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The longest and sunniest days of spring arrive thanks to the first time change of the year.

It will also be a time of accumulated sleepiness among the population, lack of concentration and even an increase in traffic accidents due to the sleep deficit caused by the time change. It seems that people are finding it increasingly difficult to adapt to the time change, even if it is only 60 minutes.

On this occasion, it will be in the early hours of 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 of time use for all of Spain, approved with the different countries of Europe since 1980, and will be maintained at least until 2026.

What touches to advance or delay the clocks

Fortunately, most digital watches and mobile phones are programmed to make this adjustment automatically.

Thus, next Sunday, March 26 at 2:00 AM will be 3:00 AM. In theory, and also in practice, many will sleep an hour less that day by advancing the hour 60 minutes, but light will be gained before the nine festive season that arrives with the next Holy Week.

Savings on the electricity bill

According to official estimates of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), the potential for savings in lighting can reach about 300 million euros at each time change in Spain.

Of this 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 70s, with the first oil crisis. Some countries advanced their clocks to make better use of natural sunlight to reduce electricity consumption. However, the origin of this idea would be Benjamin Franklin.

In the decade in which he was U.S. ambassador to France, between 1775 and 1785, he signed several trade 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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