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“Spring Forward, Fall Back.” Most of you have probably heard that phrase before, but do you know what it really means or how it originated? The phrase serves as a reminder telling us in which direction we turn the clock on Daylight Savings Time. Do you know how and why this moving of the clock all started?

Benjamin Franklin was the first person to mention this idea in an essay he wrote in 1784. However, nothing was done with this idea until it was mentioned again by an Englishman named William Willett who in 1907 wrote about this issue in an essay titled “The Waste of Daylight”.

While traveling through England one day he noticed that most of the blinds in people’s houses were drawn closed even though the sun was fully risen and it was light outside. Soon after, in 1916, the Parliament in England started “British Summer Time” where they turned the clocks forward one hour during the summer months. England realized that by doing this they were actually saving energy

The United States, realizing the effects of saving energy during wartime, moved the clocks forward one hour during both of the World Wars. Then, in 1966 “The Uniform Time Act” made Daylight Saving Time an official event that would start on the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October.

The main reason for Daylight Saving Time is that it saves energy. Most people turn on their lights at home when it becomes dark at night. In fact, studies have shown that in an average home about 20% of the electricity is used for lighting and small appliances. By moving the clock forward one hour we can significantly cut down on the amount of electricity we use during the night. So, go outside and enjoy the day! It is almost summer and the warm days will be longer and hopefully filled with a lot of fun!