46 | December 2021
I'm going to research both electric and in-
duction options. While it still may be possi-
ble to buy a gas stove, I'm going to take my
cues from Energy Star, EPA's program that
sets energy efficiency standards for a wide
variety of common appliances. Though
Energy Star has no ratings for residential
ovens or ranges, the program has decided
that gas water heaters, furnaces, and dryers
will no longer be eligible to be listed on
their "Most Efficient" list. That implies to me
that gas stoves wouldn't be either.
Here's the list of appliances that did
make Energy Star's most efficient list.
TELL THE EPA:
FINALIZE STRONG METHANE
REGULATIONS
sauces, rice, pasta, yogurt, and more.
Some people even bake and fry in
their slow cookers. In addition to im-
proving my indoor air quality, I have
found slow cookers make much less
mess than cooking on my stovetop
does.
• Electric Toaster Oven—In addition to
a slow cooker, I have a toaster oven
that is big enough for casseroles, a
10-inch pie, a rimmed tray on which
I can roast chicken, fish and vegeta-
bles, and a cookie sheet big enough
to make 12 cookies at a time.
• Electric Kettle—I make tea and cof-
fee several times a day, so switching
to an electric kettle was a no-brainer.
When I do decide to replace my stove,
The second was that despite its dubi-
ous reputation as a "clean" fuel, natural gas
contributes significantly to climate change.
In fact, gas-powered appliances general-
ly "produce a really significant amount of
both greenhouse gas pollution and other
kinds of air pollution," Rocky Mountain In-
stitute's (RMI) Denise Grab told Fast Com-
pany. Methane, the primary component of
natural gas, is a particularly potent green-
house gas because it traps far more heat
than does carbon dioxide. Plus, natural gas
is far more polluting than clean energy like
solar and wind. "Natural gas production
and usage in producing power, making fer-
tilizer, heating our homes and cooking our
food now send more carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere than coal," reports Envi-
ronmental Health News.
Third, I learned that gas stoves can emit
excessive nitrogen dioxide (NO
2
), at lev-
els often exceeding both indoor guidelines
and outdoor standards. The health effects
of NO
2
in children, says the nonprofit RMI,
may include IQ and learning deficits, in-
creased susceptibility to lung infections, in-
creased risk of childhood asthma, coughing,
heart stress, and increased susceptibility to
allergens.
And fourth was that no federal agen-
cies monitor the pollutants that gas stoves
emit. Was I breathing in too many? There
was no way to know.
Reducing Pollutants
I learned enough to decide that, when it
is time for me to replace my stove, I will
choose an all-electric or an induction mod-
el. Until then, here's what I do that might
help you too:
• Exhaust Fan—I always turn on the
exhaust fan above my range. The fan
is vented to the outdoors, so it sucks
pollutants up and away.
• Open Windows—Weather permit-
ting, I'll open a few windows when
I'm cooking to increase fresh air into
my kitchen that moves tainted air
out.
• Electric Slow Cooker—I've switched
to using an electric slow cooker (like
a Crock Pot or an InstaPot or a rice
cooker) for making soups, stews,
