Daylight savings time kicks in three weeks early this year — so set your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed tonight

It is the first year of the new daylight savings time for Bermudians and Americans, which will mean clocks are set forward an hour on Sunday March, 11.

Previously, daylight savings time for Bermuda and the United States started on the first Sunday in April — when clocks went forward an hour — and ended on the last Sunday in October, when they would fall back.

This year, clocks will go forward an hour this Sunday and winter will come a week later as the clocks will not fall back until the first Sunday in November rather than the last Sunday in October.

In 2005 the US Congress passed a bill to extend daylight savings time by a month and last year the Bermuda House of Assembly passed the Time Zone Bill, which keeps Bermuda in line with the US change.

The US Congress hoped the change would reduce energy use.

Former Premier Alex Scott said after the House passed the bill last year that the change in time would be followed by Bermuda in order to reduce confusion for airlines, businesses and the tourism industry.

Clocks change in Europe on March 25.