September is here. Summer has unofficially drawn to a close. The days are even starting to feel cooler (although there’s probably going to be one last spout of heat at one point). You know what that means — it’s time to repeatedly remind everyone when daylight saving time is.
Forty-eight states will turn their clocks back at 2 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2024, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time and the resumption of standard time. The days will start getting darker sooner when folks set their clocks back on Sunday, Nov. 3. No matter what your opinions on the practice may be, at least this “falling back” of time means we’ll all be treated to an extra hour of sleep.
Daylight Saving Time: A Brief Overview
Daylight Saving Time, also known as DST, is a practice that shifts the clocks forward by one hour during the spring and summer months and then back again in the fall. The idea behind this is to take advantage of the longer daylight hours during those months by shifting the clock forward, essentially extending the daylight hours.
States That Don't Observe Daylight Saving Time
However, Two states don’t observe the Daylight Saving Time switch though — Arizona and Hawaii — which remain on standard time year round. These states have their own reasons for remaining on standard time throughout the year. For example, Arizona's decision dates back to the 1960s when it chose to keep standard time year-round. This decision was driven by the state's hot and sunny climate, which led to concerns about the potential for more energy usage and higher temperatures during the summer months if daylight saving time was observed.
The Potential for Permanent Daylight Saving Time
However, Pennsylvania residents may soon no longer abide by daylight saving time rules. PennLive previously reported in April 2021 how the state House of Representatives passed a bill in a 103-98 vote that would do away with the practice all together and, therefore, make daylight saving time permanent.
Benefits of Permanent Daylight Saving Time
But what would be the point of doing so? Well, the same PennLive article explained that various studies show how a permanent daylight saving time has a series of benefits such as saving energy, reducing traffic crashes, decreasing crime, and generally leading to healthier lifestyles across populations.
“In the future, I think this is a very positive reform for Pennsylvania, changing time twice a year is incredibly inefficient and an outside practice,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh County, to PennLive. “I think there is a movement afoot to go toward some type of permanent time and I want to be a part of that.”
The National Movement for Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Not that this idea is unique to Pennsylvania: The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — which “represents the legislatures in the states, territories and commonwealths of the U.S.” in order to “advance the effectiveness, independence and integrity of legislature,” according to its about page — states that there’s been at least 650 bills and motions in recent years to establish a year-round daylight saving time across the country.
The Future of Daylight Saving Time
So, until that day a law is passed saying otherwise, daylight saving time is still set to end this year on that Sunday, Nov. 3. Many individuals and groups are pushing for permanent Daylight Saving Time, with arguments for more sunshine hours and its potential economic benefits. However, the debate about the benefits and drawbacks of Daylight Saving Time continues, leaving the future of the time change uncertain. Ultimately, whether or not the U.S. goes to a year-round daylight saving time, the decision will likely be made at the federal level and it remains to be seen whether the current momentum will translate into legislative action.
