Try induction cooking for free with Albany's lending program
Albany residents can borrow a portable induction cooktop and cookware for up to two weeks at no cost.
The city of Albany is helping residents explore alternatives to gas stoves through its Induction Cooktop Lending Program.
The program aims to familiarize households with an energy-efficient alternative to traditional gas and electric stoves while helping the city reach its own climate action goals.
Open to Albany residents age 18 and older, the program allows participants to borrow a portable, single-burner induction cooktop and compatible cookware for up to two weeks.
The kit also includes instructions and educational materials, and the cooktop can be plugged into a standard electrical outlet.
Residents can find more details and register through an online interest form. They will be placed on a waitlist until a cooktop becomes available. The equipment is picked up and returned at City Hall.
Induction cooktops use electromagnetism to heat compatible cookware directly, rather than heating a burner or cooking surface first. This allows them to heat food quickly and provide precise temperature control. Because induction cooking does not burn gas, it also avoids the carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides produced by gas stoves, which can contribute to indoor air pollution.
Albany climate goals and electrification rebates
The lending program supports Albany's broader climate goals.
The city adopted its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in 2019, setting targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2035 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Encouraging residents to switch from gas appliances to electric alternatives is one way the city is working toward those targets.
Residents interested in making the switch to electric appliances can take advantage of a variety of financial incentives. The city offers rebates for eligible heat pump installations and associated electrical panel upgrades, alongside a range of state incentives.
Other ways to borrow induction cooktops
A separate PG&E Induction Cooktop Loaner Program provides eligible utility customers with a portable cooktop and compatible pan for two weeks at no cost.
Acterra, a nonprofit environmental organization based in Palo Alto, also has an East Bay Induction Cooktop Loan Program. Eligible Alameda County residents can borrow induction cooktop kits for up to three weeks at no cost. Kits are available for pickup in multiple locations, including the Ecology Center at 2530 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley.
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