Here we go again! In a few weeks, France will switch back to winter time, find out exactly when? We’ll tell you everything in the next few lines of this new article.
When was the first time the clocks changed in France?
As recalled in the columns of the Public Service website, this concept “was established following the oil shock of 1973-1974“. For what purpose? … With a view to “to realize energy savings ».
How did it work? The idea was to save electricity, which at the time was mainly produced by fuel oil, thanks to an extra hour of natural sunshine in the evening.”explains Public Life.
The time change began to be applied in mainland France in 1976. It is not ” since 1998 the dates have been harmonised within the EU”.
For your information, please note that the countries of the European Union are divided into three time zones. Here they are, as quoted on the Vie Publique website:
- Western Europe (UTC): Ireland and Portugal;
- Central Europe (UTC+1): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden;
- Eastern Europe (UTC+2): Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania.
Significant effects in terms of energy savings? A study by Ademe examines the subject
According to a study by Ademe, published in 2010, this change of time had ” positive effects on energy consumption and CO emissions2. »
But if it is today contested, This is because for many, the “energy gain” ” would have become negligible, “due to the widespread use of low-energy lighting.”
Why is this system no longer so unanimous among citizens?
Not to mention the sleep disturbances that this time change causes in the elderly and children. If its removal had been planned, the Covid-19 pandemic has postponed “the end of time change”.
Several countries have already abandoned it, namely Tunisia, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Armenia, Egypt and Iceland.
Time change: Find out when the exact date of the switch to winter time 2024 will be
“In all member countries, specifies the official website of the French administration, the switch to winter time takes place on the last Sunday in October and the change to summer time on the last Sunday in March.
In 2024, the switch to winter time will take place on the night of Saturday 26 to Sunday 27 October 2024. That day, ” At 3am it will be 2am.
