Residents who had an Induction Cooktop kit as of March 17 have been notified that the loan period is extended to the end of the shelter-in-place. We are still accepting new induction cooktop loaner requests online, but distribution of the kits have been temporarily put on hold.

Go electric with an electric induction cooktop! Not sure about it? Try one out for free with CPAU and Acterra's induction cooktop loaner program.

Benefits of Induction Cooktops

 Cleaner

 Faster

 Safer

  • Glass top makes it quick and easy to clean

  • Improves indoor air quality (Cooking with a gas stove can reach indoor air pollutant levels that would be illegal outdoors)1
  • Precise temperature control 
  • 90% of the energy consumed is transferred directly to the food being cooked compared to 40% from a gas stove
  • Up to 60% of heat from gas burners escapes into the air2
  • You can boil water nearly twice as fast with an induction cooktop3
  •  No open flame or hot coils
  • Burners hold residual heat which transfers directly to the cookware, so no energy is lost
  • Many induction cooktops have safety features such as auto-off
  • It keeps the kitchen cooler

 

Induction Cooktop Loaner Kit

Are you interested in cooking like a master chef? The City of Palo Alto Utilities and Acterra are excited to announce the Peninsula’s first induction cooktop loaner program. You can borrow an induction cooktop free of charge, which includes a cooktop, a pan, and carrying case for up to three weeks. Try out this fast, clean, safe and efficient cooking technology by emailing greenathome@acterra.org or complete a registration form online today! Learn more at https://www.acterra.org/induction or call 650-329-2241.

Not convinced? Watch a video to see what professional chefs have to say.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any health concerns with using an induction cooktop?
Some people raise concerns about the electromagnetic field from the induction cooktops interfering with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). According to General Electric Appliances, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defined a strict standard for safety levels with respect to human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. Although we are confident Induction Cooktops don’t pose a risk to those with pacemakers and ICDs, we recommend that users should consult with their doctors or pacemaker manufacturers before use. 

Will induction cooking affect my electricity bill?
No, an induction cooker transfers electrical energy through a magnetic field straight from the cooktop to the pan making it extremely energy efficient. This technology incurred minimal wastage of energy compared to open flame, gas cooking and normal electric cooktops. 

What impact do induction cooktops have on indoor air quality?
A recent study conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab found that homes with gas stove tops and a poorly vented range hood had indoor air quality levels that sometimes exceeded outdoor air quality standards. Induction cooktops are a safe and reliable alternative for your kitchen that produces 30x less indoor air pollutants than natural gas cooktops.1

1. Brennan Less, et al., Indoor Air Quality in 24 California Residences Designed as High Performance Homes (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 2015)
2. Micah Sweeney, et al., Induction Cooking Technology Design and Assessment (Electric Power Research Institute, 2014)
3. Paul Scheckel, Gas vs Induction Cooking Energy Comparison (Home Energy Pros Forum, 2016)