be a helpful reminder to reset the alarm clock for fall daylight-savings time before bed. Other, lower priority, time pieces such as the microwave or coffee pot can be adjusted the next morning or at your earliest convenience.

If you're anything like me, the last clock that I remember to reset is the clock on my car stereo. Not only is it the hardest to remember, it may also be the most difficult to reset. A quick glance through your car manual, or stereo manual if it is after market, will remind you how to change the time to fall daylight-savings time.

For some, fall daylight-savings is beneficial. An extra hour of sunlight in the afternoon is beneficial to sports and those in retail. An extra hour of sunlight means and an extra hour for game play. Fall daylight-savings is also beneficial to retailers, the extra hour of sunlight encourages people to stay out shopping longer.

An extra hour of daylight can be beneficial to outdoors enthusiasts as well. An extra hour can mean extra time on the lake for boaters or an extra hour of hiking time. I know daylight-savings time means an extra hour of fishing on the weekends for me.

There are two states in the United States that do not observe fall daylight-savings time, Hawaii and Arizona. Other places include Guam, Saskatchewan, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. For everyone else the second Sunday in March through the first Sunday in November means reverting back to standard time due to fall daylight-savings time.

Sources:

Daylight Saving

MSN Encarta