In New York City, Ed Yaker, treasurer of a co-op with nearly 1,500 units, and his fellow board members have long contended with gas leaks, which can lead to gas being shut off in entire buildings. This leaves residents without stove use for extended periods while costly repairs are undertaken. Yaker was intrigued when he discovered Copper, a California startup producing an electric stove and oven that merely needs to be plugged into a standard outlet. This model requires a typical 120-volt outlet, bypassing the need for a costly rewiring to 240 volts, a necessity for many electric stoves.
“The decision was obvious,” Yaker noted, as he demonstrated the stove’s efficiency by boiling a quart of water in approximately two minutes. His apartment is a testament to his interests in energy and climate change, with numerous books on the subjects, underscoring his motivation for energy efficiency.
Electricity-powered cooking also offers health advantages. Millions of Americans use gas stoves, which emit pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and benzene, linked to asthma and cancer, respectively. Rob Jackson, a Stanford University environmental scientist, explained that the pollutants from gas stoves are akin to car exhaust, posing a real health risk.
Jackson’s research revealed how swiftly pollutants escalate from gas stoves each time they’re used, which prompted him to transition to an electric stove. Induction stoves offer a path to mitigate the environmental impact buildings have through their emissions from everyday functions like cooking and heating.
Gas stoves lose about half of the flame’s heat to the surrounding air, whereas electric stoves, particularly induction models, boast higher efficiency. Induction stoves reach up to 90% efficiency, focusing their heat only on the contacting surface with the pot.
Even when turned off, gas stoves contribute to greenhouse gas emissions due to methane leaks from fittings and connections. This leakage’s environmental impact mirrors the carbon emissions of half a million gasoline-powered cars in the U.S.
The Copper stove includes a smart battery that charges when electricity is cheap, cutting costs for users by avoiding peak-rate charges. However, these stoves are an investment. Early adopters look to government incentives to mitigate their cost. When Yaker, a frugal former teacher, purchased his stove, it was priced at $6,000; a federal tax credit lowered it to $4,200.
Copper has secured a deal with the New York City Housing Authority for 10,000 stoves, priced at $3,200 each, expected to arrive in 2026. Meanwhile, Eden Housing in California has retrofitted a building with Copper stoves through state programs and aims for further acquisitions.
“I love it; it’s stylish, functional, and easy to maintain,” said Jolene Cardoza. Her daughter’s asthma, previously exacerbated by a gas stove, is now alleviated by the Copper’s lack of pollutants. Yet, some find the shift to induction cooking challenging, as Monica Moore expressed dissatisfaction with the stove’s impact on oven cooking, particularly the texture of her cornbread. She appreciates its rapid boiling but misses cooking with a flame and found replacing her cookware arduous.
For Jackson, however, this transition is crucial. “Electrifying homes and cars is essential to curbing personal greenhouse gas emissions,” he stated, noting the importance of starting with these areas to reduce one’s environmental impact.
