Course:Course:LFS350/Projects/F2021/CityStudioCityofVan

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Overview

Project Title

Clean Cooking with Electricity: How induction cooking can save time, energy, reduce emissions and improve your health

Organization Name

Keywords

Related Course Concepts

Asset based community development, Other

Organization Information

Organization Name

Mission and Vision of Organization

The Sustainability Group at the City of Vancouver will tackle the urgent challenge of climate change by eliminating carbon pollution before 2050, and adapting to a changing climate, while creating equity and long-term ecosystem health for the people of Vancouver.

Guiding Principles + Values

Background

As part of our response to the Climate Emergency, the City developed the Climate Emergency Action Plan. There are 6 'Big Moves' spanning transportation, buildings and carbon sequestration. Big Move 4 specifically addresses emissions from existing homes and buildings.

The Vision

Into the future, we want:

  • To build and renovate zero emissions housing that is healthy, comfortable and safe
  • To educate, support and empower residents to complete low carbon retrofits

To achieve this vision, we must:

  • Decarbonize with urgency (50% reduction by 2030)
  • Set fairness, equity and affordability as priority
  • Be climate leaders, to inspire action around the world
  • Implement smart, accessible and scalable solutions

Contact Information

Preferred Method of Contact

  • Best method(s) to contact: Email
  • Preferred platform(s) for project meetings: Email, Phone, Zoom, Text
  • Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
  • Best time(s) to contact: Afternoons

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

BACKGROUND:

Across Canada, millions of homes and apartments rely on gas appliances for heating and cooking. Burning gas (i.e. methane, a fossil fuel) in buildings is not only a threat to climate action but also to human health, as these appliances are sources of indoor air pollution. Gas stoves, particularly when unvented, can be a primary source of indoor air pollution. What's more, a body of scientific research shows the pollutants released by gas stoves can have negative health effects, often exacerbating respiratory conditions like asthma.

There are however, widely available and highly efficient electric-based alternatives for nearly all gas appliances in a home. In the case of cooking specifically, those are electric and induction ranges, as well as other specialty appliances like induction woks and fryers.

Previous research at the City of Vancouver investigated the benefits and business case of switching commercial kitchens from gas to electric. This CityStudio project seeks to switch the focus of study on residential cooking in new and existing housing.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

How might we best promote the switch to induction cooking in residential homes?

QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES:

  • Given limited time and funding, what stakeholder would be best to engage and educate? Homeowners? Home builders and renovators? Realtors? All the above?
  • What barriers exist to transitioning away from gas cooking?
  • What benefits of cooking with electricity resonates most with homeowners? (e.g. health, climate, better cooking control etc.)
  • Conversely, how do we spread the message as wide as possible about the impacts of gas cooking?
  • What local groups (associations, NGO's, grassroots organizations, etc.) could amplify this message?
  • What are the possible mediums or tactics to spread messaging? Ideas include print media, leveraging local celebrity chefs, local video media, in-person cooking demonstrations, etc.

Main Project Activities and Expected Deliverable(s)

RESEARCH & DELIVERABLES:

  1. Research best practices and previous education campaigns. Speak with leading thinkers and implementers (City Project Manager can provide contacts) on what has been most effective in other cities around the world / what audience are priority to reach
  2. Identify target audience(s) of focus for this particular project - it's recommended to focus the scope on maximum 1-2 key audiences
  3. Determine effective messaging & medium (event? Cooking workshop? Zine? Spot on local show?)
  4. **Pending time** draft chosen content, tactic, or event plan

Work to happen online or in person

  • Likely online, but I'm open to meet in person as well

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

The following are preferred assets:

  • Knowledge of local stakeholders
  • Experience reaching out to experts & stakeholders for information interviews
  • Communications and engagement experience
  • Graphic design
  • Knowledge of building science, home appliances (gas vs. electric)

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

  • No

Is a criminal record check required?

  • No

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

  • We have many ongoing volunteer opportunities and have summer student intern positions available every summer.

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

  • Leslie Ng (City of Vancouver) has provided research from previous commercial kitchen studies and is a likely project contact if additional information is required

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

General resources on the disparities in air pollution for racialized communities:

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4626327/
  • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190810094052.htm
  • https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abf4491
  • https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/disparities
  • https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/11/702348935/study-finds-racial-gap-between-who-causes-air-pollution-and-who-breathes-it
  • https://delos.com/resources/blog/the-unequal-burden-of-air-pollution/
  • https://rmi.org/insight/gas-stoves-pollution-health/

Organizational Outcomes

Intended Project Outcome (Short Term Outcomes)

Homeowners & Residents are aware of

a) the risks and health / climate impacts of gas cooking (as part of the bigger issue of combusting fossil fuels in homes) and

b) the opportunities and benefits of switching to electric cooking (with a focus on induction as a particularly high tech, efficient, safe and precise technology)

Optionally: Realtors and Home Builders are aware of the the above, which trickles down to home buyers and homeowners.

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