Two weeks ago, everyone in CHS had to change their clocks by moving them forward an hour, losing an hour of sleep and creating discomfort and displeasure not just for students, but for millions of people around the world. But why do we do it at all?

Daylight savings time was first implemented in 1916 by Austria-Hungary and Germany during World War I as a means of conserving fuel for use during the war effort. It spread to other nations over time, until it was implemented in almost every country around the world.

Now, this made sense in the 70’s when OPEC passed an oil embargo and fuel needed to be conserved, but it is absolutely pointless in today’s society for several reasons.

First, to fry the biggest fish, daylight savings time does not save energy. In fact, it causes additional use of electricity that we absolutely do not need.

According to a study conducted by the University of Santa-Barbara via the Wall Street Journal, daylight savings time causes households in Indiana to spend, on average, an additional $8.6 million on electricity bills.

That’s just for Indiana – imagine the costs multiplied across 50 states, many of which have much higher energy expenditures. Now imagine those costs worldwide.

The next problem is that, in winter, it creates additional darkness in early mornings. Early mornings like 6-7 AM – right when people are getting to work and children are getting to schools.

The problem isn’t just in winter, however – the March clock change wreaks all sorts of havoc as well.

According to CBS New York, the Monday after clocks “spring forward” there is a 17 percent hike in traffic accidents.

On the business side, daylight savings time causes confusion and chaos as well. For example – the US follows DST. However, Arizona does not. Even more confusingly, the Navajo reservation within Arizona does. China, Russia and India also don’t.

This is a problem when businessmen need to arrange long-distance calls between many different nations. The time difference is enough of a problem as is, but the fact that countries “fall back” and “spring forward” and different times or not at all creates an explosion of time zones.

Daylight savings time is a relic of a bygone age in a time where it isn’t only unnecessary, it’s harmful. It’s time to get rid of it.