Summer time is coming back. On March 29, 2020, the clocks will therefore be presented again at 2:00 an hour. But where does the time change come from and what will become of it in the future? These are the exciting facts.
Save energy?
Many people complain of sleep disorders and mental health problems due to the time change. But why was daylight saving time introduced at all? The clock has been shooting in Germany since spring 1980. Some Western European countries like France had already taken this step in 1977 – officially, to save money after the oil crisis by using the longer daylight.
The effect is ultimately small, critics say, also because people heat up more in the morning because they have to get up an hour earlier. In 1996 the changeover was standardized across the EU. Since then, summer time has started on the last Sunday in March and winter time on the last Sunday in October. But how long?
A failed plan?
How long summer time will remain is unclear. The EU actually wanted to end the time change by 2021. A clear majority of 4.6 million citizens polled in 2018 were in favor of abolishing the changeover and permanently maintaining daylight saving time. Sleep researchers, on the other hand, emphasize that winter time is significantly better for the natural rhythm. So the member states do not agree on whether summer or winter time should apply. And the time change will probably remain for the time being – even beyond 2021.