Gas stoves could be on their way out. A federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves. For years, the case against gas stoves has been heating up.
Thirty-five percent of households in the United States use a gas stove, and the number approaches 70 percent in some states like California and New Jersey. This means that more than 40 million Americans have gas stoves in their homes.
A commissioner for the federal agency Consumer Product Safety Commission said the agency is considering banning gas stoves across the United States.
Agency Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. said gas stove usage is a “hidden hazard.”
“Any option is on the table. Products that can’t be made safe can be banned,” Trumka said.
The report said the agency plans “to take action” to address the indoor pollution caused by stoves.
The CPSC has been considering action on gas stoves for months.
The pollutants in gas stoves have been linked to asthma and worsening respiratory conditions.
A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that indoor gas stove usage is associated with an increased risk of current asthma among children.
The study, published in December 2022, found that almost 13 percent of current childhood asthma in the U.S. is attributable to gas stove use.
Now the CPSC says that it could be time for Americans to make a switch to electric stoves. The CPSC is planning on opening public comment on gas stove hazards over the winter.
The CPSC says an alternative to banning new gas stoves could be setting new standards on emissions from those appliances.
In the meantime, the government may offer a helping hand to households trying to make a switch to an electric stove.
The Inflation Reduction Act includes a nearly $850 rebate for those who make the switch to electric appliances. Plus, it includes an additional $500 to help cover the costs of converting.
But the American Gas Association says electric homes require “expensive retrofits” that could “significantly” drive up the overall cost of housing.
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