In the night of October 28th to 29th, all clocks in the European Union were set back by one hour, marking the transition to the famous "winter time." While we have grown accustomed to this time change, do you know the reasons behind its establishment?

History of Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time was introduced in response to the 1973-1974 oil crisis and rising oil prices. The goal was to reduce electricity consumption, primarily generated from oil, by making use of an additional hour of natural daylight in the evening.

Read the article: Energy: The end of gas and oil for new housing from 2023

In the 1980s, Daylight Saving Time was gradually adopted by all European Union countries, including Luxembourg. To facilitate coordination within the EU, a directive was adopted in 2001 to standardize the dates for time changes.

Since 2002, all EU member states switch to Daylight Saving Time on the last Sunday of March and return to Standard Time on the last Sunday of October.

Benefits of Daylight Saving Time

Energy Savings

One of the main reasons for Daylight Saving Time is energy conservation. By setting the clocks back one hour at the end of summer, energy consumption is reduced because it gets light earlier in the morning. This means reduced lighting and heating needs in homes and offices, resulting in lower CO2 emissions and energy bills.

Natural Daylight

By adjusting the time to make it daylight earlier in the morning, the use of natural light is promoted, which can enhance people's well-being and reduce reliance on artificial lighting.

Outdoor Activities

Daylight Saving Time also allows people to make the most of natural light for outdoor activities such as sports and gardening.

International Synchronization

Many countries use Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time to synchronize their clocks with other regions of the world, improving international communication, transportation, and business.

It's worth noting that the usefulness of Daylight Saving Time is increasingly being questioned, and some countries are considering its abolition or year-round observance to avoid time changes, partly due to the disruption of sleep patterns and biological rhythms it can cause.