Gas stoves may emit hazardous contaminants and can also prove costly for repairs. Nonetheless, numerous people globally rely on them as their main tool for cooking.
A recently developed electric stove and oven allows you to plug directly into a standard power 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 in a New York City co-op—have faced the persistent issue of gas leaks.
It comes as no surprise that Yaker’s interest was sparked upon discovering a Californian start-up that was producing an electric stove and oven capable of being powered through a standard electrical socket.
In case of a leak, the gas supply for the whole building is cut off, rendering residents incapable of using it.
stove
For several months until costly fixes are implemented for the nearby natural gas pipelines.
Nevertheless, the slim and conventional four-burner electric induction cooker from Copper operates at 120 volts. Consequently, you won’t have to spend large sums of money hiring an accredited electrician to modify your wiring for a higher voltage, as numerous electric stoves necessitate. The advanced design includes a built-in intelligent battery, allowing it to recharge whenever needed.
electrical rates
are low, enabling individuals to prepare meals without facing higher electricity rates during peak times.
“When it comes to whether this is the right approach, it’s obvious,” Yaker stated, showing how a liter (approximately one quart) 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 numerous books about 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 principal 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 convinced me to make the change,” Jackson said.
“You wouldn’t stand over the tailpipe of a car breathing in the exhaust from that car. And yet nearly 50 million households [in the United States] stand over a gas stove, breathing the same pollutants in their homes.”
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 air-conditioning of residential areas
, and hot water.
Approximately fifty percent of the heat generated by gas stove flames dissipates into the surrounding area of the kitchen. In contrast, electric stoves have an efficiency rate as high as eighty percent. Among these, induction stoves lead with efficiencies reaching ninety percent due to their design which heats solely at the point of contact between the cookware and the cooking surface.
Simply having a gas stove present in a
home
leads to an increase in greenhouse gases, even when it remains off.
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 roughly equivalent to the carbon emissions produced by 500,000 gas-fueled vehicles.
The latest electric stoves come with a hefty price tag – and it takes some time to adapt to them.
The early enthusiasts of Copper stoves are depending on governmental incentives to offset the significant cost. For instance, when Yaker, who works as a teacher, purchased 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 will also be 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’s pleased that the new electric stove does not emit
pollutants
.
Nevertheless, some other residents have experienced a bumpier adjustment period with induction cooking.
Monica Moore expressed dissatisfaction with how her food cooks in the oven, noting that her cornbread has a different texture than usual. While she appreciates the speed at which water comes to a boil, she laments the lack of open flames for cooking. Additionally, she found it inconvenient to use pots and pans suitable for induction cooktops instead of her regular ones.
For Jackson, however, moving away from gas is crucial:
I believe turning off the gas supply to our residences and converting to electric power for our homes is among the most effective individual actions we can take to decrease our personal carbon footprint.
greenhouse gas emissions
I believe that when it comes to decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions, we should begin with automobiles and residences.
