Why is the CPSC only now considering a ban on the sale of gas ranges, which have been used for decades?
Question: The CPSC is considering banning the sale of gas ranges in the future. Gas ranges have been used for decades. Why now is a ban being considered?
Answer: We consulted with experts in the appliance industry who provided the following response:
Gas cooking appliances are installed in more than 40% of homes across the U.S., providing an affordable and positive experience for users. In recent years, some cities across the country have banned the use of gas in homes to meet climate change goals though electrification, thereby elevating the public debate and profile of gas appliances. Articles in recent media have pointed to the health effects of emissions of pollutants (including NOx, CO, PM 2.5 and other pollutants) from indoor cooking. Proper ventilation is an important component to ensuring better quality indoor air while cooking with gas or electric. In fact, EPA recommends using ventilation hoods or downdrafts and states that using a hood with a fan vented to the outdoors, and properly adjusting burners, greatly reduces exposure to pollutants during cooking. If a range hood is not installed, a wall or ceiling fan can be used while cooking, along with an open window to provide additional ventilation. CPSC is currently leading a robust task force that is focused solely on gas cooking air quality and includes a wide array of stakeholders and government officials, including EPA, CARB, and Health Canada. They are meeting regularly and having substantive discussion on possible solutions and proposals that could be made to standards bodies for implementation. A total ban on gas cooking appliances would remove an affordable and preferred technology from the market and would fail to address the overall concern of indoor air quality while cooking, because all forms of cooking, regardless of heat source, generate air pollutants, especially at high temperatures. A focus on increased use of ventilation would be an effective solution to improve indoor air quality while cooking.
Additional resources for readers:
· www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/process-reviewing-national-ambient-air-quality-standards
· www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/residential-indoor-air-quality-guideline-carbon-monoxide.html
· www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality
· To protect indoor air quality in airtight homes, California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Part 6 of the Title 24 Building Code, require new homes to have mechanical ventilation. www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/building-energy-efficiency-standards/2022-building-energy-efficiency
· Technical Memo on Updated Analysis from NO2 and PM25 Cooking Simulations to Inform Capture Efficiency Standards. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. efiling.energy.ca.gov/getdocument.aspx?tn=235477