The Dangers of Gas Stoves
When it comes to gas stoves, the writing is on the wall. They are bad for our health and the environment and here is why.
Unfortunately, so much of the misinformation about the use of gas comes from the fossil fuel industry and their allies. Just the use of the word “Natural Gas” is misleading as the word natural by definition means existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by mankind. To get Natural Gas out of the earth you need to use a technique called fracking which injects liquid at high pressure into rocks and boreholes forcing openings to extract oil and gas. In no way is this natural so the use of the word is misused and should be called what it really is, Fossil Gas. The problem is, the phrase Natural Gas gives people the false impression that it’s safe for humans and the environment when in fact gas is a major contributor to air pollution, water pollution, and climate change.
“Gas stoves have been linked to various health risks including childhood asthma”.
Fossil Gas
Fossil Gas is made up of methane, ethane, butane, and propane. Methane, as we know, is a potent greenhouse gas that is contributing to climate change and pollution. The gas companies have been pushing the slogan cooking with gas since the 1930s and social media influencers are being paid to convince millennials and Gen X that stoves are cool #cookingwithgas. But why are we listening to lobbyists when all the scientific information is right in front of us?
Starting A Gas Stove
Gas stoves burn fossil gas, which means when a gas stove is on, it is releasing not only fine pieces of particulate matter that can invade the lungs, but also dangerous gases that have been linked to various health risks including childhood asthma. When starting a gas stove, a nozzle sprays out pressurized gas into your home in a fine mist form so that it can be set on fire. When it ignites, there is an open flame in your kitchen unseen by the naked eye. This flame is shooting out nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and fine particulate matter into your house. Breathing this in causes all sorts of health risks and should be avoided at all costs, if you do use a gas stove make sure the fan is on the entire time or a window open to help remove the toxins from
your environment. Even when the stove is off, they are emitting large amounts of methane into the environment, in the US alone it is equivalent to 2.4 millions tons of CO2 a year. That’s equivalent to the annual amount of greenhouse gases from 500,000 cars.
“Gas stoves emit Carbon Monoxide, Methane, Formaldehyde, Nitrogen Dioxide and other fine particles into your home”
Electricity
In order to reduce the use of fossil gas, New York and California have become the first US states to put a ban on fossil fuel hookups in new buildings with a few other states to follow. In Canada, Vancouver and Quebec are leading the way. In Vancouver starting January 2022, equipment for space and hot water heating in new low-rise residential buildings must be zero emissions. By 2025, all new and replacement heating and hot water systems must be zero emissions. In Quebec, after Dec. 31, 2023, it will be illegal to replace existing furnaces with any sort of heating system powered by fossil fuels.
Induction Stoves
Induction stoves are becoming increasingly popular and gaining huge attention worldwide and for good reason. These stoves are amazing, with induction cooking, the electricity flows through a coil to generate a magnetic field under the glass ceramic surface. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the cooktop, currents are induced in the pan and instant heat is generated.
- Use magnets to heat up the food with no open flame making them a safer option.
- The surface never gets hot even when on so you will never burn yourself on an open flame or coil which makes them extremely safe for children. The surface remains cool to the touch.
- Easy to clean as it is a flat cooktop.
- Creates a cooler kitchen as induction only heats up the pan and not the air around it.
- When an induction stove is off, unlike a gas stove, methane is not leaking into your home.
- Safe indoor air quality – doesn’t emit CO, NO2, and formaldehyde into the air.
- Induction converts 90% of its energy to cooking heat, versus 74% for an electric stove, and 40% for a gas stove.
- Overall it cooks your food faster as well including boiling liquids.
Induction stoves cost more than gas and electric so if that is a barrier, you can always look at an electric cook top. They are reliable and easy to use and clean and as mentioned easier on the pocketbook. The major difference between an induction and electric is the coils do heat up so there is a risk of getting burnt but they are still easy to clean and don’t emit any toxins into your home.
In Conclusion
There are many reasons to move away from a gas stove, the biggest being your health and the environment. By moving into an electric or induction stove you are removing harmful toxins from your home and moving away from your dependence on gas. Induction cooking has come such a long way and now rivals any gas stove on the market. The whole open flame concept, heating up faster and the fact chefs preferring it more is all propaganda created by savvy marketing execs at the oil and gas companies. Try for yourself and you will wonder why you ever used gas in the first place.
At GNAR Inc we are passionate about creating sustainable homes, let us know how we can help you bring your dream house to life. Call us at 604.962.1611 or email info@gnarinc.com for more information.
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