3 ms·

Natural gas is far cheaper, so I'll stick with that. Even though I love the idea of an easy to clean stovetop. My electric bill is already out of control (Cal

Natural gas is far cheaper, so I'll stick with that. Even though I love the idea of an easy to clean stovetop. My electric bill is already out of control (California).

upofadown 5y ago
You might want to do the math. Induction is quite a lot more efficient at actually heating the food. Even regular electric is more efficient at heating the food than gas.
- londons_explore 5y ago
  When gas is 4x cheaper per kWh, electric isn't going to win cost-wise, even if 100% efficient.
  - Wowfunhappy 5y ago
    Have you done that math? The "even if 100% efficient" doesn't sound right to me. Wouldn't that imply gas cooking is 25% efficient? Admittedly, induction isn't 100% efficient, but it's very efficient! A gas flame heats up everything around it, whereas induction only heats up your cookware. The surface of an induction stove without any cookware is cool to the touch; in other cases, it's warm only due to the heat radiated back from your cookware.
    - londons_explore 5y ago
      Induction also heats up the power electronics inside the cooker. That's why they need a beefy cooling fan. I have done the math... Induction is 84% efficient, and gas is 40% efficient. So for most people, gas is still cheaper, unless you live in an area with very cheap hydroelectric.
      - Wowfunhappy 5y ago
        Gas is 40% efficient at heating food? Where are you getting these numbers? I have no counter information here, but that just doesn't seem intuitively correct at all. With gas, you're creating a fire that is heating up everything around it!
        londons_explore 5y ago
        Source: https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2014/data/papers/9-702.pdf https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2014/data/papers/9-7... Note that the 84% number is for a prototype model... 77% is for an on-the-market model, and it is beaten in efficiency by conventional electric for cookware matched in size to the heating ring. Also, while gas is 'just a flame', the heat mostly rises, and right above it is the pan. Noticing that the pan, the hob, and the room feel warm/hot afterwards can be deceptive because the specific heat capacity of metal is 8x lower than that of the water in the food you're cooking, so you'd likely underestimate the efficiency.
  - nine_k 5y ago
    On one hand, I agree. On the other hand, if induction cooking lowers the air conditioning bills in the summer, it may pay for itself, compared to gas.
ProfessorLayton 5y ago
I’m in a the SFBAY and paying 30¢/kw all-in after taxes/fees for tier 1 usage, and this is absolutely a concern. Electric costs are out of control due to wildfires and I have no incentive to switch to anything electric right now. My local utility company is set to introduce a major rate hike for both electric and gas, but the per-unit of energy for gas is still far cheaper. Electric is getting so bad it might make sense to swap out my electric dryer for a gas one, even though it’s perfectly functional.
- ip26 5y ago
  Personally, living in wildfire country, I don't want any appliances that require venting room air. Exhaust air means intake air.
sofixa 5y ago
But it's much worse for the planet, and it's a decent bet that those externalities will be priced in eventually.
- Sqwandery 5y ago
  If it's being burned at the energy plant, electric is worse.
  - sofixa 5y ago
    Energy plants are only going to get greener from now on, and are pretty green depending on the location ( GP mentioned California).
  - oehpr 5y ago
    so long as you applying your open flame to metal is more efficient than a natural gas plant is at converting it to electricity and an induction is and applying that to your cookware. I'd be curious to see the numbers there... but if I were a betting I'd think induction would be better.

Natural gas is far cheaper, so I'll stick with that. Even though I love the idea of an easy to clean stovetop. My electric bill is already out of control (California).

upofadown 5y ago

You might want to do the math. Induction is quite a lot more efficient at actually heating the food. Even regular electric is more efficient at heating the food than gas.

londons_explore 5y ago
When gas is 4x cheaper per kWh, electric isn't going to win cost-wise, even if 100% efficient.
- Wowfunhappy 5y ago
  Have you done that math? The "even if 100% efficient" doesn't sound right to me. Wouldn't that imply gas cooking is 25% efficient? Admittedly, induction isn't 100% efficient, but it's very efficient! A gas flame heats up everything around it, whereas induction only heats up your cookware. The surface of an induction stove without any cookware is cool to the touch; in other cases, it's warm only due to the heat radiated back from your cookware.
  - londons_explore 5y ago
    Induction also heats up the power electronics inside the cooker. That's why they need a beefy cooling fan. I have done the math... Induction is 84% efficient, and gas is 40% efficient. So for most people, gas is still cheaper, unless you live in an area with very cheap hydroelectric.
    - Wowfunhappy 5y ago
      Gas is 40% efficient at heating food? Where are you getting these numbers? I have no counter information here, but that just doesn't seem intuitively correct at all. With gas, you're creating a fire that is heating up everything around it!
      - londons_explore 5y ago
        Source: https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2014/data/papers/9-702.pdf https://www.aceee.org/files/proceedings/2014/data/papers/9-7... Note that the 84% number is for a prototype model... 77% is for an on-the-market model, and it is beaten in efficiency by conventional electric for cookware matched in size to the heating ring. Also, while gas is 'just a flame', the heat mostly rises, and right above it is the pan. Noticing that the pan, the hob, and the room feel warm/hot afterwards can be deceptive because the specific heat capacity of metal is 8x lower than that of the water in the food you're cooking, so you'd likely underestimate the efficiency.
- nine_k 5y ago
  On one hand, I agree. On the other hand, if induction cooking lowers the air conditioning bills in the summer, it may pay for itself, compared to gas.

ProfessorLayton 5y ago

I’m in a the SFBAY and paying 30¢/kw all-in after taxes/fees for tier 1 usage, and this is absolutely a concern. Electric costs are out of control due to wildfires and I have no incentive to switch to anything electric right now. My local utility company is set to introduce a major rate hike for both electric and gas, but the per-unit of energy for gas is still far cheaper. Electric is getting so bad it might make sense to swap out my electric dryer for a gas one, even though it’s perfectly functional.

ip26 5y ago
Personally, living in wildfire country, I don't want any appliances that require venting room air. Exhaust air means intake air.

sofixa 5y ago

But it's much worse for the planet, and it's a decent bet that those externalities will be priced in eventually.

Sqwandery 5y ago
If it's being burned at the energy plant, electric is worse.
- sofixa 5y ago
  Energy plants are only going to get greener from now on, and are pretty green depending on the location ( GP mentioned California).
- oehpr 5y ago
  so long as you applying your open flame to metal is more efficient than a natural gas plant is at converting it to electricity and an induction is and applying that to your cookware. I'd be curious to see the numbers there... but if I were a betting I'd think induction would be better.