AP: New stove that plugs into a normal wall outlet could be major gain for health and the climate

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://apnews.com/article/climate-energy-gas-methane-pollution-emissions-stove-3facc7cc5390b97129dba4cd051206cc

New stove that plugs into a normal wall outlet could be major gain for health and the climate

BY ISABELLA O’MALLEY
Updated 1:52 PM EST, February 28, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — For years, Ed Yaker, treasurer of a New York City co-op with nearly 1,500 units, and fellow board members have dealt with gas leaks. It can mean the gas at an entire building is shut off, leaving residents unable to use a stove for months until expensive repairs are made to gas lines.

So Yaker was all in when he learned of a California startup called Copper that was manufacturing an electric stove and oven that could simply be plugged into a regular outlet. The sleek, standard four-burner electric induction stove runs on 120 volts, meaning there is no need to pay a licensed electrician thousands of dollars to rewire to 240 volts, which many electric stoves require.

“In terms of, ‘Is this the way to go?’ It’s a no brainer,” Yaker said, demonstrating a quart of water that boiled in about two minutes. His apartment is full of books, many on energy and climate change, and the energy efficiency was a motivation, too.

Then there are the health benefits of cooking with electricity. Gas stoves, which 47 million Americans use, release pollutants like nitrogen dioxide that has been linked to asthma and cancer-causing benzene.

…

[Shermann]

1. I'm not sure I like the idea of having a 5-kWh lithium-ion battery in my oven. How is that better than a 240-V circuit?

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. Many kitchens do not have a 240-V circuit

… The sleek, standard four-burner electric induction stove runs on 120 volts, meaning there is no need to pay a licensed electrician thousands of dollars to rewire to 240 volts, which many electric stoves require.

…

[Shermann]

5. I get it, it is for retrofit installations.

The headline sort of puffed this up to sound like a bigger breakthrough than it really is.

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. Expect the price to come down

From the article:

The manufacturer now has an agreement with the New York City Housing Authority to buy 10,000 stoves at a maximum price of $3,200 each, set to arrive in 2026.

These stoves are intended (as you say) for retrofits. For new home construction, a 240-V stove might be a better choice.

[SheltieLover]

4. It's not imo

[OnlinePoker]

3. They start at $6k

I'm pretty sure it would be cheaper for the rewire and a regular stove. Also, if the existing stoves are gas, it's unlikely there is an electrical outlet right there so you would have to drape the power cord over the kitchen counter to the nearest outlet.

https://copperhome.com/products/charlie

[Wicked Blue]

7. I've read there's a lot of concern about EMF radiation

emitted by induction stoves.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. I'd worry more about a cell phone or an electric blanket

When dealing with any sort of radiation, the “inverse square law” applies. A cell phone user typically holds a phone a very short distance from their brain for extended periods of time. (An electric blanket user obviously has an EMF emitter covering their entire body at very close range.)

While you could put your face against the stove’s burner, most people likely will not.

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/electromagnetic-fields-fact-sheet

[DingleBerryNW]

8. Very Cool

[eppur_se_muova]

10. With only two people in our household, we use our countertop toaster oven much more than our regular oven.

I know some folks are happy with a two-burner hot plate. No need for 240V.