Daylight saving time is a strategy adopted by different locations to make the most of sunlight.

Daylight saving time is a strategy adopted in many parts of the world to make the most of natural sunlight. Historically, it was widely used throughout the 20th century in response to various economic and environmental challenges.
Its main purpose is to save electricity. This model has some disadvantages, such as the difficulty of adapting to it.

How does daylight saving time work?

Daylight saving time operates by advancing clocks by 1 hour at the beginning and by setting clocks back by 1 hour at the end. The idea is to make the most of natural light sources during the summer season. Therefore, clocks are set back by 1 hour in the spring, lasting throughout the summer and ending at the beginning of autumn, when clocks are set back by 1 hour.

Advantages and disadvantages of daylight saving time

Advantages

• The energy savings generated by increased use of natural lighting.
• The impact generated by increased movement in bars and restaurants.
• The influence on daily activities, such as physical exercise.
• The benefit for economic sectors, such as commerce and tourism.

Disadvantages

• The difficulty of adapting the biological clock of living beings.
• The impact on economic activities, such as dairy farming.
• The lack of significant results in terms of energy savings.
• The use of different timetables between states.

What is the origin of daylight saving time?

The idea of ​​daylight saving time originated in the United States at the end of the 19th century. A local scholar named Benjamin Franklin observed that, at a certain time of the year, solar radiation reached the Earth’s surface for a longer period of time. Thus, the idea was conceived that this characteristic should be used to develop different activities and, consequently, to save artificial energy.

However, this idea only gained traction at the beginning of the 20th century, especially due to the economic difficulties generated by historical events in the world, such as the First World War (1914-1918). During this period, the implementation of daylight saving time, especially in European countries, was understood as a possibility of saving natural resources.

This idea was expanded in other historical moments, such as during the Second World War (1939-1945) and the Oil Crisis (1970), when political and economic needs contributed to the adoption of energy saving strategies. Currently, this time model is adopted in different regions of the world.