The end of March traditionally brings longer days, better temperatures, spring is approaching and also the first time change of the year.
On this occasion, it will be at dawn from March 25 to 26, that is, next weekend, when the clocks must be adjusted to the new summer time.
The BOE periodically publishes this change in time zone for all of Spain, approved with the different countries of Europe since 1980, and it will be maintained until at least the year 2026.
Fortunately, most digital watches and cell phones are programmed to do this adjustment automatically. However, in analog clocks, Spaniards will have to change their time by advancing each device by 60 minutes.
Thus, next Sunday March 26 at 2:00 AM it will be 3:00 AM. In theory, and also in practice, many will sleep an hour less that day, but light will be gained before the new festive season that arrives with next Easter.
According to official estimates from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), the potential savings in lighting can reach around 300 million euros at each time change in Spain.
Of that amount, 90 million corresponds to the potential of Spanish households, which represents a saving of 6 euros per household and the remaining 210 million would be saved in tertiary buildings and in industry.
This habit dates back to the 1970s, with the first oil crisis. Some countries have moved their clocks forward to make better use of natural sunlight and thus reduce electricity consumption. However, the origin of this idea would be Benjamin Franklin.
In the decade in which he was the United States ambassador to France, between 1775 and 1785, he signed several commercial agreements and influenced the American Declaration of Independence. In addition, he also published a manifesto in the Parisian newspaper The Journal with different measures to save on the use of light.
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