Philadelphia Medicine Spring 2020 - 31

Hence, we have our own conflict of interest with regard to natural
gas. Sell more and worsen climate change? Or find ways in which we
can reduce and even eliminate burning natural gas? And even beyond
the health issues of fracking (see Philadelhia Medicine, Winter 2019),
gas has its own problems.
Few have looked at the problems of gas stoves, but a study from the
Home Energy Efficiency Team (heetma.org) in Massachusetts reviewed
the pediatric literature looking specifically at nitrogen dioxide and
found that children in homes with gas stoves had a 24% increased
lifetime risk of asthma. Children with asthma fared better in homes
with an exhaust fan, but many do not use their exhaust fan or the
fan merely recirculates the NO2. By switching gas stoves to electric
units, families were able to decrease their median circulating NO2
concentration by 42% suggesting a major benefit from electrifying
their homes and reducing the risk of asthma, which is the leading
medical excuse for missing school.
The passive house concept considers how do we make the most
energy-efficient homes possible? And can we build these homes using
only electricity for heating, cooling, and cooking? What if we could
actually power passive homes with solar panels and battery backup
using heat pumps and induction stoves, essentially eliminating fossil
fuel burning? And what about old buildings like mine? Passive House
architects and engineers via Green Building United, our regional
sustainable building organization, are currently writing a manual for
retrofitting rowhomes to this standard.

Heat pumps and induction stoves are proven technologies that
run on electricity. Heat pumps have the ability to heat in the winter
and cool in the summer. Combining heat pumps with passive house
design could transform our buildings into All-electric models of
efficiency without gas. Induction stoves are wicked fast in heating
food and keeping it at a low simmer. They are even being adopted by
energy-conscious restaurants with their demanding need to prepare
meals fast. And the stove doesn't get hot, reducing the risk of burns.
Exhaust fans are replaced with the energy recovery ventilation
systems which preheat or precool the incoming filtered air with the
70-degree indoor air, saving electricity while increasing indoor air quality.
As Philadelphia considers how it
will reduce our carbon footprint, it is
time to plan for heat pumps, inductions stoves, and passive buildings as we
build a carbon-free and healthier city. *
Dr. Tsou is a longtime PCMS member
and interim executive director of the
Philadelphia Chapter of Physicians for
Social Responsibility.

Spring 2020 : Philadelphia Medicine 31
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Philadelphia Medicine Spring 2020

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