The Kicking Gas Campaign has launched “Gnome Sweet Gnome,” a video aimed at illustrating the connections between household gas appliances, public health concerns, and climate impacts, while providing free educational tools and encouraging community engagement to promote safer alternatives.
The campaign describes the video as “short” and “playful,” noting that it addresses how “burning gas indoors may seem harmless, but science says otherwise: gas stoves and heaters can pollute the air inside our homes and increase health risks, especially for children, elders, and people with asthma.”
Kicking Gas curriculum developer Sylvia Hadnot stated, “We wanted to make something that was easy to share and fun to watch—but still delivered real information people need… Because everyone deserves a home that’s safe to cook in, breathe in, and be well in.”
Accompanying the video is a free lesson plan for educators, which uses the content “as a starting point for learning about clean energy, public health, and everyday actions we can take for our climate and the environment.”
The plan is “adaptable for classrooms, libraries, after-school programs, or community workshops” and targets students from third to 12th grade. It is available for download after signing up for the Kicking Gas newsletter on the organization’s education page at http://www.kickgasnow.org/education.
The Kicking Gas initiative encourages community involvement through simple steps, including viewing the “Gnome Sweet Gnome” video, distributing it among friends, neighbors, educational institutions, or local publications, and initiating discussions on current home appliances and potential improvements. The campaign highlights its philosophy that “we believe in making climate action feel human, doable, and joyful,” while positioning the video as “just the beginning” of ongoing efforts.
Kicking Gas has collaborated with community partners, including the Sno-Isle Sierra Club, which covers Island and Snohomish counties.
“The Sno-Isle Sierra Club has established a close partnership with Kicking Gas to spread the word on the dangers of using gas stoves,” said David Jones, a member of the Sno-Isle Sierra Club’s Executive Committee. “This video is a powerful way to reach our region’s homeowners and to help them protect their health and the health of those they love.”
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
