Barbecuing this Labor Day weekend? Why not make it a “green” barbecue for your friends and family to enjoy. No, I’m not talking about using green wood for the fire. It’s about making the barbecuing process more environmentally friendly and keeping the air around your home as clean as possible, especially if you are selling your home. Specifically, a greener barbecue helps eliminate potentially hazardous chemicals, improves air quality, reduces waste and saves natural resources.
The following is a collection of tips on ways to have a “greener” BBQ:
- Use propane, natural gas, electric or solar instead of charcoal briquettes. Charcoal is more polluting to the air than the other cooking methods.
- Stop using charcoal lighter fluid. These liquid charcoal fire starters emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through evaporation – and as the charcoal burns and may leave a toxic-chemical residue on the grilled foods.
- Save money with a charcoal chimney starter. This is a very effectively way to start a charcoal fire with just newspaper and a match since the chimney lasts for years, costs around $15 and emits no VOCs into the air for better breathing. Ask your local barbecue store for one.
- Eat using reusable plates and utensils and wipe your face with cloth napkins. This will help reduce the amount of waste generated by your meal and save you money on paper plates and plastic cutlery that you no longer need to purchase. The landfill thanks you.
- Clean your barbecue grill with a wire barbecue brush and a baking soda and water paste. Commercial oven cleaners contain toxins that pollute the air you breathe. Baking soda contains no toxins and costs pennies to use, so you can save money yet again.
Selling your home? Show off that built-in gas barbecue as a green feature. Promote the outside area as a green cooking space for those grilling aficionados out there looking to buy a home for sale.
Whether you are having friends and family over to have a fun time around the grill – or just relaxing at home – use these green barbecue tips this Labor Day weekend (Sept. 4-6 ) and every time you grill. Not only will you save money, you’ll breathe better knowing you are helping reduce toxins in our air.
Photo Credit: Christoper S. Penn, Creative Commons 2.0
