Scientists from the University of California San Diego report that switching from gas to electric stoves can lower hospitalizations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The findings were published in the journal PNAS and are informing policy discussions about home energy use in North America today.
A global team of researchers examined Ecuador’s health and environment after a program replaced gas stoves with induction cookers in 750,000 homes. The move is part of a broader effort to cut both pollution and energy costs by adopting cleaner cooking technology.
During the first six years of the program, from 2015 to 2021, greenhouse gas emissions fell by 7 percent. An analysis of 9.6 million hospitalizations showed that induction cooking contributed to better health outcomes in Ecuadorians overall. The benefit was especially notable for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, where the hospitalization risk declined by 2.11 percent.
Researchers also tracked 130 million household electricity bills per month during the period and calculated that the program led to a 5 percent rise in residential electricity use while cutting liquefied petroleum gas consumption by 7.5 percent. These shifts reflect a broader move toward electrified cooking and away from fossil fuel use in homes.
The program’s goal was to reduce LPG consumption and replace it with electricity generated from hydropower, aligning cooking energy choices with cleaner, renewable sources where available. The researchers note that such shifts can yield health and environmental co-benefits that may exceed initial expectations.
Gas stoves are responsible for a meaningful share of household emissions, and concerns about indoor air quality are driving interest in electric cooking across many nations, including the Netherlands, Australia, Nepal, Indonesia, and the United States. These regions are gradually steering homes toward electric cooking as part of broader energy and climate strategies.
The research highlights how rapid adoption of modern cooking technology can support both cleaner air and healthier living, while still meeting daily cooking needs and budget considerations for families.