Do We Need Daylight Savings?
Daylight savings time usually starts the second Sunday of March and ends the first Sunday of November. Daylight savings gives us one more hour in the colder months and takes away one hour in the hotter months. The US first started daylight savings in World War I after Europe used it in 1918. The main reason why it was established was to save energy and fuel on artificial light.
Some people believe daylight savings was made for farmers. That is not true because daylight savings takes away one hour of light to farm work. Farmers oppose the idea from the beginning when they first tried to make the switch in 1918. Farmers' main reason for disapproving of daylight savings was because their animals never adjust to the new time. Other reasons farmer opposed daylight savings was they had to wait an hour to harvest crops, helpers on the farm left an hour earlier for supper, and left an hour later to sell crops.
Daylight saving was supposed to help us save energy. While it may have saved fuel in World War 1, it doesn’t now. As a matter of fact, daylight savings increase residential energy by 1 percent compared to standard time.
Not all places use daylight savings time—some states like Hawaii and Arizona ignore it. Sixty-eight percent of the world doesn’t use daylight savings. “I think daylight saving is pointless, it doesn't really do anything” says seventh grader at BTMS, Hope Schleusner.