Yesterday, residents all over the Katy, TX area set their clocks back one hour and enjoyed an extra hour of sleep and a little bit more time to enjoy their weekends. As I was surfing the web last week, I came across this interesting article about the history of Daylight Savings Time and the benefits and pitfalls of implementing it.
Part of the reason that the time change is considered optional in the United States is that so many remain divided about the true benefits of “spring forward” and “fall back.” As a Katy, TX real estate agent, I remind my clients and community about the time changes every year, so it was interesting for me to learn some more about the background of this tradition AND the issues surrounding it.
Apparently, the concept of Daylight Savings Time was created by none other than Mr. “Early to Bed, Early to Rise” himself, Benjamin Franklin. He noticed that there were many days he’d sleep longer when the mornings were darker, and he’d find himself being less productive throughout the day. It wasn’t until World War I, however, that the benefits of daylight savings time were truly realized by the majority of the public, and in 1918, the United States put the system into effect for the states who wanted to use it. The idea was that not only would people make better use of daylight, but that they’d also save on energy use and resources.
The same general principles are used to argue in favor of Daylight Savings Time. In an October 2008 Daylight Savings Time report to Congress, the Department of Energy maintained that “springing forward” and “falling back” DOES, in fact, save energy. In the springtime, people are more inclined to be outside enjoying the nice weather and prolonged daylight in the evenings, and they also use less energy during standard time when it’s lighter in the morning. The tendency of many to be active outside in the springtime is another argument in favor of Daylight Savings, as people spend more time doing activities outdoors to take advantage of the longer days.
There are also those who argue that there are no real benefits to Daylight Savings Time. They believe that it really only messes people up on the day that the time changes, and that people don’t, in fact, save energy because they simply use more energy at night instead of early in the morning, so it’s a wash. The “health benefits” argument is also frequently questioned, as there are assertions that this throws people’s sleep patterns off and disrupts their biological rhythms.
While there are arguments both for and against Daylight Savings Time, the fact is that it has arrived, and I’m sure many of you enjoyed the extra hour this weekend. If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the Katy, TX area, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d be happy to help you in any way that I can. It’s my pleasure to put my years in the Katy, TX real estate market to work for you. I hope to hear from you soon!
Mickie Cioccia
Mickie C and Company Realty
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