99% Invisible – 547- Cooking with Gas

Intro

In this episode of 99% Invisible, titled “Cooking with Gas,” the podcast explores the history and implications of gas stoves in American homes. It delves into the political battle surrounding gas stoves, their impact on indoor air quality and health, and the growing movement towards electrification. From the advertising campaigns that promoted gas stoves as superior to the electric alternative to the concerns over health and climate, this episode examines the complex relationship between Americans and their stoves.

Main Takeaways

The Gas Stove’s Influence on Health and Climate

• Gas stoves have become the subject of a political battle in Washington due to growing concerns about their impact on indoor air quality and health.
• The gas industry has spent the past hundred years selling Americans on the gas stove as superior to the electric alternative, using advertising to convince consumers that gas stoves are classier, more functional, and better at cooking food.
• The gas industry has also worked to obscure and dispute scientific evidence that gas stoves are bad for our health.
• Gas stoves have become a status symbol, perpetuated by imagery around expensive, huge ranges in gleaming large homes.
• The history of the gas stove and its popularity has significant implications for our health and the climate, and it’s important to understand how we got to this place and why Americans have so many feelings about our stoves.
• Gas stoves could be causing asthma in children and have significant implications for health and the climate.
• Pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and benzene are of concern in gas cooking emissions and can have severe health effects.
• Gas stove pollution contributes to poor air quality outside and helps form ozone, also called smog.
• Gas appliances and infrastructure contribute to global warming through methane emissions.

The Marketing and Advertising of Gas Stoves

• Gas stove advertising dates back to the early 20th century, where gas was competing with wood and coal appliances and electricity.
• The gas industry used marketing strategies such as influencer campaigns and the phrase “cooking with gas” to promote their products.
• Gas stove sales increased from practically non-existent to 30% during the 1970s and to about 50% in 2019 in single-family American homes.
• The gas industry was aware of health concerns such as carbon monoxide poisoning from the start, but more scientific papers in the 1950s and 1960s brought greater scrutiny to the industry.
• The gas industry disputed scientific concerns around the risks of gas cooking emissions, similar to the tobacco industry’s response to smoking risks.

The Battle for Gas Stove Regulation

• Congress held hearings on indoor air quality and gas in the 1980s, but the issue was dropped despite being on the cusp of possible regulation.
• Local regulations are being enacted to phase out gas in new construction in several states.
• Regulations are centered around both climate change and indoor air quality concerns.
• The gas industry has fought against heightened regulation on the local level.
• Anti-electrification campaigns launched by industry with deep resources.
• Republican states passing legislation blocking cities from banning gas appliances in new construction.
• Gas stove debate becoming a culture war with blue-red divide.
• Demographics not in favor of gas industry if blue states turn their back on gas appliances.
• The gas industry recognizes this emotional attachment and uses it to drive people to object to electrification.
• The Biden administration is pushing voluntary consumer incentives for electrification, not mandating it, while some states are taking different approaches, such as warning labels on gas.
• The movement towards banning gas stoves has more momentum than it did 40 years ago due to the urgency of addressing climate change.

Summary

The Impact of Gas Stoves on Health and Climate

Gas stoves have become a contentious issue due to concerns about their impact on indoor air quality and health. The gas industry has long promoted gas stoves as superior to electric alternatives, using advertising to shape consumer perceptions. However, scientific evidence has shown that gas stoves can be detrimental to our health, causing asthma in children and emitting pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and benzene. Additionally, gas stove pollution contributes to poor air quality and helps form ozone. Furthermore, gas appliances and infrastructure contribute to global warming through methane emissions.

The Marketing Tactics of the Gas Industry

The gas industry has employed various marketing strategies to promote gas stoves. From influencer campaigns to the iconic phrase “cooking with gas,” the industry has successfully convinced consumers of the superiority of gas stoves. Despite being aware of health concerns, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, the gas industry disputed scientific evidence and downplayed the risks of gas cooking emissions, drawing parallels to the tobacco industry’s response to smoking risks.

The Battle for Gas Stove Regulation

The regulation of gas stoves has been a contentious issue. While Congress held hearings on indoor air quality and gas in the 1980s, the issue was ultimately dropped. However, local regulations are now being enacted to phase out gas in new construction, driven by concerns over climate change and indoor air quality. The gas industry has fought against heightened regulation, launching anti-electrification campaigns and influencing legislation in Republican states. The gas stove debate has become a culture war, with a divide between blue and red states. The emotional attachment to gas stoves makes it challenging for people to switch to electric cooking, and the gas industry capitalizes on this attachment to drive opposition to electrification. The Biden administration is pushing voluntary consumer incentives for electrification, while some states are taking different approaches, such as warning labels on gas. The movement towards banning gas stoves has gained momentum due to the urgency of addressing climate change.

Conclusion

The debate surrounding gas stoves goes beyond mere kitchen appliances. It involves complex issues of health, climate change, and cultural identity. As concerns over indoor air quality and the environment grow, the movement towards electrification gains momentum. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations and emotional attachments to gas stoves need to be addressed. The gas industry, recognizing the potential decline of its industry, fights against heightened regulation. The future of gas stoves and their role in American homes remains uncertain, but the urgency of addressing climate change and improving indoor air quality calls for a reevaluation of our relationship with our stoves.