cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20498531
The financial part of the article is why we’re seeing extensive adoption in rural locations, where people depend on propane, but not in urban areas which are hooked up to the methane distribution system. Getting universal adoption is going to require making electricity cheap and providing support for the appliance switch itself.
Also, they reduce indoor air quality, with likely adverse health effects. And while the old resistance-based electric cooktops suck, induction is a completely different technology which works better than gas. Switching to induction is a no-brainer.
One of the biggest obstacles right now I think is that many houses weren’t wired for it, more and more electrical devices, old buildings aren’t capable of supporting them all. For example our kitchen barely supports a microwave which cannot be used at the same time as the toaster, an induction range would be at the sacrifice of another appliance. Of course people misconceptions about the effectiveness of induction as well.
One problem with induction is the cost. And the cost of wiring in the plug for it.
IKEA sells portable benchtop single-pot induction cooktops, at least in 220V Europe. Not sure if they’re viable with a 110V mains supply, though.
It is still expensive up front, though you can get out of the additional wiring by using a 120v+battery model.
Fuel costs for stoves are fairly small though compared with space heating and water heating.
As someone who grew up using an inexpensive resistive stove; they’re really not that bad once used to their quarks and slowness in changing temperature. If anything, I burned far more food trying to learn a friend’s gas stove than I ever did with my old resistive heater.
Saying that, after picking up a really nice used portable induction burner, they are genuinely a upgrade, besides the limitation in pan size due to burner size, which doesn’t really exist for other types of stove.
The greatest benefit to a smart induction burner is the precision maintaining a particular temp, alongside the efficiency gains which lead to much less wasted heat in the house during summer.
Yeah, the kitchen appliances carry the emotional appeal and direct personal risk from pollution, but the big fuel consumption is actually hot water heating and space heating. Changing those tends to be where the financial decision is.
Unless you are very priveleged (as in your electricity needs are met by your own generation completely and you have backup generation as well) you should not, it would bite you in the ass when bad weather or something way less cool will destroy your centralised power lines and/or power plant.
One worry is earthquakes, which can sever or crack gas lines.
Earthquakes is a worry but you can switch your stove to gas cylinder in less than 20 minutes, and they store for 2-3 years.
