The Origin of Daylight Saving Time
DST was first adopted by Germany and Austria-Hungary on April 30, 1916, during World War I, to conserve coal. The US adopted it in 1918.
How DST Works
- Spring forward: Clocks move forward 1 hour. You lose an hour of sleep.
- Fall back: Clocks move back 1 hour. You gain an hour of sleep.
Countries That Don't Observe DST
- Most of Asia: China, Japan, India, South Korea
- Most of Africa
- Arizona (USA) — stays on MST year-round
- Russia — abolished DST in 2014
The Debate
Health impacts, minimal energy savings, and economic disruption have fueled calls to abolish DST. The EU voted to end it in 2019, but implementation remains stalled.