Replacing gas stoves with electric stoves greatly reduces asthma symptoms | Hacker News Reader

Replacing gas stoves with electric stoves greatly reduces asthma symptoms

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I would convert in an instant except for a couple of things.

1. An electrical stove requires running a 220 volt two-phase wire. Done to code, not hijacking the dryer outlet (which I would gladly do if I didn't respect the electrical codes)

2. Why pay a bunch of money for something I don't use?

I don't use the oven. I use a Wolf countertop because it actually regulates the temperature, and a hot plate or two for cooking because propane burns hot and I can't possibly simmer dishes without a highly wasteful diffuser.

I have backup power via propane and generator.

Yeah I don't trust this push for electrifying everything. The grid does regular brown outs across the US, especially in all the states that want Net Zero by 2030 or whenever, and I want some things to work without electricity. I just think it's insidious they shroud this by talking about asthma, as if these people can't change their own stoves or get better ventilation themselves.

Point for America's grid having serious reliability issues, and many gas stoves working fine during a blackout.

OTOH, 1/3 or so of American rent their homes - and most landlords will throw a big red flag if you try making such changes.

Then just pass a law that says tenants can request the change, especially if they use their own stove. Instead the agenda is removing the entire gas grid and make everything electric. This will strain the grid even more, make both rent and power more expensive and less reliable, and why exactly? Because some people have asthma?

I don't buy it because in CA so many houses/buildings still have asbestos and there is big sign that says "the premises of this building has asbestos and it is toxic" and on the lease you literally sign a disclaimer that says you acknowledge this building has asbestos and it's toxic (living in one for many years is high risk). Yet I don't see a push to rebuild all these buildings, but all of a sudden gas stoves are a problem even though we have gas stoves for centuries? Asking for transparency is reasonable here.

> Then just pass a law that says...

Issue #1 - I don't know if the US could pass a law saying that 2 + 2 = 4 these days.

Issue #2 - Even if a tenant has the spare $$$ lying around to buy an electric stove - rental units with gas stoves are seldom wired for electric. And a whole lotta landlords will find ways to inflict pain on tenants who forced them to drop $$$$ on upgrading things to allow that option.

Yes, I agree that many of the zealots for replacing fossil fuels with electric are poorly connected to practical realities. What I took exception to was your earlier assertion that people could freely chose to switch themselves, or to install serious ventilation systems.

(BTW, you might want to talk to somebody in the asbestos remediation business. IF the asbestos is sealed up and undisturbed, so it doesn't get into the air or lungs, THEN it's completely harmless. The problem is when people or events unseal the asbestos and mix it into the air.)

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