The US public-housing system provides a vital service to hundreds of thousands of low-income families, many of whom are Black or Hispanic. The condition and availability of these homes are a crucial factor in achieving health equity. Upgrading gas stoves and appliances to electric ones would be a significant step in this direction.
The Biden administration has taken notable steps to improve the public housing stock, introducing long-overdue safety standards and energy efficiency upgrades. However, there is still much to be done. Recognizing gas stoves and appliances as a public health threat, it is essential to develop a plan to transition public housing units to modern electric appliances.
Research has shown that gas and propane stoves can expose residents to high levels of nitrogen dioxide, a potent pollutant that can drift throughout the home, putting family members at risk. In fact… cooking fuel is the primary predictor of nitrogen dioxide exposure in homes, “perpetuating health disparities.” The gas industry has attempted to downplay these risks, “using tactics reminiscent of those employed by the tobacco industry.” The Public Health Law Center has published a report, “Cooking with Smoke,” which documents the gas industry’s efforts to mislead the public about the dangers of gas appliances.
The report notes that the industry frequently positions people of color as opponents to health-protective regulations… as seen in the case of a PR firm’s false claim that the NAACP opposed a proposal to limit gas hookups in San Luis Obispo. It is imperative that policymakers prioritize public health over industry interests.
By transitioning public housing units to electric appliances, we can reduce the burden of nitrogen dioxide pollution and create a healthier environment for low-income families. This transition would be a significant step towards achieving health equity and reducing health disparities. For valuable information on the impact of gas stoves and appliances on public health, readers can consult the article “To Cook or Not to Cook on a Gas Stove” published by STAT.
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T he nation’s public-housing system provides homes to hundreds of thousands of low-income families, many of them Black or Hispanic. That makes availability and condition of public housing an enormously important factor in health equity. Replacing gas stoves and appliances in these homes with electric ones would advance equity.
The Biden administration has initiated meaningful improvements and investments to the public housing stock in the U.S. These have included establishing long-overdue basic safety standards like ensuring that all public housing units are equipped with carbon monoxide alarms, and updating energy efficiency standards, which will make families more comfortable and save money.
But it needs to go further. Gas stoves and appliances are now well established as a threat to public health. Residents of public housing deserve a plan to transition their homes to modern electric appliances.
