Canada’s cities lack the authority they need to quit natural gas, but it’s an important step in lowering urban carbon footprints
Jodie Johnson in front of her beloved gas stove, which she says she will trade out at the end of its lifetime for a greener alternative. Photo by Jesse Winter
By Cloe Logan
Like many foodies, Jodie Johnson likes to cook with cast-iron cookware on her gas stove — the open flame gets her pans from a little bit warm to piping hot in a matter of seconds.
However, her stove’s environmental impact hasn’t sat well with her for years. Johnson, who lives in a circa-1920s home in Vancouver, has slowly been swapping her polluting appliances for cleaner alternatives — she now has an electric fireplace rather than gas, which keeps her warm, along with electric floor heating. She plans to swap her 1990s Honda CR-V out for a hybrid once it dies, too.
“You sort of have to balance the new with the old and try to be aware of the choices you make and how important they are,” she said.
In Johnson’s home city, 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, mostly from burning natural gas for cooking, heating and hot water. The majority of its climate impact comes from boilers and water heaters, but gas stoves also play a role.
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