Donald Trump, in a recent social media post, has said he intends to end LED lighting standards introduced during the Biden administration, citing a desire to return to “common sense standards” for lighting.
Trump also said he intends to weaken standards for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers.
The return to incandescent bulbs would mark a significant step backwards, given that LEDs typically use 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer.
LEDs are also far more environmentally friendly, given that they do not need to be replaced as often and therefore reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
However, the move is likely to please the fossil fuel industry, which donated more than $75m to Trump’s election campaign, and is likely to benefit from increased energy demand if more efficient bulbs are no longer used.