We haven’t made it through summer just yet, but fall is on the horizon, and soon after, daylight saving time will once again end as our clocks fall back for the winter.
Each fall, those who observe daylight saving time, commonly referred to as daylight savings time, set clocks back one hour to allow for more daylight during winter mornings, according to Timeanddate.com.
Although we’re more than two months away from the annual event, here’s a refresher on daylight saving time and related information to keep in mind.
When does daylight saving time end?
For those wondering when daylight saving time begins, we have a secret for you: we’re already in it.
Daylight saving time began Sunday, March 12 this year, when clocks in the United States jumped to 3 a.m. once the clock struck 2 a.m.
What you’re really wondering is when daylight saving time will end.
Daylight saving time officially ends Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 a.m. Clocks will fall back one hour to 1 a.m., returning us to standard time for the winter months.
Standard time will be in effect until Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m., when daylight saving time returns after clocks spring forward.
Why do we practice daylight saving time?
The idea behind daylight saving time is that it allows us to use natural daylight better, according to Almanac.com.
Moving clocks forward one hour in the spring provides more daylight in the evenings during the warmer months. Moving clocks back one hour in the fall provides more daylight during the winter mornings.
Advocates of the practice say brighter afternoons and early evenings help stimulate the economy, though the practice originally began to save fuel during World War I, according to Almanac.com.
Despite the seemingly simple solution, daylight saving time has faced opposition in recent years, with many wanting to do away with the practice.
Who observes daylight saving time?
Over 70 countries use daylight saving time, fewer than 40% of all countries in the world, and many have different beginning and end dates. More than 1 billion people participate in the phenomenon each year, according to timeanddate.com.
The only U.S. regions to not participate in daylight saving time are Hawaii, parts of Arizona, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Who’s in charge of time?
Surprisingly, the U.S. Department of Transportation is in charge of daylight saving time and all time zones in the U.S.
“The oversight of time zones was assigned to DOT because time standards are important for many modes of transportation,” according to the department’s website.
The department is a proponent of the practice, as they say it conserves energy.
Are daylight saving time clock changes going away?
In March, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent this November.
This would end the twice-annual clock-changing routine by making daylight saving time the official standard time at 2 a.m. on Nov. 5, extending the eight-month practice to year-round.
The legislation was reintroduced by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. and is supported by more than half the states.
The House of Representatives, which has held a committee hearing on the issue, must past the bill before it can end up on President Joe Biden’s desk for signing.
States may exempt themselves by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended.
ICYMI:New law will ban polystyrene, some single-use plastics from Delaware restaurants
Support for permanent daylight saving time
If permanent daylight saving time takes effect, the biggest benefit would be no sleep disruption. No need to change your clock twice a year before, at or after 2 a.m. on a Sunday in the fall and spring. Experts say ending the adjusting of clocks and disruption of established sleep patterns is better for our health.
Other perks would be and end to resetting clocks and other devices, and more time during the day to be out and about in daylight hours.
Objections to permanent daylight saving time
Opponents of permanent daylight saving time say extending sunlight later into the evening will result in greater sleep loss and pose a public health threat.
This doesn’t mean opponents of permanent daylight saving time enjoy changing clocks twice a year, though. Those who oppose daylight saving time often voice a preference for making standard time, also known as winter time, the permanent timeframe.
What to do for the end of daylight saving time
At least for now, Delaware remains a participant of daylight saving time and will fall back in November.
With most of our computers, smartphones and other devices automatically changing the time for us, it’s not as much of a chore as it used to be. Unless you have smart appliances, microwaves and ovens are on the short list of household items that will need a manual adjustment, as will manual clocks.
Unlike the spring forward earlier this year, where many people woke up grouchy after losing an hour of beauty sleep, you can sleep soundly on Nov. 5 knowing you’ll be getting an extra hour of rest.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
Festivals this fall:Cool autumn festivals & events your family will fall in love with in Delaware this season
U-pick offerings in Delaware this fall:Apples, pumpkins and trees: our guide to u-pick offerings in Delaware this fall, winter
