Individual and Environmental Risks of Gas Stoves

A study recently published in the international Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that on average, about 13 percent of childhood asthma in the United States is attributable to gas stove use. Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, California, and Illinois are all above the national average, with 21 percent of childhood asthma attributed to gas stove use in Illinois. Gas stoves emit pollutants such as methane, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. When released indoors, even in low concentrations, these toxic gases can worsen breathing problems for residents that already have asthma.

The use of gas stoves is harmful to the environment as well. Methane leaks occur throughout the entirety of the fuel production and supply chain that allows for the operation of gas stoves.  Despite the risks to public health and the environment, more than one-third of U.S. households are currently cooking on a gas stove. Replacing a gas stove with a modern electric induction stove may not be an option due to the high cost of buying a new appliance. For households that are not able to replace their gas stoves immediately, there are still ways to minimize the effects of harmful pollutants. For example, good ventilation when cooking—by using the range hood fan and opening windows—can reduce indoor air pollution.

Elisabeth Seliga

Assistant Researcher

Nicole Yang

Communications Assistant

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This is a part of the AEC Blog series

Energy Insecurity for Renters

Source: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). 2022. One-Third of Tenants Behind on Utility Bills, Highlighting Need for Energy Upgrades. Available at: https://www.aceee.org/blog-post/2022/08/one-third-tenants-behind-utility-bills-highlighting-need-energy-upgrades

In winter months, as temperatures begin to fall, many households in regions across the United States fall behind on their energy bill payments. Often called energy insecurity the inability to pay energy bills can lead families to take out high risk loans, forgo buying food or medicine in order to pay their energy bill, or risk unsafe measures to heat or light their homes. Renters in particular have a high likelihood of becoming energy insecure, with 33 percent of the United States’ 44 million renters struggling to pay their energy costs last year. Renters often live in older, less energy-efficient buildings, which can increase their energy burden (which means that they have to spend a higher share of their income on heating and electricity).

On top of the standard obstacles to making a home more energy-efficient, such as high costs, renters face an extra barrier: They must go through their landlord to add insulation, upgrade to more efficient appliances, or switch to high-efficiency heat pumps for heating. Given lower rental income since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, studies have shown that landlords are unlikely to make energy-efficient changes without incentives. The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August of this year, funds new incentive programs to landlords who make energy-efficient changes to their properties.

Nicole Yang

Communications Assistant

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This is a part of the AEC Blog series