<p>I actually have an old Thermador electric coil cooktop, here when we bought the house, which is on its last legs. (I’m down to two small burners and the fabulous central grill/griddle.) It was an expensive model when the kitchen was last renovated, circa 1980. I vastly prefer it to the new glass tops I’ve cooked on. I’d rather have gas, of course, and will as soon as we figure out what exactly what we are doing with the kitchen. We do not have access to natural gas, but have a propane tank already for the stove that heats the room adjacent to the kitchen, so running a line in here will not be a big deal.</p>
<p>MomCat2 -</p>
<p>The whole development is all-electric like most of the newer developments. But at least there is a small back yard with a shed to stash a generator in, and a fireplace that can be adapted to accept a wood stove, so we won’t necessarily be out of power or heat when the the main power lines get knocked down in a storm. This particular property lost points for not having a gas line, but it gained them back for location next to a small lake with a walking trail, overall physical condition, and a public transit bus stop directly across the street.</p>
<p>I LOVE our glasstop! It’s much EASIER for us to clean than our old electric range with coils & drip pans. We bought the black one with a speckled design on the burners so that you can’t see spills as much. I know others who bought the plain glossy black or white & have major issues with keeping theirs clean.</p>
<p>We can’t get gas where we live and I have never had problems with this cooktop and would buy it again when we’re in the market for it. SO happy not to have the coils any more!</p>
<p>Unless you live in a warm-winter area, the all-electric home is a nightmare, because electric heat in the winter is way, way more expensive than gas heat. Gas water heaters and dryers are also cheaper to run than electric. The heating bills can be killer. (the newer heat-pump type things might change this equation, I don’t know. But a next-door neighbor had a heat pump, and man oh man was that thing LOUD.)</p>
<p>happymom, the lake location and the great access to public transit sound like real pluses -good luck!</p>
<p>Yea, we live in very sunny, warm weather area, so heating bills are non-existent and many of our homes & subdivisions require individuals to have their OWN tanks if they want gas. My brothers bought bought photovoltaic (PV) for their homes, as did my neighbor. Not sure when & IF we will at some point. Many of our homes do have solar water heaters but not as many have PV, since it’s expensive, heavy, etc.</p>