Daylight saving time: what time will it get dark in Rome?
In 2024, daylight saving time will begin on the night of Saturday, October 26, and Sunday, October 27. At 3:00 a.m., the hands will be moved back one hour, marking the return to standard time. This change means it will get dark earlier in the afternoon, while mornings will have more daylight.
The change to daylight saving time can affect the circadian rhythm, causing sleep disturbances and difficulty adjusting for some people, especially in the early days. However, it also offers benefits such as energy savings by reducing the need for artificial lighting.
From Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, the Sun will set at 5:10 p.m. and no longer at 6 p.m. Although it is still some time before the 4:30 p.m. sunset (coming in late November and stable throughout December). Little by little, from January, then, the minutes will increase until it reaches 5 p.m. sunset again, around mid-month.
Of course, to have light days longer than 15 hours one has to wait until June.
Difference between daylight saving time and solar time
It is understandable to have uncertainties between solar time and daylight saving time. Let’s look at the differences: daylight saving time was introduced to make the most of the long spring and summer days. Every year in March, we move the hands forward one hour, losing an hour of sleep. This change saves electricity as the Sun sets later, allowing natural light to be used in the home.
With the return to standard time, however, the time zone is reset to UTC + 1.
Abolition of time change
The abolition of the time change in Europe has been discussed in recent years, as the benefits it provided in the past have diminished. Today, electricity is used not only for household lighting, but also to power various technological devices. In addition, the time change can cause physical discomfort due to the body’s adaptation to the new time.
If the time change is abolished, EU countries will have to decide what time to keep. Southern European countries, such as Spain and Italy, are likely to prefer to adopt daylight saving time year-round to enjoy longer days. Conversely, northern countries may opt to keep daylight saving time year-round.