Spring forward, Fall back
Since 1966, most of the United States has observed Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April to 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act changed the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, DST will begin on the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November.
The reason for Daylight Saving Time (DST) is it saves energy. Energy demand for electricity to light homes is directly related to when we get up and go to bed. We also use less electricity because people are home less during the "longer" days of spring and summer. Most people plan outdoor activities during the extra daylight hours. When we are not at home, we don't use appliances or lights. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Congress retains the right to resume the 2005 Daylight Saving Time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete.
Safety Reminder
Many fire departments encourage people to change the battery in their smoke detector when they change their clocks because Daylight Saving Time provides a convenient reminder. A working smoke detector more than doubles a person's chances of surviving a home fire. More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but one-third of smoke detectors are estimated to have missing batteries or dead batteries.
Mark Your Calendar
In 2008 – Daylight Saving Time ends – Sunday, November 2. In the U.S., clocks fall back from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.