Cohousing-L Mailing List: Stoves

[DEL HOLLAND (delholland]

I’ve lived in Prairie Hill, Iowa City, Iowa’s all electric cohousing community 
for nearly 8 years.  We are a total of 37 units including 4 in the  Common 
House.  Original Members were able to choose their appliances within the LEED 
guidelines of Energy Star.  Although a little more expensive, most of us chose 
induction stoves.  We had a relationship with a local vendor who gave us good 
deals on price and instalation.  Most, if not all, of us had come from homes 
with gas ranges.  The initial skepticism of some has been won over by the 
induction stoves.  Beyond the most obvious benefit of no natural gas in your 
living space which has many safety advantages and results in better air 
quality, these stoves are faster to heat, and much, much easier to clean.  Of 
course, the advantage of not having open flames is a bonus for both use by 
children and the cook who accidentally drops or knocks over a recipe page onto 
the stove.

Beside the many induction stoves in individual owners homes, we have two in our 
Common House kitchen.  They get week use for our Tasty Tuesday weekly community 
meal where 30 to 60 are served as well as occasional use by Members for family 
gatherings or whatever; making gallons of tea for kombucha, canning peaches or 
corn etc.  The easy cleanup here is a great benefit.

I know of no repairs to any of our induction stoves in the 8 plus years of use. 
 Our personal one and those in the Common House are Frigidaire.

Del Holland, induction stove convert