Greening Your Home - Getting close to BBQ? Earth friendly

Here's an article from National Geographic August 2007 edition that you may want to consider...
Good Grills: How to Help

Photo: Charcoal
Photograph by Rebecca Hale, NGS Staff


Charcoal adds flavor (and greenhouse gases) to a barbecue.

The Green Guide: Good Grills

Perhaps the only kind of barbecue that won’t irk Mother Earth is a solar grill. But you won’t find one at the nearest hardware store; only a few websites sell the solar cookers. There’s no smoke, but there are mirrors, which focus the sun’s rays on the grill tray.

None of the familiar fuel sources are as noble as the sun. Gas, electricity, wood, and charcoal each have downsides, but gas puts out the least carbon dioxide.

The charcoal-wood crowd can cut the toll. Fans of wood’s smoky flavor might consider a hybrid grill, powered by gas with a small area to burn fragrant wood chips. Charcoalists can seek brands that don’t add undesirable ingredients like coal dust, sodium nitrate, and borax. And instead of a squirt of lighter fluid, which emits volatile chemicals, try an old-school chimney starter: a metal cylinder with a small compartment at the bottom for paper. Light the paper and the coals above come to a hot glow.

The price tag matters. A cheap, short-lived grill has a more damaging eco-footprint than a durable solid metal model. Stainless steel and porcelain-enameled cast iron not only outlast but also cook more efficiently than chrome-plated aluminum. Besides, chrome is prone to corrosion. And that definitely doesn’t go well with ribs.
Burning Questions: The four main fuel sources for grills all get mixed grades.

Gas

Both natural gas and propane are efficient to produce, and natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. But they are nonrenewable resources and give off some pollutants.

Electricity

Unless sun or wind is involved, it’s not as efficient to produce as gas. But electric grills burn cleanly.

Wood

Trees are felled. Ash and smoke are exuded. But wood is a renewable resource.

Charcoal

Most is made from leftovers: scrap wood and sawdust. But charcoal’s manufacture creates greenhouse gases

Connie

thats great but there is no proof of man made global warming. as a matter of fact this year the antartic ice pack was the largest we have ever measured.
life begins when the kids leave home and the dog dies

You know, Speedwrench, this is not the place for a debate, so I won't disagree...let me just say, though, we use entirely too many resources. We consume too much, we waste too much.

Whether you believe we are causing the problem or not, we certainly are contributing. The idea is to make people realize the consequences of their actions, and then let your conscience be your guide.

Connie

:: on soapbox:: Whether or not climate change is affected by humans, I'd rather have as minimal a negative impact on Nature as possible. We live in the woods and every bit of pollution - trash or smoke from wildfires or noise from harleys or whatever - is really obvious. :: off soapbox::

Yup we have an LP grill to reduce the messies caused by charcoal, plus in summer when there is a burn ban we can still grill. It can take wood chips for some smoke but it's not quite enough for truly smoked meats. We're getting a hardwood smoker this year for those "I want a woody flavor on my food" menus. My only major concern is keeping the bear at bay for those overnight smoking projects...

Thanks, Logcabincook! I'm with you 100%....(Well, maybe not the bears part:( )

Connie

algore said as long as i buy carbon offsets i won't be the blame for global warming. i know this because in the seventies i bought carbon supplements to thwart the coming ice age and it worked. :D

I agree that we're definitely using too many resources but I love a good BBQ. ;)

To keep bears away from barbecue or smoker, burn off or clean grill or smoker after each use. Keep equipment covered and stored in safe place. It's best not to leave griller or smoker on patio.Thoroughly clean out grease catch.

If smoking overnight, a small portable electric fence is recommended to keep away bears. Batteries, wiring, and stakes should be available at local farm store or hardware. Dogs and other wildlife may also be attracted to grills and smokers, so it's best to think ahead.

Never have seen a need to have a smoker going over night.

Airman, you might see some bears out there where you are, huh?

I just know any smoke adds to pollution- I'm not going to give up grilling, but I try not to let it heat too long before starting to cook and turn it off, soon as I finish.

(I also just quit smoking cigarettes after 38 years! I've gone 112 smoke free days!)

Yea Connie we have seen a few. Central VA is not real country but guess looking at us from your area we sure are red! anyway the longer it cooks the more beer I can drink! so I'm helping out the economy buy drinking american beer. I think you said you where from Manassas, I have done some work up there.