Havana, November 4 (RHC-Xinhua) -- Cuban authorities urged the public and business sectors to increase energy saving measures as the island nation switched from daylight-saving time to standard time last Sunday.

During the winter, the days get shorter and the sunset comes earlier, causing an increase in the demand of electricity.

The National Office for the Control of Rational Use of Energy said that Cubans should take energy saving measures that have been established in the country during the winter period, the statement said. The statement reads: "We call on the population to use only the necessary equipment and lighting, and contribute to the more rational use of electricity."

This year's daylight-saving time, or "Summer Time," was applied in Cuba on March 9th, aiming to maximize the use of the sunlight for energy conservation.

According to official data, over 50 percent of the fuel consumed in the country is used to generate electricity.

The change from standard time to summer time was established for the first time during World War I in 1916, to make better use of daylight and save electricity, a practice still kept by about 80 countries.

Summer Time was introduced in Cuba in 1928, but it began to be used regularly after 1959.