flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

The argument against gas stoves includes degraded indoor air quality

Codes and Standards

The argument against gas stoves includes degraded indoor air quality

Asthma seems to be aggravated by cooking with flame.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | November 3, 2020
gas stove with flame

Courtesy Pixabay

The environmental argument for banning gas appliances from new construction projects often centers on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but another justification is to improve indoor air quality.

Indeed, cooking on a gas stove releases nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide—some of the same fumes found in car exhaust. Brief exposures to air with high concentrations of NO2 can lead to coughing and wheezing for people with asthma or other respiratory afflictions, and prolonged exposure can contribute to the development of those conditions, according to the EPA.

Homes with gas stoves can contain 50% to 400% higher concentrations of NO2 than homes with electric stoves. These levels of indoor air pollution would be illegal outdoors.

Standard electric stoves do not release such indoor pollutants, but they do consume more total energy than gas stoves. Electric induction ranges use less energy, but only work with certain cookware, and are more expensive. Induction cooking also takes some getting used to, with cooks facing a learning curve to prepare certain foods.

About 30 California communities are moving toward all-electric building codes. Cities in other states are also moving to do the same or are considering bans.

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Nov 11, 2019

New retrofit design guide for metal roofing published

Metal Construction Association document provides best practices for re-roofing with metal.

Codes and Standards | Nov 8, 2019

New York City among the top hotel construction pipelines in the United States

Hotels presently under construction are at 102 projects/17,504 rooms.

Codes and Standards | Nov 7, 2019

Group focused on using AI for construction safety gains key members

Major contractors join partnership to share data to predict hazards, incidents.

Codes and Standards | Nov 6, 2019

Undisclosed ICC agreement with NAHB alleged to thwart more stringent efficiency codes

Homebuilders’ seats on ICC made it easier to block new provisions, report alleges.

Codes and Standards | Nov 4, 2019

ASHRAE releases new version of energy efficiency standard for buildings

Standard 90.1 includes revisions of envelope, lighting, HVAC provisions.

Codes and Standards | Oct 31, 2019

FEMA, ICC release updated guide on integrating I-Codes into floodplain management regulations

Provides advice on satisfying requirements for the National Flood Insurance Program.

Codes and Standards | Oct 30, 2019

ILFI releases new version of Living Building Challenge Framework for Affordable Housing

Document includes updated findings, case studies, new strategies for financing, designing, building affordable housing.

Codes and Standards | Oct 28, 2019

U.S. military demands landlords address health hazards in troop housing

Air Force threatens formal dispute process.

Codes and Standards | Oct 24, 2019

ASHRAE design contest winners demonstrate building resilience

Model building, a city hall, could operate without utility service for two weeks.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021