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Austria is still in winter time until the end of March. Then it will be over again. In the night from Saturday, March 27, 2021, to Sunday, March 28, 2021, the clock will be set at 2 o’clock to 3 o’clock. Then daylight saving time will apply again – it will be warmer again, the days longer and the nights shorter.
Winter time will still prevail in Austria until the end of March. In the night from October 24 to 25, 2020, we were able to sleep an extra hour due to the time change. Quite officially, we got an extra hour – so a nice advantage for everyone.
But the return to winter time also has disadvantages. Because the clocks are set back, it naturally gets darker earlier in the evening.
Daylight saving time introduced in Austria in 1979
Austria decided to introduce it only in 1979 because of administrative problems and because they wanted traffic harmonization with Switzerland and Germany. These two countries did not introduce daylight saving time until 1980. However, summer time had already existed in the Alpine republic during the First World War. In 1916, it was in effect for the monarchy from May 1 to September 30, but was then discontinued. A second – permanently unsuccessful – attempt was made between 1940 and 1948.
As early as 1784, a time change was being considered. The pioneer of the idea of changing the time was Benjamin Franklin. The reason given for the introduction of daylight saving time was energy conservation.
However, the idea behind it has long since been scientifically disproved. Since it stays light longer in the evening hours, less electricity is used for light, according to the assumption at the time. The problem with this is that the time change does not achieve the goal of saving energy; rather, the opposite is unintentionally achieved. The time change actually increases energy consumption. And this is due to the fact that more heating is needed in the morning.
In 1977, most countries of the European Community nevertheless introduced daylight saving time, but the uniformly regulated daylight saving time has only been in effect in the European Union since 1994. In any case, the clock will be set forward one hour again in October. Then winter time or standard time will prevail in Austria again.
The time change should actually be abolished after 2021. Probably also because 84 percent of EU citizens surveyed were in favor of abolishing the time changeover in a poll, the European Parliament voted to abandon it after 2021. However, the abolition is not really progressing this year. A determination by the member states in the Council was not yet in sight.
So until the decision is finalized, it will continue to be the case that we have to change our clocks twice a year. Once from winter to summer time – and back again.
When will winter time start in 2021?
If you flip forward a few months in your calendar, you’ll probably have several entries on October 31, 2021. Because then not only “Halloween” will be celebrated, but also the end of daylight saving time.
In the night from Saturday, October 30, 2021, to Sunday, October 31, 2021, the clock will be set again from 3 o’clock to 2 o’clock. For many, this will mark the end of summer, something that few look forward to. Let’s hope that it will at least be possible to celebrate Halloween again.
- hpascua/picture: pixabay.com
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