Daylight Saving Time

Even though the name--Daylight Saving Time--clearly indicates that there is a reason to save daylight hours, I never really knew what the official reason was. I simply assumed it had something to do with farming. Well, imagine my embarrassment today when I discovered that the reason for the inception of Daylight Saving Time was to save energy!

It was originally believed that maximizing sunlight would minimize the electricity needed for artificial lighting. This notion is still up for debate, mainly due to the increased usage of air conditioning in the summer months. However, many (including myself) would argue that Daylight Saving Time has numerous other benefits.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. to start at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March (that's this Sunday!) and end on the first Sunday in November beginning in 2007, though Congress retained the right to revert to the 1986 law should the change prove unpopular or if energy savings are not significant.

So, if you are like me and you love Daylight Saving Time, you now have another reason to conserve energy! When you reset your clocks this weekend, be sure and reset your programmable thermostats as well!

To know more than you ever dreamed possible about Daylight Saving Time, click here.