Daylight savings was invented long before electricity. It's time we moved on. It's unpopular these days.

The long history of daylight saving time (DST) spans over a century, with roots that extend back to ancient civilizations. The practice began as early as the Roman Empire and Ancient Egypt, where water clocks were used to adjust daily schedules seasonally, effectively shifting daylight hours to optimize activity in the summer months.?

Benjamin Franklin is often credited as an early advocate of the idea, suggesting in a satirical essay that Parisians could save candles by waking earlier to make better use of daylight. Modern DST, however, was first introduced during the early 20th century, primarily as an energy-saving measure during wartime. Germany implemented DST in 1916 during World War I to conserve fuel by extending evening daylight hours. The United States adopted DST in 1918, following Germany’s lead, but it was repealed after the war ended and was only reinstituted during World War II.?

The concept gained further standardization with the passage of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which established fixed start and end dates for DST across the U.S. and many other countries. Over the years, DST has been adopted, modified, or repealed in various regions, driven by different motivations such as energy efficiency, economic considerations, and public health. Notably, during the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. briefly adopted permanent DST but reverted due to public opposition.?

Benjamin Franklin is often credited as an early advocate of the idea, suggesting in a satirical essay that Parisians could save candles by waking earlier to make better use of daylight. Today, DST is observed in over 70 countries worldwide, continually evolving as nations customize its start and end dates according to their needs. The practice remains a fascinating intersection of history, science, and societal adaptation.

Today, DST is observed in over 70 countries worldwide, continually evolving as nations customize its start and end dates according to their needs. The practice remains a fascinating intersection of history, science, and societal adaptation.

Here is a timeline of key Daylight Saving Time (DST) milestones from 1784 to today:

1784: Benjamin Franklin publishes a satirical letter suggesting Parisians save candles by rising earlier to use natural daylight.?
1907: British builder William Willett formally proposes DST in a pamphlet titled "The Waste of Daylight," advocating advancing clocks during summer months.?
1916: Germany becomes the first country to officially implement DST during World War I to save fuel.?
1918: The United States enacts DST for the first time, following Germany's lead during World War I.?
1919-1939: DST is repealed after WWI but reintroduced regionally in various countries and municipalities before WWII.?
?1942-1945: The U.S. institutes year-round DST called "War Time" during World War II to conserve energy.?
DST has evolved over centuries from a lighthearted suggestion to a global time-management practice with energy, economic, and social implications that continue to generate discussion.
1966: The U.S. passes the Uniform Time Act, standardizing DST start and end dates nationwide except for some exempt states.?
1974-1975: The U.S. extends DST during the energy crisis to save energy but reverts to usual dates due to public pushback.?
2007: The Energy Policy Act of 2005 takes effect in the U.S., extending DST by about four weeks starting mid-March and ending early November.?
2020s: Some U.S. states consider or pass legislation to adopt permanent DST or abolish DST, reflecting ongoing debates.?