All Up in Your Grill
Myth: It’s greener to use a gas grill than a charcoal one because charcoal sends so much soot into the air.
Conclusion: CONFIRMED.
Summertime, and the grillin’s easy…or so it seems. You’ve marinated the grass-fed beef and sustainably caught fish, skewered the local, organic veggies and have tofu-pups galore. But how to grill them?
Well, when it comes to barbecuing, the answer’s clear: go for the gas.
According to researchers at the Department of Energy, a gas grill releases 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air each hour, compared to 11 pounds of CO2 per hour for charcoal and 15 pounds for an electric grill.
And get this – a hamburger grilled on a standard charcoal grill will release 105 times more carbon monoxide than if you cook it on a propane grill. Plus, how many times have you grown impatient and generously doused your charcoal briquettes with lighter fluid to get your fires raging and coals smoldering? That toxic fluid releases harmful, volatile organic compounds, causing even more air pollution.
If you and your trusty Weber are joined at the hip, consider purchasing a chimney starter—like this one from World Wide Sourcing— to eliminate your lighter fluid needs, and eco-friendly coals—like these from Greenhearts—to make this grilling season your greenest yet.
Bon appétit!
