Reminder: It’s time to “spring ahead” into Daylight Saving Time (DST) this weekend! Before you set your clocks ahead an hour, you might be asking yourself, why do we do this every year? How did it all begin?

Originally, DST was established to save energy. Germany was the first country to adopt DST during WWI in an effort to use less power for lighting and save fuel for the war effort. In the United States, daylight saving time was first used in 1918 when a bill introduced the idea of a seasonal time shift.  It lasted seven months before the bill was repealed. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt re-established the idea and called it “War Time.”

In 1966, the Uniform Time Act established the idea of regulating a yearly time change.  Daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October. Through the years, the start and end dates shifted slightly, and in 2007, shifted again to begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November. And that’s where we are now!

Daylight saving time starts this Sunday, March 13.

While it began as a way to preserve energy, the true benefactors of DST are retailers. Giving consumers extra hours of daylight after work encourages them to shop, generating millions of dollars in sales. But you can also take advantage of the extra hours of sunlight to spend more time in your garden, or have more time to take care of your lawn!

What’s the future for DST?

Many Americans feel we should adopt daylight saving time year-round. In fact, many states have passed legislation to make this law. Personally, I love having more daylight in the evenings, and hate losing an hour of sleep, no matter the reason or the season.

What are your thoughts?