Columbia University study: Switching from gas to electric stoves can cut indoor air pollution by half

Columbia University Pollution Control Research: Switching from gas stoves to electric induction stoves can dramatically improve indoor air quality, reducing nitrogen dioxide pollution by more than 50%, according to a new study. Researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Columbia Climate School led the study, the first to investigate the impacts of such a switch in affordable housing.

The research was part of the “Out of Gas, In with Justice” pilot project, organized by WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a nonprofit based in Northern Manhattan. This project assessed the feasibility and benefits of replacing gas stoves with induction stoves in public housing. It is also the first study to explore residential cooking electrification in public housing in the U.S.

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This study comes on the heels of a 2023 law in New York City that bans gas-powered heaters, cooking stoves, and water boilers in all new buildings, a move aimed at meeting the city’s climate goals. Similarly, California adopted an electric-friendly statewide building code in 2022, requiring all new buildings to be “all-electric ready.” While gas stoves are used in about 38% of U.S. homes, their prevalence varies by state, with New York seeing a higher usage rate of 62%.

Study Details and Findings

Twenty low-income households in a Bronx public housing building participated in the study. The households were randomized; some had their gas stoves replaced by induction stoves, while others served as a control group. Between October 2021 and July 2022, the homes were monitored over three seven-day periods to measure indoor air quality (including levels of NO2, CO, and PM2.5) and stove use, both before and after the intervention. Controlled cooking tests were also conducted to evaluate the impact of cooking on indoor air quality. Participants were later invited to take part in a focus group.

The results were striking. The researchers found a 56% reduction in average daily nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in the homes that switched to induction stoves compared to those that continued using gas stoves.

“We have seen these high pollution numbers in most apartments with gas stoves and inadequate ventilation,” said study co-author Roisin Commane, an atmospheric chemist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, part of the Columbia Climate School. She added that many New York City kitchens using gas stoves often need to open windows while cooking to avoid similar indoor pollution levels.

During focus group discussions, participants with the new induction stoves unanimously reported satisfaction with the transition. Notably, none of the participants chose to revert to gas cooking despite having the option to do so at no cost.

Health and Environmental Impacts

While this study did not measure the climate benefits of switching to electric stoves, extensive research highlights the adverse effects of gas stoves. Residential gas use accounts for 15% of the country’s gas consumption. Natural gas primarily comprises methane, a potent greenhouse gas with over 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over 20 years.

“A green energy transition should prioritize electric stoves, which both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the health of vulnerable populations,” said Darby Jack, the study’s senior author and professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health.

Environmental Justice Considerations

The study also highlights crucial environmental justice issues. “People of colour and low-income individuals are more likely to live in smaller, older apartments with poor ventilation, ineffective or broken range hoods, and outdated appliances that leak more gas,” said Annie Carforo, climate justice campaigns manager at WE ACT and study co-author. “It is crucial for environmental justice that these populations are not left behind in this transition.”

A Look Ahead

The findings of this study underscore the potential health benefits of switching from gas to electric stoves, particularly for vulnerable populations living in public housing. As cities like New York and states like California continue to push for greener building codes and the electrification of household appliances, the results of this study offer a compelling case for making such transitions a priority.

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This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the shift to electric stoves to improve indoor air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address environmental justice concerns. The positive reception from study participants further reinforces the feasibility and desirability of such a transition.

In conclusion, as cities and states move towards greener, more sustainable living environments, initiatives like “Out of Gas, In with Justice” will ensure that all communities benefit from improved air quality and health outcomes. Stay informed with more stories like this by following Education Post News.