Approximately 7% of all US greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuels burned in the home for heating, cooking, cooling and more.
It's bad for the climate and sometimes bad for your health. In addition to the emissions that warm these planets, gas stoves release toxic contaminants directly into the home.
However, depending on where you live, there may be alternatives. In many places, electricity is increasingly coming from renewable sources like wind and sun, rather than fossil fuels like coal. Therefore, replacing natural gas appliances with electrical equipment may reduce their contribution to climate change and save the lungs.
However, the way to do this is a personal choice that depends on many factors. Here are some things to consider.
What is your goal?
Deciding whether to remove the gas appliance depends on the machine in question and what you are trying to achieve.
Natural gas is used in 61% of US homes, according to the Energy Information Agency. In these households, gas appliances produce approximately 2 tons of carbon dioxide per person per year.
Furnaces burn about 70% of the gas in those homes. So, if you are worried about emissions, one of the most effective things you can do in your home is to replace your gas furnace with an electric heat pump if you can afford it.
“We've seen a lot of effort into making it,” said Rob Jackson, an environmental scientist at Stanford University.
Carlos Gould, an environmental health scientist at the University of California, San Diego, says stoves are also prone to leakage. In other words, methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that is the main ingredient in natural gas, could be running away from the stove, stove fixtures and gas pipes into the kitchen.
“There's some evidence that gas leaks slowly, even if you're not using them,” Dr. Gould said of the gas stove.
Do I need to wait for the gas appliance to go out?
Generally, environmentally speaking, replacing a fully functional product with a new product is not a good idea. “Products come with emissions embodied from production,” Dr. Gould said. “So you hear the mantra, hear the “reduce, reuse, recycle.” ”
However, there are exceptions to all rules.
Gas appliances can last for decades, but because of all of these emissions, it may be one of the rare cases where it makes sense to throw away the machine before its useful life ends, at least from an environmental and health perspective.
“If you want to save the climate, you don't have the luxury of continuing to use them,” Dr. Jackson said.
You need to see how much energy is from the local grid from renewable sources. “We're looking forward to seeing you get a lot of money,” said Mara Hammerle, an energy and climate economist at the Sydney Policy Development Centre in Australia.
How about money?
Gas furnaces are generally less efficient than electric heat pumps. Whether or not you save money in the long term by switching depends on the electricity price, climate and home efficiency in your area.
Even if these calculations support heat pumps, the advance costs of switching can be prohibitive. Replacing a gas furnace usually costs thousands of dollars. Sometimes tens of thousands. And tariffs imposed by the Trump administration could further increase prices.
However, there are several ways to cover the costs. In the US, homeowners who move to electricity can get tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, but Republicans in Congress are trying to repeal that measure. Electronics can also be paired with solar panels, further reducing your energy bill.
However, switching appliances may not be possible for anyone.
If you rent, your landlord is probably not keen to spend the money. Changing HVAC systems in condos and cooperatives can also be complicated. Or maybe you can't afford it.
In these cases, “'You're' is completely different from 'Can You',” Dr. Hammerle said.
There are still tricks to reduce gas use without a complete overhaul. If the dryer is running on gas, consider air drying your clothes. Electric space heaters and fans can supplement gas-powered heating and cooling systems. Similarly, using affordable appliances such as rice cultivation, toaster ovens and kettles can reduce gas rock cooking. Check out our energy efficiency rating.
“I'm a tenant and I don't have the option to replace the gas appliance,” Dr. Gould said. However, he places two electric induction burners directly on the gas stove. “I use them in almost every dish,” he said.
