Editor's Note: The following is part of a class project originally initiated in the classroom of Ball State University professor Adam Kuban in fall 2021. Kuban continued the project this spring semester, challenging his students to find sustainability efforts in the Muncie area and pitch their ideas to Deanna Watson, editor of The Star Press, Journal & Courier and Pal-Item. Several such stories are being featured this spring.

MUNCIE, Ind. — The federal government is allocating money to help Hoosiers switch from gas to electric stoves as new research raises health concerns associated with gas stove use.

According to the Energy Information Administration, Indiana ranks ninth in the number of households with gas stoves out of all 50 states. Forty percent of Indiana households are cooking with gas. But, after recent research found gas stove use is correlated with an increase in childhood asthma diagnoses, some experts are suggesting homeowners should reconsider gas stove use.

According to a 2022 study by Gruenwald, Seals, Knibbs and Hosgood published in the “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health”, 12.7% of childhood asthma cases in the U.S. could be attributed to gas stove use. The four researchers used data from the American Housing Survey to estimate the number of children living in homes with gas stoves and theorized those cases of asthma could be prevented if gas stoves were not used. They found for states like Indiana, where gas stove use is above the national average, the prevention rate would theoretically be even higher.

Previous research has demonstrated that air pollutants created by gas stove use can trigger respiratory diseases. A 2022 study by Lebel, Finnegan, Ouyang and Jackson published in the “Environmental Science & Technology” journal found when families don’t use range hoods or live in a home with poor ventilation air quality can become unsafe in just a few minutes of use.

Christopher Porter, a registered respiratory therapist for IU Health Riley Hospital for Children, said the results of the study didn’t surprise him.

“Obviously the study has shown a correlation with higher incidence of asthma in children that live in a home with a gas stove,” Porter said. “With children with asthma, any type of air-contaminant pollutant can irritate the airways.”

The study sparked discussion on a national level after an agency commissioner for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) suggested a ban could be considered if gas stoves were unsafe. The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre quickly clarified in a press conference the Biden Administration had no intention to ban gas stoves, but some congressional lawmakers signed a letter, calling for the CPSC to place other restrictions on gas stoves that would decrease health risks.

Indiana Rep. André Carson joined the group of lawmakers who called for restrictions including: mandatory stove performance standards, labels warning users about exposure risks and requiring gas stoves to be sold with range hoods to remove pollutants. The letter stated mandatory performance standards should address gas leakage increasing air pollutants with measures such as requiring automatic shut-off valves.

While federal action on gas-stove regulation is still up in the air, Hoosiers are protected from local regulations. State law HEA 1191 from 2021 prevents cities and towns from regulating or banning the sale of gas appliances.

Porter said research indicates a ban on gas stoves would result in a reduction in asthma diagnoses, but he said gas stoves are only one contributing factor.

“I have a gas-burning stove myself,” Porter said. “But I do think it’s important that people are aware of the risk factors of that. Especially with young children in their home. So that way, they can turn on that fan, get that air purifier or simply open up the window.”

Porter said gas stoves can become unsafe when they are used improperly or when a building is not up to code.

Experts recommend gas-stove owners should use ventilation systems like a range hood every time they cook, but a study published in 2020 by Zhao, Chan, Delp, Tang, Walker and Singer in the “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” found homeowners use range hoods less than half of the time. 

Indiana building codes require homes to follow guidelines for safe installment of gas stoves, but Dr. Sherif Attallah, an associate professor of construction management at Ball State University, said not all homes are up to code.

“Most of the houses that are around us have things that are code violations,” Attallah said. “As a homeowner, you should make sure that your house is per code.”

Attallah said most new buildings are built up to code, but older homes that were built before state building codes were updated may not have proper ventilation systems. If homeowners are worried about the safety of their gas stove, Attallah said they should speak with a mechanical contractor.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency building codes are updated every three years, but Attallah said things like home sales and renovations can impact building code compliance. He recommends looking at a few key characteristics of a stove and comparing it to installment guidelines from the manufacturer.

“Look at the location of the stove. Look at the connections. Look at the duct work. Look at the ventilation. Where is it going?” Attallah said.

Homeowners who are concerned about gas stove use also have the option to switch to an electric stove instead. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act includes money for rebates that help cover the cost of switching.       

Caroline Jones, a digital public relations associate for Today’s Homeowner, said Indiana ranks 11th on the list of states that could receive the most rebates, but the amount of money dedicated to the program is limited.

“For the amount of people that have gas stoves in the country, there’s not enough money set aside that’s going to be there for everyone to put toward electronic stoves,” Jones said. “It’s definitely beneficial to go ahead and act on this rebate program.”

Jones said money for the program is likely limited because not every household is expected to switch to a new stove. But by collecting receipts and keeping track of expenses from switching, homeowners can prepare to apply and ensure they collect their rebate early on while funding is still available.

The state government will determine what amount of money each household could get and how Hoosiers can claim the rebates after it receives program funding from the federal government. Funding is expected to be distributed in late 2023. Guidelines in the Inflation Reduction Act suggest the cost of a new stove should be half or fully covered depending on household income.