In Spain, as in many other countries, a biannual time adjustment is made with the aim of making better use of natural light and, therefore, reducing electricity consumption. This change is commonly known as the time change and consists of moving the clocks forward or back one hour depending on the season of the year.
Summer time. The time change takes place twice a year: on the last Sunday of March and the last Sunday of October. This Sunday, March 26, Spain will welcome daylight saving time, moving the clocks forward one hour, at two in the morning it will be three, reducing one hour of sleep that night, but allowing you to enjoy more natural light during the afternoons.
Winter time. In October, the process is reversed, and the clocks are turned back one hour, marking the end of daylight saving time and the return to winter time. So, at 3:00 a.m. They are delayed to 2:00 a.m., giving an extra hour of sleep that night but resulting in less natural light in the afternoons.
Energy saving. This system, first adopted during World War I and more widely during the energy crisis of the 1970s, seeks to optimize the use of sunlight to reduce dependence on electricity. Although time change is a widespread practice in many countries around the world, it has also been the subject of debate and study due to its effects on human health, the economy and real energy savings.
Possibility of eliminating the time change. In recent years, there have been discussions at both national and European level about the possibility of eliminating the time change and maintaining a fixed schedule throughout the year. These debates are driven by studies suggesting that energy benefits may be limited and that schedule adjustments may have a negative impact on people's biological rhythm. However, to date, the time change remains a current practice in Spain and in the majority of countries that adopt it, pending a final decision that could alter or eliminate this measure.
