(Earth Ethics Action Team)
Fossil fuels in buildings
At the end of last year, New York City passed bill 2317-2021 to phase out fossil fuels for all new buildings, a milestone in the fight against climate and health-harming pollution.
Carbon emissions from buildings are a major driver of climate change in three ways. (1) During production and distribution natural gas directly leaks into the atmosphere. The principal component of natural gas is methane, which is a very powerful global warming gas. (2) Carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming, is a principal product of natural gas combustion. (3) Natural gas combustion also releases pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds that are both powerful climate-warming and health-harming agents.
Late in 2020, I was faced with a burned-out oil boiler. Rather than replace it with a new oil or natural gas boiler, I had efficient heat pumps installed. Depending upon the operating conditions, heat pumps provide up to 5 kWh of heat for each kWh of electricity consumed. The heat pumps had the added benefit of providing cooling during hot summer days.
Gas stoves
Because gas stoves are either not vented outside or have limited venting, that pollution adversely affects people who share that indoor space. A late 2021 Stanford University study found that gas stoves emit unburned methane that contributes to climate change – more than previously thought. Furthermore, the heat of combustion produces nitrogen dioxide, which can cause cardiovascular illness and asthma.
In contrast, another NY Times article states that gas stoves’ advantages have led an estimated 90% of chefs to rely upon them. They provide a visual indication of the level of heat, which can be adjusted instantaneously. The same article indicates that gas usage for space and water heating is much higher than for cooking.
Although most electric stoves employ resistance heating for surface cooking, newer more expensive stoves use induction heating, which heats only compatible skillets and saucepans, while the cook top remains relatively cool. These stoves may also have convection ovens that have many advantages –including higher efficiency. Some chefs are choosing these over gas stoves.
–Rich Reis <rich.reis1@gmail.com> for the Earth Ethics Action Team
1) Is this the beginning of the end of gas stoves and dirty heat in buildings? https://www.vox.com/2021/12/16/22834653/new-york-gas-ban-buildings-climate-change-gas-stoves, 1/16/21
2) “Coalition reports finding hundreds of gas leaks [within DC]”, Washington Post B3, 2/24/22, Justin Moyor
3) “Gas Stoves: Health and Air Quality Impacts and Solutions”, https://rmi.org/insight/gas-stoves-pollution-health/, B Seals, A Krasner. 2020
4) “Why You Don’t Need to Ditch Your Gas Stove (Yet)”, https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/dont-need-ditch-your-gas-stove-yet/, L McCabe, 6/29/21
5) “Stanford scientists find the climate and health impacts of natural gas stoves are greater than previously thought”, https://news.stanford.edu/2022/01/27/rethinking-cooking-gas/, 1/27/22