For international students abroad, in addition to adapting to climate and environmental changes, many students from Asia are relatively unfamiliar with the daylight saving time system in Europe and America, i.e., the summer and winter time system. How exactly are European winter and summer times divided? Cyclopes brings you an introduction to the European Daylight Saving Time system this time.
What Is Daylight Saving Time?
The establishment of daylight saving time (Summer time) in Europe and America aims to extend daylight hours. By adjusting the clock forward, the evening daylight time in summer is relatively extended, thereby encouraging everyone to sleep early and wake up early, and at the same time, save energy and reduce the consumption of electricity at night. This time system is widely applied in various regions of Europe and America, playing an important role in promoting sustainable development and energy conservation. Generally, daylight saving time begins in spring and ends in autumn.
Source: iStock
The Daylight Saving Time System in European Countries
In Europe, most countries follow the daylight saving time system. According to the European Union regulations, European Summer Time starts on the last Sunday of March and ends on the last Sunday of October. During this period, the clock is adjusted forward by one hour, allowing people to enjoy longer daylight hours.
European Winter Time
The European winter time system corresponds to the summer time system. On the day the summer time ends, the clock is adjusted backward by one hour to return to standard time. This makes the morning daylight time longer, reducing the dependence on lighting energy.
The Impact of Summer and Winter Time
Impact on Residents
The summer time system has a significant impact on the lives of Europeans. By extending the daylight time in summer, people can enjoy longer days, thus having more time for outdoor activities such as walking, sports, and picnics. Additionally, daylight saving time can help people have more reasonable sleeping schedules, improving sleep quality and life quality.
Source: Freepik
Economic Impact
The summer time system also has a significant impact on the European economy. Firstly, extending the daylight time in summer can save energy. As the daytime increases, the time people use lighting devices decreases, thereby reducing energy consumption and corresponding energy costs. Secondly, daylight saving time also promotes the development of outdoor activities and the tourism industry. Longer daylight hours attract more tourists, increasing local tourism revenue.
Controversy Over Abolishing Summer and Winter Time
Whenever it's time to adjust the clock, there are voices calling for the abolition of summer time. As the industrial significance in Europe gradually declines and the energy consumption of factories is not as intensive or huge as in the past, plus modern nightlife is richer than before, summer time does not save as much energy as it used to.
Additionally, although summer time can make people go to bed early and save lighting electricity, as well as reduce the chance of traffic accidents due to insufficient light in the morning, the extension of evening time actually increases the consumption of energy for other purposes. Furthermore, daylight saving time can disrupt the human biological clock, increasing the risk of depression and heart disease. From a practical operational perspective, people must adjust all timing devices on the days daylight saving time starts and ends, which can be inconvenient. Although the EU proposed to cancel the winter and summer time system five years ago, it has not yet been implemented.
Source: Freepik
Cyclopes Professional Education Consultants Solve Study Abroad Doubts
The start date of summer time in the UK in 2024 is at 1 AM on March 31, and the end time is at 2 AM on October 27. Students studying in the UK, remember to adjust your watches and alarms! The European Daylight Saving Time system is an important system affecting the lives of Europeans, and through this article's introduction, we hope parents and students can better understand European winter and summer time, and recognize its importance.
If parents are interested in sending their children to study in the UK, feel free to contact our Cyclopes study abroad consultants, and let us plan the ideal study abroad arrangement for you.