Tonight the clock will be turned. But the change between summer and winter time causes confusion for many people – an overview of the time change.
Frankfurt – Soon it will be that time again: The clocks will be reset again in October. For the winter months, the hand of the clock is turned back one hour. Then the nights will get longer again, but the first rays of sun will already appear in the morning hours.
After long discussions in the EU about the usefulness of the time change, it is now clear: Winter time will start again on October 31, 2021 and our clocks will also be changed again.
Time change 2021: Since when have the clocks been changed in Germany?
The idea of the time change has its origins in the 1973 oil crisis. When the Arab oil tap was turned off, numerous industrialized countries were faced with a huge problem: the import costs of the raw material rose so much that the costs were hardly affordable. To save energy, a time change was made for the first time in 1973. The daylight should be better used. Some states hoped that it would help them escape the energy crisis.
Based on this idea, Germany adapted to its neighboring countries and also introduced the time change in 1980. There has been a uniform regulation in the EU since 1996.
Winter time and summer time: how useful is the time change?
The time change is a hotly debated topic. Some people suffer from the change of time and complain of tiredness, trouble sleeping or similar complaints. The original idea behind summer and winter time is often left out: the energy savings.
But does simply setting the clock back and forth really save a lot of energy? The economic benefit of the time change is extremely controversial. Several studies show that the time change only saves a small amount of energy. The Federal Environment Agency argues: “Although the time change in summer means that the light is actually switched on less often in the evening – in spring and autumn, however, there is more heating in the morning hours. That cancel each other out. The time change therefore does not save any energy on balance. “
As the magazine “Wirtschaftsdienst” reports, it was possible to check that the savings in electricity consumption by private households are only around 0.78 percent. A family with three children would only save around 11 euros a year.
Time change 2021 in October: which would be better – summer time or winter time?
From the point of view of sleep research, there is a clear opinion: the winter time would be more pleasant for people’s biological rhythm. Hans-Günter Weeß, head of the sleep center at the Pfalzklinikum, is in favor of longer nights: “We have to consider that we need the darkness to get tired.” During the long summer evenings, the formation of the sleep messenger substance melatonin would be suppressed. This would not make people tired in time and ensure a disturbed sleep rhythm.
From an economic point of view, on the other hand, summer time could be more efficient. A simulation by the business magazine “Wirtschaftsdienst” compared the savings potential of summer and winter time. The projections showed that in Germany a changeover to pure summer time could save 383 million euros more than a changeover to pure winter time.
By the way: With “Eternal Summer Time” , the sun would not rise until around 9.30 am on the shortest day of the year. With “Eternal Winter Time” it would set at 8:30 p.m. on the longest day of the year. Either way, experts agree on one point: The time change system has long been outdated and urgently needs to be renewed.
That is how dissatisfied the Germans are with the time change
A survey by the health insurance company DAK-Gesundheit from 2021 shows that almost every fourth German suffers physically from the effects of the time change. Around 85 percent of the people surveyed said that they were tired and exhausted due to the change in times. 70 percent complained about problems falling asleep and twelve percent even said they suffered from depressive moods.
| Dates for the time change 2021/22 | |
|---|---|
| Sunday March 31, 2021 | Clock is set back from 3 o’clock to 2 o’clock |
| Sunday March 27, 2022 | Clock moves forward from 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. |
| Sunday October 30th 2022 | Clock is set back from 3 o’clock to 2 o’clock |
Although more than 70 percent of Germans would like the end of summer and winter time, 63 percent of those surveyed do not believe that the time change will be abolished in the foreseeable future.
Summer and winter time: when is the clock changed?
The clock is changed twice a year in Germany: on the last Sunday in March and October. In the year 2021, October 31st marks the beginning of winter time. The time change takes place at 3 o’clock in the morning and the hand of the clock is put back one hour. So we gain an hour of sleep.
The changeover to summer time will then take place on March 27, 2022. An EU directive from 2002 regulates that summer time is “permanent” and “binding” in all member states. (aa)
Header list image: © Elise Amendola / dpa
