Why the time is changed twice a year

Why the time is changed twice a year

By Dr. Kyle Muller

Why do we change the time twice a year? It is a government measure to adapt to the so -called summer schedules and winter schedules. This practice has been carried out for years and, although there are many countries that carry it out, there are also others that have chosen to do without this measure.

The reason that promoted this practice has its motivation in the belief that it allows saving important amounts of energy. If you want to know a little more about Why the time is changed twice a yearas well as some of the consequences it has, keep reading ecology and we tell you.

When the time is changed

How many times is the time changed a year? The current schedule system is Based on two schedules: Summer and winter. The difference between one and the other is only one hour, so it is actually a difference that, a priori, seems almost insignificant. The dates chosen for These changes depend on the days of the weekso they do not always fall on the same day of the calendar. Thus:

  • Summer schedule: It is adopted on the last Sunday of March.
  • The schedule of winter: Start on the last Sunday of October.

The fact that the time is always changed on Sunday is not accidental, since it is the days when work activities are smallerso the objective is that, although there are people who do work those, the change of hour influences as little as possible in day -to -day activity. In this way, when they ask us how many times the time is changed a year we will already know that They are twice.

Why the time is changed to 2 and not at another time

Many people can ask why the time is changed to 2 and not at another time. The reason is the same for which it is done on Sunday and it is not another day of the week, and that is that this schedule is that there is less work activity all day.

Why we change the time twice a year

Now that we know how many times the schedule is changed to year, we must understand that the objective of this time change consists of Adapt activities to real sunlightwhich, consequently, entails less enlightenment consumption and, with it, a lower energy consumption.

Since when the time is changed is Spain

Why do you change the time? This practice is done in Spain Since 1974. Keep in mind that, during the twentieth century, a large part of electricity consumption was intended for lighting, so all measures to reduce its consumption and take advantage of the natural light of the sun were welcome.

However, There are currently Regarding how many times the time changes a year, since a large part of the current energy consumption does not depend only on lighting, but on many other activities and, in addition, most work centers do not adapt their lighting to natural light.

That is, they keep the lights on permanently regardless of natural light that between the window. In this way, we can find people who are in favor of maintaining this change of schedule between winter and summer and people who consider that it has more negative than positive consequences.

At this point we already know why the time is changed and how many times the schedule changes the time a year. As the reasons are related to energy savings and consumption, we leave you this video of ecologyver so that you can take a look at The most used energy sources in the world.

Advantages and disadvantages of schedule change

The defenders of the time change claim that energy savings is reason enough to justify their practice. There are others Advantages of schedule change or arguments in favor such as:

  • Resource savings: since the consumption of raw material that comes from the environment is reduced.
  • Decreased disease risk: Being more exposed to the sun, our body receives more vitamin D, the vitamin responsible for reducing the probability of depression, for example.
  • Economic increase: It is about better managing the resources we consume and increasing its efficiency.

Even so, detractors consider that energy saving, currently, is not especially remarkable and said change It has negative health effects that makes it not a practice that must be maintained today.

The negative health effects are derived from the need you have The body to adapt to the new scheduleeven if it is only one hour apart. Some of the arguments against the change of schedule and disadvantages are:

  • Insomnia: irregularities in sleep schedules.
  • Fatigue: irregularities in the biological clock, which regulates the circadian rhythm of the sunrise and setting.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Disorientation
  • Irregularities at hunger schedules.

These symptoms They last average three dayswhich is what the human body takes to adapt to the new schedule, although in the case of older people and children these symptoms can extend until two weeks. After this time, the body gets used to the new rhythms and the biological clock is adjusted without presenting major problems.

Is the time change good or not?

Regarding this issue There is no unanimous and concrete answer that allows closing the subject without any discussion. Some institutions as an idea (Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving) encrypted in more than 300 million euros the energy saving that the time change had in Spain last year 2017.

On the other hand, there are also those who affirm that the problem of energy waste does not depend so much on the time change and on some Most efficient work schedulesas well as the use of work technologies and routines that help save energy regardless of the time. In this sense, it is affirmed that the problem does not depend so much on working or making daily life during the hours of more light but on replacing the bulbs with more efficient equipment.

An example is the lightning LEDwhich allows to take advantage of up to 90% of the energy spent in light losing only 10% of the energy in the form of heat. Other examples are:

  • Avoid putting meetings at the last hour of the day.
  • Make use of natural light against artificial light: it is a very simple action to carry out and that, currently, is not carried out in most work centers or education. It is restricted only to the domestic sphere in the best case.

In the following article we explain how to save light at home so you have more information on the subject.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why the time is changed twice a yearwe recommend that you enter our energy saving category.

Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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