The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes new standards to regulate the use of gas stoves. The announcement comes after controversy heated up over a possible ban on the appliances. The controversy sparked after The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissioner (CPSC) called gas stoves “hidden hazards.” Commissioner Rich Trumpka Jr. added that any product that can’t be made safe could be banned.

Moreover, the new standards proposed will explore technologically feasible avenues to achieve maximum improvement in energy efficiency and affordability. The DOE proposal states “The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (‘EPCA’), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer conventional cooking products.”

The Department of Energy says it isn’t just concerned with the potential health impacts gas stoves could cause. According to the DOE, gas appliances also use more energy and the costs of use are higher as well. The DOE’s proposed new standards go on to say “The proposed standards for consumer conventional cooking products are projected to yield significant environmental benefits.”

Backlash Leads to New Standards

The new standards follow backlash sparked early this year as news of a possible ban emerged. The chair of the CPSC, Alexander Hoehn-Saric, immediately clarified that a ban on gas stoves was unlikely.

Research indicates that emissions from gas stoves can be hazardous, and the CPSC is looking for ways to reduce related indoor air quality hazards, but to be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so.”

Alexander Hoehn-Saric – Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair

The overall health concerns surrounding the use of indoor gas are not new. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health recently published findings that gas stoves are responsible for 12.7 percent of childhood asthma. Despite concern, Federal Agencies estimate nearly 40 million American households now use gas as a source for energy. Finally, The CPSC says there is an incentive for those who want to make the switch from gas to electric stoves. The Inflation Reduction Act also includes an $840 tax rebate for Americans who make the switch.