# Gas Methane Emissions: A Hidden Environmental Threat

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/01/gas-methane-emissions-a-hidden-environmental-threat/
- Published: 2022-01-27T16:28:20-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Stoves are a gas methane issue

Natural gas stoves release methane. That’s a potent [greenhouse gas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/05/gas-flaring-and-its-impact-on-the-environment/).
I mean as well as other pollutants through leaks and incomplete combustion.

Stanford researchers estimate that methane leaking from stoves inside U.S. homes
has the same climate impact as about 500,000 gasoline-powered cars and the stoves
can expose people to [respiratory](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/10/26-year-person-walks-for-people-poverty-live/)
disease-triggering [pollutants](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/12/france-bans-fracking/).

![Gas stoves ](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_0045-
300x200.webp?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1)

BY ROB JORDAN
 [Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment](https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30855492/woods.stanford.edu?p=eyJzIjoieG9mYUxfSEVTWE9MWk9ZUER0dDlyd3k2VjVvIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDg1NTQ5MixcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3dvb2RzLnN0YW5mb3JkLmVkdVwiLFwiaWRcIjpcIjdiODJmM2YyYmU0ODRiZDI5ZjE1Yjc1OTY3MzhmOTg0XCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiYWQ1NTZjNGU5MDI1YjhiOTUyYWVlNTY2MGY5ZjczM2ViNjYyY2U3NlwiXX0ifQ)

Humans have cooked with fire for millennia, but it may be time for a change. Natural
gas appliances warm the planet in two ways: generating carbon dioxide by burning
natural gas as a [fuel and leaking unburned methane into the air](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/05/gas-flaring-and-its-impact-on-the-environment/).
A new Stanford-led study reveals that the methane [leaking](https://greenlivingguy.com/?p=262119)
from [natural gas-burning stoves](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/06/plug-local-methane-holes-to-safeguard-health/)
inside U.S. homes has a climate impact comparable to the carbon dioxide emissions
from about 500,000 gasoline-powered cars.

Stanford researchers found that gas stoves emit far more methane than once thought,
and most of the emissions occur while the stove is off. During combustion, stoves
also emit dangerous levels of nitrogen oxides, a toxic air pollutant. (Image credit:
Getty Images)

#### Home Methane Leaks

This extra warming from home methane leaks contributes about a third as much warming
as the carbon dioxide generated by the combustion of the stove’s [natural gas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/02/heat-pumps-vs-gas-furnaces-which-is-better-for-your-home/),
and sometimes exposes users to respiratory disease-triggering pollutants. The findings
come as legislators in numerous U.S. municipalities and at least one state – New
York – weigh banning natural gas hookups from new construction.

“Surprisingly, there are very few measurements of how much natural gas escapes into
the air from inside homes and buildings through leaks and incomplete combustion 
from appliances,” said study lead author Eric Lebel, who conducted the research 
as a graduate student in Stanford’s [School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences ](https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30855492/earth.stanford.edu?p=eyJzIjoibm5EZjZZdS1UVjJZeEJCaFp6ZjA3LVJCYTdZIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDg1NTQ5MixcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2VhcnRoLnN0YW5mb3JkLmVkdVxcXC9cIixcImlkXCI6XCI3YjgyZjNmMmJlNDg0YmQyOWYxNWI3NTk2NzM4Zjk4NFwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImMyODQ5NTcxODA0Yzg1ZTQ5YmIxOWY3M2YyMzJhOWI4ZTM4ZTBkMWZcIl19In0)(
Stanford Earth). “It’s probably the part of natural gas emissions we understand 
the least about, and it can have a big [impact on both climate](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/02/co%e2%82%82-emission-capture-and-its-climate-impact/)
and indoor air quality.”

## An Overlooked Contributor to a Growing Problem

Although carbon dioxide is more abundant in the atmosphere, methane’s global warming
potential is higher. About 86 times as great over a 20-year period. In addition,
it’s at least 25 times as great a century after its release. Methane also threatens
air quality by increasing the concentration of tropospheric ozone. Exposure to which
causes an estimated 1 million premature deaths annually worldwide due to respiratory
illnesses. Methane’s relative concentration has grown more than twice as fast as
that of carbon dioxide since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution because 
of human-driven emissions.

Pipeline leaks of natural gas is more than 90 percent methane. Moreover, natural
gas-burning cooking [appliances](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/07/cool-green-guide-to-recycling-electronics-appliances/)
have received comparatively little attention.

Over one-third of U.S. households – more than 40 million homes – cook with gas. 
Unlike other gas appliances, such as space and water heaters, cooking appliances
directly expose people to their emissions. That includes formaldehyde, carbon monoxide
and nitric oxides.  All of which can trigger asthma, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty
breathing, occasionally resulting in hospitalization. Hood use and ventilation help
reduce concentrations of nitrogen oxides and other co-produced pollutants in [kitchen](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/11/how-to-remodel-your-kitchen-with-eco-friendly-design/)
air. However, surveys show that home cooks on average use hoods for kitchen ventilation
only 25–40 percent of the time.

## Natural Gas Stoves: Findings and Implications

To better understand cooking appliances’ potential climate and health impacts, the
researchers measured methane and nitrogen oxides released in 53 homes in California.
They did so during combustion, ignition and extinguishment. But also while the appliance
was off, something most previous studies had not done. Their study included 18 brands
of gas cooktops and stoves ranging in age from 3 to 30 years.

The highest emitters were cooktops that ignited using a pilot light instead of a
built-in electronic sparker. Methane emissions from the puffs of gas emitted while
igniting and extinguishing a burner were on average equivalent to the amount of 
unburned methane emitted during about 10 minutes of cooking with the burner. Interestingly,
the researchers found no evidence of a relationship between the age or [cost of a stove and its emissions](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/08/scope-3-corporate-emissions-the-hidden-climate-cost/).
Most surprising of all, more than three-quarters of methane emissions occurred while
stoves were off. That suggests that gas fittings and connections to the stove and
in-home gas lines are responsible for most emissions. Moreover,  regardless of how
much the stove is used.

## Conclusion

Overall, the researchers estimated that natural gas stoves emit up to 1.3 percent
of the gas they use as unburned methane. While the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) does not report emissions from specific residential natural gas appliances.
It does report methane emissions for residential appliances collectively. From stoves
alone, the researchers estimated total methane emissions to be substantially higher.
That’s more than the emissions currently reported by the EPA for all residential
sources.

Larger stoves tended to emit higher rates of nitric oxides, for example. The researchers
used their estimate of emissions of nitrogen oxides. They found that people who 
don’t use their range hoods or who have poor ventilation can surpass the EPA’s guidelines.
That’s for 1-hour exposure to nitrogen dioxide outdoors within a few minutes of 
stove usage, particularly in smaller kitchens. Moreover, there are no indoor standards.

“I don’t want to breathe any extra nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide or formaldehyde,”
said study senior author [Rob Jackson](https://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30855492/profiles.stanford.edu?p=eyJzIjoiVnNYNU1CXzBybnlIajVTUjdmTmV4Y280VjZrIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDg1NTQ5MixcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3Byb2ZpbGVzLnN0YW5mb3JkLmVkdVxcXC9qYWNrc29uXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiN2I4MmYzZjJiZTQ4NGJkMjlmMTViNzU5NjczOGY5ODRcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCIyYTUyNjUzZTM5ZDA5NWM0ZWY5YmIyNzQ4ZmU1MmI4YTZiNGEzYzFjXCJdfSJ9),
the Michelle and Kevin Douglas Provostial Professor and professor of Earth system
science. “Why not reduce the risk entirely? Switching to electric stoves will [cut greenhouse gas emissions](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/09/lizzy-gillet-talks-1010-initiative-for-2010-to-cut-emissions-by-10/)
and indoor air pollution.”

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
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Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
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