Why do we have a daylight saving time? | The Sun
IT'S that time of year when most Americans will have to set their clocks back an hour due to daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time will be observed on November 6, 2022, but why do we have one to begin with?
Why do we have daylight saving time?
Founding father Benjamin Franklin reportedly was the first person to suggest daylight saving time in the 18th century.
However, George Hudson, a New Zealand resident, is credited with the idea of daylight saving time. National Geographic reports he proposed the clock shift in order to have more time to go hunting in the daylight in the summer.
The purpose of turning the clocks forward an hour was to give people more time in the daylight.
The New York Times reported that some argued daylight saving time helps people save on energy costs. However, there have been conflicting studies to prove whether that is true.
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Daylight saving time 2022 explained
Everything to know about daylight savings time
In the US, Congress passed a law in 1918 "to save daylight." However, there have been arguments in Congress and state governments over whether to get rid of daylight saving time.
In 1966, daylight saving time became a law in the US. However, there are still arguments over whether daylight saving time should be abolished.
What US states don't observe daylight saving time?
Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time.
Hawaii observes Hawaii Standard Time (HST) all year, and clocks never change on the islands.
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Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time, but the rest of the state does not.
Hawaii and Arizona do not follow other states due to their unique climates.
There are also multiple US territories that don't observe it including:
- American Samoa
- Guam
- The Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- The US Virgin Island
Who wants to end daylight saving time?
A bill has been stalled by the US Senate to make daylight saving time permanent, elongating the days and making it sunny later.
Sleep specialists have reportedly told House members that adopting a permanent standard time would instead be healthier for Americans.
“We haven’t been able to find consensus in the House on this yet,” Rep. Frank Pallone Jr (D-New Jersey) said in a statement to The Washington Post.
“There are a broad variety of opinions about whether to keep the status quo, to move to a permanent time, and if so, what time that should be.”
He added: “We don’t want to make a hasty change and then have it reversed several years later after public opinion turns against it — which is exactly what happened in the early 1970s."
Sen Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) told the outlet he has received an incessant amount of calls from individuals in support of the bill.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook in support of this bill," he said. "From moms and dads who want more daylight before bedtime to senior citizens who want more sun in the evenings to enjoy the outdoors to farmers who could use the extra daylight to work in the fields."
It is unlikely the bill will be approved or dismissed before the clocks fall back at 2am on November 6, 2022.
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