NYCHA’s New Electric Stove Initiative
- Devon Seifer
- Aug 11, 2023
- 3 min read
Induction stoves, a form of electric stoves (The New York Times)
Author: Devon Seifer
School: Brooklyn Technical High School
Publication Date: August 11, 2023
If you’re a member of one of 47.1 million U.S. households that own a gas oven or range, you may have recently heard that your stove poses a risk to you and your family. Amid these rising concerns over both the negative health and environmental effects of gas stoves, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has a new plan to find an energy-efficient and cost effective replacement. In a program called “The Induction Stove Challenge,” the city seeks to find a way to bring the eco-friendly technology into the homes of public housing residents.
The initiative resulting from a joint effort with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA), expected to launch this fall, will pit manufacturers and developers in a competition to come up with proposals for how to implement induction stoves into already developed NYCHA apartments. The key challenge will be in practically adapting new designs to be able to use the pre-existing standard 120-volt/20-amp outlets that come in older public housing complexes. Once the winning proposal is selected, the city will fund the installation of the new design into 100 NYCHA apartments as part of a test phase, with the city intending to purchase at least 10,000 if successful. The initiative’s ultimate goal is to promote more eco-friendly practices and eventually replace the gas stoves in all 177,000 NYCHA apartments.
Gas stoves pose the heath dangers for homes (Bloomberg)
Gas stoves have recently been the subject of much controversy since the CPSP (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) announced that they were considering banning them over the “silent hazard” they pose. Consistent usage of a gas stove in an enclosed space can result in higher levels of carbon dioxide, which according to a 2022 study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, is responsible for nearly 13% of current childhood asthma in the US and can exacerbate cardiovascular illnesses. In addition, a study published by researchers at Stanford University found that the levels of benzene, a gas linked to cancer, emitted from the appliance “can reach higher than those found in secondhand tobacco smoke.” This all comes on top of pre-existing concerns over the non-environmentally friendly nature of the stoves, as all of these toxic emissions not only endanger your health but are significant contributors to global climate change.
Induction stoves, on the other hand, laud many benefits. The technology, which is a form of electric stove, uses an electromagnetic field of energy to directly heat the metal of the pan, meaning that the surface doesn’t actually get hot. This fact indicates that the stoves would be safer for residents, especially in homes with children, as there would be a far lower risk of burns and accidental fires. They additionally heat up quickly and distribute heat evenly, reducing cooking times and energy consumption, making them significantly more energy-efficient than traditional gas or electric stoves. Perhaps most importantly, their electric nature leaves far less of an eco-footprint and eliminates the hazard of noxious gases leaking into one’s home. The one catch is that in order for the electromagnetic field to work, pots and pans must have an iron-based core, although since the city will also be funding the purchase of such cookware if necessary, it’s a moot point in this scenario.
Induction Stove implementation in the Bronx (The NYCHA Journal)
This is New York’s second largest action cautioning against gas stoves, following its ban of the appliance in all new developments last fall. Even though many are still very hesitant to transition, the gently assertive nature of these efforts mean that those not ready can remain unbothered all while solid progress in eliminating gas stoves is made. The Induction Stove Challenge is particularly admirable for its promotion of healthy economic competition, but more importantly for its service to those reliant on the city who might not otherwise be able to obtain an induction stove. Tackling the issue of gas stoves may seem small, but it is a prime example of how a government can effectively promote the health and safety of its citizens, modernize and improve everyday life, and take a tangible step towards eco-friendly living.
RESEARCH, NOTES, OR BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Comments