Abbey Hayward of the Los Alamos County Department of Utilities demonstrated induction cooking during her October 4 presentation to Rotary. Toast was on the menu! Photo by Linda Hill
BY LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos
In conjunction with Public Power Week and Energy Awareness Month, Abbey Hayward, the County’s Department of Public Utilities Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator, told members of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos on October 4 about DPU’s Induction Cooking Loaner Program.
Beginning with a brief summary of cooking, Hayward explained that the first evidence of cooking dates back 1,500,000 years ago to open fires. From there Hayward brought Rotarians into the 20th and 21st centuries with methods, fuels, and basic efficiencies employed since the days of open fire. “Fueled by the green wave,” Hayward said, “induction is finding popularity again” after first being introduced at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago. It followed the patenting of the gas stove in 1826 and the electric stove in 1893. Both required “immense changes in infrastructure” for use in businesses and home.
Hayward explained that “an induction stovetop uses electromagnets to produce heat through a high frequency oscillating magnetic field.” Induction cooking is considered a healthier choice than gas cooking because there are no fumes and no dangers from an open flame; it is also considered safer than electricity because induction only heats the immediate cooking area, and the heat does not linger when turned off. Induction cooking is cooler, faster, and more powerful than gas cooking and provides similar temperature control. Induction is also superior in cooking efficiency with one of Hayward’s charts showing that gas is around 30% efficient, traditional electricity is between 75-80%, and induction is 90%.
Hayward noted that induction cooking is for the stovetop only; the oven is still standard convection or conventional.
Induction Stovetop Loaner Program kits may be borrowed from DPU for two weeks and “come with a portable induction cooktop, a user manual, an induction-ready piece of cookware, and utensils.”
Although Hayward has long list of area residents who would like to participate in the Induction Cooking Loaner Program, she encourages DPU customers to reach out to her for more information at 505-663-1779 or go to ladpu.com/cooktop-signup.
As DPU’s Conservation Coordinator, Hayward is responsible for researching and implementing conservation programs for all of DPU’s customers to reduce water and energy consumption and use resources more efficiently.
She graduated with a dual degree with honors in Environmental Science and Geology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Hayward and her husband are excited to share their love of the outdoors and giving back with their daughter.
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, through its Club Foundation, is a 501(c)3 non-profit and one of over 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary, which now has 1.5 million members, was founded in 1905; the local Club was chartered in 1966. Rotary areas of focus include promoting peace; fighting disease, particularly polio; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; supporting education; saving and enhancing the lives of mothers and children; growing economies; and protecting the environment.
The Rotary Club of Los Alamos meets in person Tuesdays, 12 p.m. -1 p.m. in the Community Room, Cottonwood on the Greens, at the golf course. A Zoom option is available by contacting Linda Hull, Rotary Club vice-president, 505-662-7950. Hull is also happy to provide information about the Club and its humanitarian service. The community is invited to become members