The beginning of winter in the United States marks not only a seasonal transition, but also schedule adjustments that affect millions of people. The time change, known as Daylight Saving Time (DST)is a practice that aims to optimize the use of sunlight and reduce energy consumption during the warmer months. Currently, the country is under standard timeeffective since November 3, 2024, when clocks were turned back one hour, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The next time change in the United States is scheduled for Sunday, March 9, 2025. At 2:00 am, the clocks will be moved forward one hour to begin the summer timeaccording to information provided by the specialized site Time and Date. This adjustment is maintained in most states, although there are exceptions such as Hawaii and Arizonawhich do not adopt daylight saving time due to their geographical and climatic conditions.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS)he winter solstice in the United Stateswhich marks the official start of this season, occurred on December 21, 2024 at 4:21 am (Eastern Time). This astronomical phenomenon marks the day with the fewest hours of daylight in the northern hemisphere and the moment from which the length of the days begins to increase progressively.
The implementation of summer time in the United States dates back to 1918, during the First World War, as a measure to save energy in times of scarcity, indicates the NIST. Subsequently, it was suspended and reintroduced during the Second World War, until in 1975 it was made permanently official through the Energy Policy Law. This legislation has been modified over the years with the goal of maximizing the benefits of daylight saving time.
In 2005, an amendment to the Energy Policy Law extended the duration of daylight saving time by four weeks. Since 2007, the DST begins on the second Sunday of March and concludes on the first Sunday in November. This measure, according to United States Department of Energyhas allowed electricity consumption to be reduced by a small percentage during the application period.
Although he summer time applies in most of the country, some regions have chosen to maintain the standard time throughout the year. According to him NIST, Hawaiidue to its proximity to the equator, does not experience significant variations in the length of the day, making the time change unnecessary. On the other hand, Arizonawith the exception of the Navajo Nation, avoids daylight saving time in order to minimize the impact of high temperatures during the hottest months.
In addition to Arizona and Hawaiiseveral territories of the United States, such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoathey do not apply the summer time. He NIST notes that these regions maintain a constant schedule due to their geographic location, which does not require seasonal adjustments in sunlight management.
He summer timeaccording to the United States Department of Transportationoffers advantages such as greater use of natural light in the afternoons, which helps reduce the need for artificial lighting and encourages outdoor recreational activities. Also highlighted is its impact on the road safetysince brighter afternoons reduce the risk of car accidents.
However, the daylight saving time in the US is not without criticism. According to him National Institute of Health (NIH)the time change can affect the sleep patterns and cause temporary alterations in the health of some people. Investigations of the NIH They point out that the schedule adjustment may slightly increase the risk of cardiovascular problems during the first days after the transition.
The debate on the continuity of summer time has resurfaced on several occasions. In 2022, the United States Senate approved the Sun Protection Lawwhich proposed maintaining daylight saving time permanently, but the legislation did not advance in the House of Representatives. According to NISTthe possibility of eliminating the time change continues to be analyzed, although so far no final decision has been made at the federal level.
