For decades, gas has been the go-to energy source for heating and cooking in homes across the world. Many homeowners appreciate the reliability and immediate heat gas provides. However, recent studies are shedding light on the hidden dangers of gas heating and gas cooking—both to human health and the environment. As the world shifts toward cleaner, safer energy solutions, it’s important to understand why transitioning away from gas may be one of the smartest decisions you can make for your household.

1. Health Risks of Indoor Air Pollution
While gas appliances seem convenient, they can significantly impact the air quality inside your home. Gas heating and cooking systems emit harmful pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter. These gases and particulates are released directly into the air and can accumulate indoors, leading to poor air quality. Poor ventilation, especially in homes with sealed windows for energy efficiency, compounds the problem.

• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂): Exposure to NO₂ from gas stoves has been linked to respiratory issues, particularly in children. Studies show that homes with gas stoves have 50% to 400% higher concentrations of NO₂ than those with electric stoves, increasing the risk of asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO): Known as the "silent killer," carbon monoxide is colourless, odourless, and can be deadly. Even in small amounts, it can cause dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. High levels of CO exposure can be fatal, particularly in homes with poorly maintained gas heaters.
• Particulate Matter: The combustion of gas also produces fine particles that can irritate the lungs and exacerbate conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders.

2. Fire Hazards and Explosions
Gas appliances pose a direct fire hazard, as leaks can go undetected until it's too late. Gas leaks from faulty appliances, aging pipes, or improper installation can lead to deadly explosions. Even a small leak can fill an enclosed space with highly flammable gas, turning a simple spark—such as flipping a light switch—into a dangerous situation. According to the US National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of home fires, and gas stoves are a significant contributor to these statistics.

3. Environmental Impact of Gas
Gas is often touted as a cleaner fossil fuel compared to coal or oil. While it may burn more cleanly, the environmental impact is far from benign. Methane, the main component of gas, is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping heat in the atmosphere 25 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Leaks from gas infrastructure—both during production and transportation—release vast amounts of methane, contributing significantly to global warming.
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In fact, the International Energy Agency estimates that methane emissions from the gas supply chain are responsible for nearly 30% of the rise in global temperatures. By continuing to use gas in homes for heating and cooking, we are perpetuating the demand for fossil fuels, delaying the transition to cleaner, renewable energy sources.

4. A Costly and Outdated Infrastructure
Many gas pipelines in older homes are reaching the end of their lifespans, leading to more frequent leaks and repairs. Maintaining and upgrading gas infrastructure is costly, and those costs are often passed on to consumers. In some cases, municipalities are facing mounting bills to replace aging pipelines. Transitioning to electric alternatives, such as heat pumps and induction stoves, not only eliminates the need for ongoing gas infrastructure maintenance but also supports a cleaner energy grid that can be powered by renewables.

5. Cleaner, Safer Alternatives: Time to Go Electric
Switching to electric appliances for heating and cooking offers numerous advantages. Today’s electric heat pumps are more energy-efficient than gas heaters, providing both heating and cooling from a single unit. Induction cooktops offer faster, more precise cooking while eliminating the risk of indoor air pollution from combustion. These modern alternatives also reduce your household's carbon footprint and improve overall safety.

Many countries and states are recognising the dangers of gas and have begun introducing policies to phase out gas appliances in new construction. In some places, there are even incentives available to help homeowners make the switch to all-electric homes, including rebates for heat pumps and induction cooktops.

Conclusion
​While gas heating and cooking have long been considered reliable, the risks associated with using gas in the home are becoming harder to ignore. From the health impacts of indoor air pollution to the environmental toll of methane emissions, gas appliances are no longer the best choice for modern, health-conscious, and environmentally aware households. Fortunately, electric alternatives offer a safer, more sustainable way forward, helping you protect your family's health while doing your part to address climate change.

Making the switch to electric is not just an investment in your home’s future—it's an investment in a healthier, more sustainable world.

Understanding the Duck Curve: The New Challenge for Renewable Energy
As renewable energy sources like solar power become more prevalent, the energy grid faces new challenges. One of the most prominent is known as the "duck curve"—a term that describes the unique way energy demand fluctuates when a significant portion of electricity comes from solar energy.
In this blog post, we’ll break down what the duck curve is, why it matters, and what can be done to address it.

What is the Duck Curve?
The duck curve illustrates the daily pattern of electricity demand on a power grid that incorporates a lot of solar power. The term comes from the shape of the graph, which, when charting electricity demand over the course of a day, looks like the silhouette of a duck.
Here’s how it works:

1. Morning Hours (Tail of the Duck): Before the sun rises, electricity demand is moderate because households and businesses are just starting their day. Power plants must supply most of the energy during this time.
2. Midday (Belly of the Duck): As the sun climbs, solar panels generate significant amounts of electricity. This reduces the need for traditional power sources, which causes a drop in the amount of energy that power plants need to generate. This dip in demand for grid power is the "belly" of the duck.

• Late Afternoon/Evening (Neck of the Duck): As the sun sets, solar power production drops sharply. However, electricity demand peaks in the late afternoon and early evening when people come home from work and turn on lights, appliances, and heating or cooling systems. This sharp increase in demand creates the "neck" of the duck, where the grid needs to ramp up traditional energy sources quickly to meet demand.
• Late Evening/Overnight (Beak of the Duck):  As households wind down for the night so does demand on the grid, and power plants scale back production.  However, without battery or other methods of storage power during this time is primarily generated from fossil fuels.  ​

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The price of electricity on the wholesale markets closely follows the Duck Curve as can be seen from the below image.

Why the Duck Curve is a Problem
​At first glance, the duck curve might not seem like a big deal. However, it presents a few key challenges for grid operators:

1. Sharp Demand Ramps: The steep increase in energy demand in the late afternoon is difficult for power plants to handle. Many power plants, especially those powered by fossil fuels, take time to ramp up production. The rapid increase in demand can strain these plants, leading to inefficiencies and potential reliability issues.
2. Overgeneration Risk: During midday, when solar generation is high, there can actually be too much electricity flowing into the grid. Without proper storage or distribution systems, this excess energy can lead to grid instability or waste, as the grid operators must find a way to balance supply and demand in real time.
3. Increased Carbon Emissions: The duck curve can paradoxically increase carbon emissions. While solar power reduces the need for fossil fuels during midday, the quick ramp-up of gas or coal plants in the evening can offset these benefits. Power plants that have to quickly adjust their output are often less efficient and may emit more CO2 than if they were running at a constant, optimised rate.

Cleaner power is cheaper power
​Like price, the carbon intensity of the grid closely follows the Duck Curve.  The cheapest times of the day to procure electricity from the grid also correlate to when the grid has the lowest carbon intensity.

Solutions to the Duck Curve Problem
Addressing the challenges posed by the duck curve is crucial for maximising the potential of renewable energy. Here are a few strategies that can help:

1. Energy Storage: The most promising solution is large-scale energy storage, particularly in the form of batteries. By storing excess solar energy during the day, batteries can release that energy when demand spikes in the evening. This smooths out the curve and reduces the need for power plants to ramp up quickly.
2. Demand Response: Encouraging consumers to shift their electricity usage can help flatten the duck curve. Incentives like time-of-use pricing encourage people to use electricity during off-peak hours (e.g., midday) and reduce usage during peak hours (e.g., evening).
3. Diverse Energy Sources: Expanding beyond solar power to include other renewables like wind, geothermal, or hydroelectric energy can help smooth out the energy supply. Wind, for instance, often generates more power in the evening, complementing solar energy production.
4. Grid Modernisation: Smart grid technologies, which use sensors and automated controls, can help balance supply and demand more effectively. These technologies can direct power where it’s needed most and make the grid more responsive to fluctuations in demand and generation.
   
   

The Path Forward
The duck curve is a natural consequence of our transition to cleaner energy, and it highlights the importance of creating a more flexible and resilient energy grid. By investing in energy storage, modernising infrastructure, and diversifying energy sources, we can overcome the challenges posed by the duck curve and accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable future.
As more regions adopt renewable energy on a larger scale, managing the duck curve will become increasingly vital to ensuring that our energy systems remain reliable, affordable, and green.