Today, we bring you the different theories and curiosities about the time change. Have you ever wondered when and why what is now a custom started? Does this change fulfill the objective for which it was created? Here we tell you!
We have always been told that the time change is made in search of a reduction in energy consumption. Twice a year we citizens adapt to this change, but how much do we really save?
Every year we set the clock forward one hour for daylight saving time and about half a year later we set it back again. In this way, we adapt to the hours of light that increase in summer and decrease in winter. Thus, we will use less artificial light. Emphasize that this method is not applied throughout the world, it is only done in 70 countries. Less than 40% of the world.
The story of change
- 1784: Benjamin Franklin is responsible for making us do what is now another custom for us. United States Ambassador to France, Benjamin sent a letter to the newspaper “Le journal”. In his letter, he proposed a series of measures to save energy.
- 1914-1918: Benjamin’s idea began to be taken seriously thanks to Germany during World War I. They advanced one hour during the light months to consume less coal which they could later use in war actions. In 1918, it was regulated in our country by the decree of April 3.
- 1950: In Spain it never achieved importance, nor was it carried out in a stable manner. In fact, this year it was decided to suspend the initiative.
- 1974: The oil crisis was a time of great need in which desperate means of saving energy were sought. It was decided to try again with the institution of the time change.
- 2001: The European Union definitively establishes the use of time change in all countries that belong to the institution. It was the directive 2000/84/EC on January 19. It was established that daylight saving time begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. Changes are made at 01:00 am universal time.
Does this method really save money?
It is undeniable that this method saves energy consumption. The dilemma lies in whether it really offsets the amount saved with the various problems that this change can cause. We bring you different points of view, is it worth it?
- YES: The European Commission clings to savings data to demonstrate that savings do occur and, therefore, that yes it compensates. This extra hour of light means that we use artificial light less. 144 million savings per year in our country.
- NO: The IDEA (Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving) tells us that the savings are 5% . This is a real impact of 6 euros per year in each home. With 20 billion euros of spending, the IDEA believes that a saving of 144 million does not compensate for the problems that the change can cause. Jet Lag, biological changes, fatigue…
Technology saves less
What is clear is that as technology advances, these savings are becoming less and less significant. Now we get the same lighting with much less consumption.
The current ones sensors, increasingly used in homes They allow us to automate the turning on and off of the lights when necessary.
Before, we needed a 100W incandescent bulb to achieve the same lighting that we have today with a 12W LED bulb.
If general consumption is reduced, the variation produced at that time of change will be less noticeable.
The Spanish problem
Our country is in a negative situation for this process. By having the Berlin time zone, the time lag with the sun is greater. We are in a time zone that does not correspond to us. Let’s keep in mind that even within the country, from one side to the other, it is an hour difference.
With all the information in your hand, what do you think about it? Do you say yes or no to the time change? Do not hesitate to tell us your opinion.