All-Electric Construction Is a Clean Air and Climate Solution BY KELBE GOUPIL AND LOGAN MITCHELL, UTAH CLEAN ENERGY Homes account for about 20% of greenhouse gas emissions — and much of that is controlled by how energy efficient they are and what kind of appliances we use. In addition to the climate impact, natural gas combustion also contributes to poor outdoor and indoor air quality. Transitioning towards energy-efficient, all-electric homes tackles both of these problems. Thankfully, all-electric appliances like air-source heat pumps and electric cooktops are taking off across the country. Utah’s Historical Context A century ago, when cooking and heating were done with coal and wood, air quality conditions in Utah were atrocious. A study in the 1919-1920 winter heating season placed clay jars around the city to measure soot fall. The clay jars measured 3001000 tons of soot per square mile fell from the atmosphere — literally air you could chew. Natural gas, which is more accurately known as “methane gas” since it is 95% methane, was introduced in Salt Lake City in 1930 and was thought of as a “cure-all” to the air pollution challenges of those days. Initially, it was expensive to build out the gas distribution network, and adoption was limited to affluent early adopters. There was resistance from coal companies who provided coal to homes and businesses, but by the 1990s, residential coal consumption had virtually disappeared. Thus, the coalto-natural gas energy transition took about 60 years and led to a dramatic reduction in air pollution and improvements in quality of life. Today we’re in the next phase of building energy transition. As we move from gas to efficient all-electric-buildings, Utah will see improved air quality and truly sustainable communities. What is All-Electric and Why is it Better? It comes down to how you cool and heat your house, heat your water and cook your food. Electric homes opt for efficient electric heat pumps instead of gas-powered appliances like a furnace or gas water heater. They also use electric stoves instead of their gas counterparts. There’s been a lot of talk lately about gas stoves. You hear how gas stoves are toxic or that a U.S. federal agency is planning a nationwide ban on gas stoves. So, which is it? Is your gas stove killing you or is the controversy a tempest in a teapot? Let’s dig in. It is a proven fact that having a gas stove in your house poses a health risk by creating indoor air pollution. The impact gas stoves have on childhood asthma development is similar to a child being exposed to secondhand smoke. Gas stoves produce two kinds of indoor air pollution. First, your gas stove is burning gas and that combustion produces NOx pollution in your kitchen, which can far exceed air quality standards. Second, gas stoves leak gas, even when they’re turned off. We can’t forget that gas is 95% methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas that is severely hurting our climate. But it’s actually that other 5% that is a health risk in your home. A recent study found 296 unique Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in residential natural gas. If the word “volatile” didn’t make it clear, this includes 21 known hazardous air pollutants like benzene, hexane, toluene, and more. Although gas stoves have been recognized among air quality researchers as a health risk similar to secondhand smoking, nobody had calculated how many people are affected by it. Until now. A recent paper found that 12.7% of childhood asthma cases are associated with gas stove use. In the Intermountain West, we have slightly lower than average gas stove usage, so we’re likely closer to 10% of childhood asthma cases. Unfortunately, the number of homes with gas stoves has been climbing. From 2009 to 2020, there was a ~10% increase in gas stove use. It’s likely we’re increasing the amount of childhood asthma caused by gas stove usage. The size of a kitchen and how a stove is used (frequency, ventilation, etc.) factor into the level of risk posed by a gas stove. The health profile of those in the home is also important — children, older adults and those with existing respiratory conditions are at the highest risk for poor outcomes associated with indoor pollution. Those ready to ditch gas are in luck because there’s never been a better time! New induction stoves are more powerful and precise than gas stoves and are costcompetitive. They’re also easy to clean, don’t pollute indoor air, and don’t pump excess heat into your kitchen. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act has allocated millions of dollars in funding to states to provide rebates for energy-efficient electric appliances — including induction cooktops or ranges — to low- and moderate-income households. We are waiting for these rebate programs to be set up, but you can scan the QR code to calculate an initial estimate of how much you may be eligible for. https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ ira‑calculator 20 REFLEXION
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