Air Quality & Health Are Top of Mind​

We are learning more about the health risks from methane gas, and the implications are stark.

Combustion from methane-powered ("natural gas") appliances, including HVAC systems, water heaters and gas stoves, can lead to indoor air pollution levels that exceed EPA’s legal limits for outdoor air pollution – and these appliances are responsible for 10% of US greenhouse gas emissions.

Plus, these appliances are found to leak methane even when turned off.

We don’t regulate indoor air the same way we have standards for outdoor pollution. Yet we spend up to 90% of our time indoors.

Homes with gas stoves have 50 - 400% higher NO2 emissions than homes with electric stoves. Studies show exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide can lead to asthma, learning deficits, and cardiovascular issues in children. A peer-reviewed study from December 2022 found that nearly 13% of U.S. childhood asthma cases can be attributed to the use of gas stoves.

(More information about gas stoves and health can be found via the links under "Learn More.")

"Greening the Grid" Also Matters

Swapping out gas-powered appliances for electric ones can help address indoor air pollution. However, electricity powered by fossil fuels - coal or methane gas - still results in outdoor air pollution.

We've talked lots about the need to curb CO2 emissions (which is still so important!), but, by in large, we haven't talked much about the importance of decreasing our methane use until recently.

Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than CO2, but is more efficient at trapping radiation than CO2. Pound for pound, the comparative impact of methane is 25 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year period.1

Studies over the past decade, and especially in the past few years, have shown that:
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1. Methane gas leaks at all stages from drilling to end use.
2. This methane is dangerous to breath.
3. The "end use" is significantly raising the leakage rate to over 2% of all methane. 

Methane gas is, simply put, a fossil fuel with significant global warming potential. It must be addressed and a great place to start is by removing it from our homes.

Learn More:

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• Volts Podcast: Fine, we're doing gas stoves
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• RMI + others 2020 publication: Health effects from gas stoves.  
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• NPR: We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change.
  
  
• VOX: The next frontier for climate action is the great indoors
  
  
• NYT: the case for induction cooking
  
  
• Washington Post: Gas stoves in kitchens pose a risk to public health and the planet, research finds.
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• Yale Climate Connections: Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?

 

• Carbon Switch has a helpful Induction Stoves & Cooktop Buyer's Guide.
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• A pilot program in New York recently demonstrated significant air quality benefits from switching from gas to electric stoves.​

• From Canary Media: Gas stoves are a health hazard - an induction stoves just work better.

 

• The IRA includes a $840 rebate (depending on income) for induction stoves, plus up to $500 more if you’re switching from gas - though it’s not available quite yet. Ready to replace your stove now? Save your receipt! Need to wait? Minimize your health risks by using other electric appliances as much as possible for cooking and using ventilation.

We know the grid has the potential to become cleaner as utilities continue to transition to renewable energy sources.  For instance, from 2005 - 2020, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption in the Montana electric power sector decreased by approximately 38%. And in 2021, renewable energy sources accounted for 63% of Montana’s generating capacity. We must continue the push for investment in solar, wind, hydro and other renewable energy sources and not consider moving to methane gas as part of the solution.

Learn more about oil and gas pollution in Montana from our friends at MEIC. ​