As the days get longer (and darker earlier) and temperatures drop, PennLive has begun its annual Daylight Saving Time coverage.
However, there are actually a few states in the US where the clocks do not “go back” for this biennial event.
Tododisca US – which focuses on “news on disability, care, older people, health, economics and social issues” and is “made up of a group of people with different abilities” – recently published a report covering all states that do not change their clocks at the beginning and end of daylight saving time, that is, stay at the same time all year round.
These states include Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii. Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands (all U.S. territories) also refrain from this practice.
When asked why a region would do away with the twice-yearly time change, USA Today explains that in Arizona and Hawaii in particular, their proximity to the equator—and their sufficient sunshine compared to other areas—is more than enough to maintain daylight saving time year-round.
A 2022 PennLive report covering a similar proposal in Pennsylvania adds that various officials believe eliminating clock forward and back movements would prove beneficial to public health: The American Medical Association says year-round standard time is, among other things, most compatible with people’s natural circadian, biological sleep clock.
Furthermore, the same PennLive report noted that phasing out the practice would potentially reduce energy consumption, and it is, in the words of Senator Rick Scott of Florida, simply “outdated and unnecessary.”
However, Pennsylvania will set its clocks back one hour when daylight saving time ends in November 2024.
