Welcome to the March issue of PEW! It feels good writing that even though I’m actually writing this in February, the cold, dark nights of January and February are coming to an end. When I walked into the bathroom this morning I thought I’d left the light on, before realising that it was actually sunlight streaming through the window, happy times ahead!
I always do my best to steer clear of politics on this page as there are already enough opinions out there and this page really just serves as a friendly introduction, linking real life with topical industry subjects. I am even more reluctant to stray into American politics, but when President Trump delivers such a gift of a talking point for the construction industry then it is very hard to ignore.
Headlines such as ‘Freedom to choose lightbulbs’ and ‘Trump reignites the lightbulb wars’ might once have been dreamt up in the writers’ room of a satirical comedy but in 2025 it is in fact reality, as the 47th (and 45th) President of the United States has declared war on LED technology and vowed to bring back the traditional lightbulb.
Of all of Trump’s many gripes with the world I didn’t think LED lighting was going to be up there but he has indeed signed an order dubbed ‘Unleashing American Energy’, designed to remove ‘burdensome and ideologically motivated regulations that have impeded the development of [natural] resources’. In an ironic moment of self-awareness he also stated during his first term that “you look better with incandescent lights”, adding, “of course being a vain person, that’s very important to me.” With lines like that the future of satire really is in danger!
Such is the nature of American politics, the ‘lightbulb wars’ have been a thing ever since George W. Bush started the transition to LEDs in 2007 when he signed the Energy Independence and Security Act. Barack Obama kept things going in the same direction, before consecutive reversals occurred in the Trump/Biden/Trump era.
Given the advancement and widespread popularity of LEDs in today’s market it remains to be seen how successful Trump will be in his quest to bring back the incandescent lightbulb, and I can’t speak for all Americans so all we can do for now is watch with interest from afar.
Back on this side of the Atlantic, Recolight continues to carry out sterling work in its mission to deliver a circular economy for lighting. On page 26 Chief Executive Nigel Harvey explains how electrical wholesalers can play their part, and we’ve also got features from Ovia and Ansell Lighting making up our special feature on Lighting, while in this month’s Soapbox column you can find out how Zumtobel Group is advancing its sustainability journey.
If you’re reading, Mr President, enjoy the issue!
– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here
