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You may have heard in the news that there is a gas ban taking affect in New York City and one proposed for New York State. Let’s take a closer look at that and whether buying a propane stove is a good idea.
Propane has a lot to offer your Central or Western New York home. Propane is extremely versatile, and efficient. Using propane as a source of energy also has environmental benefits. That’s why propane is such a popular choice and is used in a wide variety of residential and commercial settings.
Propane is also very safe. It has an exceptional safety record thanks in large part to strict government and industry regulations. Propane is non-toxic, so in the rare event of a spill, you don’t have to worry about it causing damage to the nearby organisms, water, or soil. In addition, propane produces minimal emissions.
You may have heard that in New York City, starting next year, certain types of buildings will have a gas stove ban. In most cases, builders will no longer be able to install any equipment that relies on a fossil fuel in new constructions. What’s more, our governor is an advocate for a similar ban in new constructions throughout New York State as of 2025. She is also an advocate for banning the sale of all heating equipment that burns fossil fuels beginning in 2030. That would include oil and gas boilers and furnaces.
However, the ban on heating equipment does not apply to gas stoves. And there is the chance that newly-constructed restaurants would receive exceptions.
It’s also important to note that any ban enacted would not force residents to remove their existing gas stoves. The rumors that the U.S. government plans to confiscate existing gas stoves from all homes is utterly false. These bans only affect new constructions.
What is the motivation for the (proposed) bans? Concerns about climate change. That’s because it was estimated that a significant percentage of emissions could be attributed to natural gas. Then there was a shift from environmental concerns to health concerns. This was largely due to a recent study that indicated the potential for indoor air pollution hazards with the use of gas stoves.
However, you should know that presently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is simply seeking to obtain public input on hazards associated with gas stoves. (The CPSC is the government agency that seeks to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with faulty consumer products.)
Do you need to worry your gas stove will make you sick? The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has argued that different studies have produced different results in terms of the adverse impact to indoor air that different types of stoves produce. They further argue that the sample size of one study (known as the Stanford study) is extremely small. Furthermore, it’s based on unrealistic cooking conditions. In addition, electric stoves are not without their drawbacks. They also produce particulate matter and can emit dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde.
What does this all mean for you? Tucker Perkins, president of PERC, had this to say, “Rather than gas bans, states should focus on natural gas supply chains and mitigate potential hazards…. This, along with proper installation, ventilation, and yearly checkups by qualified technicians constitutes a common-sense approach to addressing health and safety concerns around gas appliances.”
Make it Irish Propane. Our fourth generation, family-owned, certified women’s enterprise will deliver for you and your family.
If you’re looking for a reliable propane supplier in or around the Rochester or Buffalo areas of New York, choose Irish Propane. Contact us today to become a customer or to learn more.
