Gas stoves might emit hazardous contaminants and can also prove costly for repairs. Nonetheless, numerous people globally rely on them as their main tool for cooking.
Currently, a new electric stove and oven have been developed that can be directly connected to a standard household electrical socket without requiring an electrician’s assistance.
These stoves have the potential to be a valuable advancement facilitating a widespread shift towards cleaner energy sources, moving us away from reliance on gas.
Dealing with gas leaks
For many years, Ed Yaker along with his fellow board members—who oversee approximately 1,500 apartments within a New York City co-op—have faced the persistent issue of gas leaks.
It’s not surprising that Yaker’s interest was sparked upon discovering a California-based start-up that was producing an electric stove and oven designed to be easily connected to a standard electrical outlet.
In case of a leak, the gas supply for the whole building is cut off, preventing residents from using it.
stove
For several months until costly repairs are conducted on the nearby natural gas pipelines.
Nevertheless, the slim and typical four-burner electric induction cooker provided by Copper operates at 120 volts. Consequently, you won’t have to spend large sums of money hiring an electrician to modify your wiring for 240-volt compatibility as some electric cookers necessitate. This advanced cooker includes a smart battery feature, enabling it to recharge whenever needed.
electrical rates
are minimal, enabling individuals to prepare meals without facing high peak-rate electricity fees.
“When it comes to whether this is the right approach, it’s obvious,” Yaker stated, showing how a quart (approximately one liter) of water came to a boil within roughly two minutes.
Yaker was also motivated by the energy efficiency of the electric stove; his apartment is filled with literature on energy and climate change.
Preparing food using electric appliances is more health-conscious.
Gas cooking
Staying as the prevalent approach for cooking in developed nations, gas stoves still emit contaminants such as nitrogen dioxide, associated with asthma, along with carcinogenic substances like benzene.
“I used a gas stove until I began this line of research,” stated Rob Jackson, an environmental scientist from Stanford University and the primary author of the study.
study
Regarding contamination caused by gas stoves.
“Every time I ignited a burner or turned on my oven, I noticed an immediate increase in pollutants, which prompted me to make the change,” Jackson said.
You wouldn’t breathe in the exhaust from a car’s tailpipe. Yet, approximately 50 million U.S. households hover around a gas stove, inhaling similar contaminants indoors.
Even when not in use, gas stoves release emissions.
Induction stoves can likewise tackle the significant volume of greenhouse gases emitted by buildings – particularly those produced during cooking processes.
heating and chilling residential areas
, and hot water.
About half of the flame’s heat from gas stoves escapes into the room. Electric stoves, by comparison, can be up to 80 per cent efficient. Of those, induction stoves come out on top with up to 90 per cent efficiency, partly because they only heat where the surface makes contact with the pot.
Just the presence of a gas stove in a
home
contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, even when it’s not turned on.
Jackson’s group discovered that gas stoves release
methane
— the primary component of natural gas — can escape when they’re not in use, due to loose fittings and at connection points between the stove and the wall.
The climate effect of faulty stoves in American residences was found to be similar to the CO2 emissions produced by approximately 500,000 vehicles fueled by gasoline.
The latest electric stovetops come with a hefty price tag – and it takes some time to adapt to them.
The early enthusiasts of Copper stoves depend on governmental incentives to offset their high cost. When Yaker, who works as a teacher, decided to purchase one, a federal tax incentive for eco-friendly devices reduced the price from $6,000 (€5,722) to $4,200 (€4,005).
Buying the stoves in large quantities also results in significant cost savings. The manufacturer has a deal with them.
New York City
The Housing Authority plans to purchase 10,000 stoves with a maximum cost of $3,200 (€3,052) per unit, scheduled for delivery in 2026. Meanwhile, a nonprofit organization focused on developing affordable housing is also involved.
California
has also upgraded an apartment complex with the stoves.
“It’s really neat; it looks great and is simple to keep clean,” remarked Jolene Cardoza. When her grown-up daughter came over to cook, her old gas stove used to aggravate her asthma condition. She is pleased that the new electric stove does not emit
pollutants
.
Nonetheless, some other residents have experienced a rockier adjustment period with induction cooking.
Monica Moore expressed dissatisfaction with how her food cooks in the oven, noting changes in the texture of her cornbread. Although she appreciates the speed at which water comes to a boil, she laments the lack of a traditional flame for cooking. Additionally, she found it inconvenient to use pots and pans suitable for induction cooktops instead of her usual ones.
For Jackson, however, moving away from gas is crucial:
“I think shutting the gas off to our homes and electrifying our homes is one of the best things that we can control individually to reduce our personal
greenhouse gas emissions
I believe that when it comes to decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions, we should begin with automobiles and residential buildings.
