Mary Rivera and her daughter Francelli Reyes were among the participants in WE ACT’s Out of Gas, In with Justice pilot study of how transitioning from a gas stove to an induction stove impacts indoor air quality.
REDUCING AIR POLLUTION IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Our Out of Gas, In with Justice Pilot Leads to Major Changes at NYCHA
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) announced the Induction Stove Challenge, with a goal of installing 10,000 pollution-free electric induction stoves in apartments. WE ACT for Environmental Justice is excited to see NYCHA take this important step to improve indoor air quality and quality of life for residents after conducting the pioneering pilot study that made this bigger project possible.
As you may recall, WE ACT for Environmental Justice released a report (PDF) on our Out of Gas, In with Justice pilot study earlier this year. We had studied the impact on indoor air quality and wellbeing when replacing gas stoves with induction stoves in a NYCHA development in the Bronx. Specifically, we measured nitrogen dioxide concentrations inside of people’s homes. Nitrogen dioxide is a harmful air pollutant produced from using gas stoves.
According to the American Lung Association, exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory issues and has been linked to asthma, cardiovascular issues, lower birth weights, and premature death. Despite federal regulations that limit outdoor exposure to nitrogen dioxide, there are no air quality standards for indoor exposure to this dangerous pollutant, despite the fact that Americans spend, on average, approximately 90 percent of our time indoors.
What did we learn from our pilot study?
We learned that gas stoves are a dangerous source of indoor air pollution. The households with induction stoves experienced a 35 percent reduction in daily nitrogen dioxide concentrations compared to those using gas stoves, when controlling for temperature and apartment-level factors. During isolated cooking tests, we found that nitrogen dioxide concentrations in kitchens with gas stoves were on average 190 percent higher than those with induction stoves. We also surveyed the participants to understand how they felt about the transition to induction stoves, and found that all participants unanimously loved their new stoves, citing increased safety, quality, and efficiency.
How has this inspired NYCHA?
NYCHA has since teamed up with New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to launch the Induction Stove Challenge, calling on appliance manufacturers to “design and produce energy-efficient, electric cooking systems to replace existing fossil fuel stoves while avoiding costly electrical upgrades in NYCHA buildings.”
The contest will launch later this year, and NYSERDA will purchase 100 of the winning electric induction stoves, which will be installed and tested in NYCHA apartments. If all goes well, NYCHA will purchase at least 10,000 more stoves and install those in its apartments. NYCHA’s goal is to eventually replace all gas stoves with induction stoves in its apartments.
This comes on the heels of a similar challenge in 2021 to design a heat pump that can be used in NYCHA apartments. Heat pumps, which run on electricity, have proven to be a better option for both heating and cooling an apartment. And NYCHA’s test installations for this have already begun. We commend NYCHA on taking tangible and creative steps to decarbonize their buildings that are home to nearly one million predominately Black and Latinx New Yorkers.
Clearly NYCHA learned a lot from our pilot study. And it's also worth noting that Mayor Eric Adams, once skeptical about induction stoves, now supports this transition.
You can learn more about Out of Gas, In with Justice here; learn about our work to address indoor air pollution here; and watch our Out of Gas, In with Justice video here.
