System and method for improving the performance, safety, and energy efficiency of a cooking appliance with one or more heating elements operably connected with a burner controller controlling an amount of energy flowing to the one or more heating elements. First, a user or a system controller establishes one or more reference levels. The system controller is operably associated with one or more sensors, which measures levels of one or more emissions generated in the operation of the cooking appliance. Afterwards, the system controller compares the measured levels of the one or more emissions with the reference levels and in response to the measured levels of the emissions exceeding reference levels, sends an activation control signal to the cooking appliance. Then, an energy control mechanism associated with the burner controller adjusts the amount of energy flowing to the heating elements in response to the activation control signal.