Daylight Saving Time began at 2 am on Sunday, March 9, 2008, and ends at 2 am on Sunday, November 2, 2008, so be sure to set your clocks back one hour!
Previously, Daylight Saving Time began in April and ended in October, but this is the second year that it has been extended by four weeks. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, which enacted the extended period, is expected to save 10,000 barrels of oil each day due to reduced use of power by businesses during daylight hours, and by individuals in lighting their homes.
The original concept is attributed to Benjamin Franklin in 1784. In a whimsical letter to a French journal, he said that Parisians could save thousands of francs a year by waking up earlier during the summer because it would prevent them from having to buy so many candles to light the evening hours.
We remember to change our clocks by the phrase “Spring forward, fall back.” This is also an excellent reminder to change the batteries in all of our smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Properly working detectors save thousands of lives each year, especially as during the winter months we enjoy fireplaces, cook and bake for the holidays…and sometimes forget to get rid of that Christmas tree before it’s dried out!