Is it Really Only March? Grilling Season is Already In High Gear
But what about the environmental impact of grills, especially charcoal?
It’s grilling season early this year, and the scents fill my neighborhood each evening. So…gas or charcoal? According to a 2009 study by scientific research firm Atlantic Consulting, charcoal grills leave a much larger carbon footprint – about 2/3 more in fact -- than their gas-powered counterparts. And most of that footprint is from the charcoal itself being burnt. The study included everything – from the process of manufacturing the grills to the transportation of the different fuel to the actual production and burning of the fuels themselves. And charcoal briquettes are inefficient and dirty. They produce smoke and soot particles that can pollute the air, irritate your lungs and exacerbate existing heart and lung problems. In …
Marge Neal
12:27 pm on Monday, March 26, 2012
I'm with you, Sean. I've always been a fan of charcoal, and I'll continue to be a charcoal griller. I recycle, I drive a relatively energy-efficient car, I'm stingy with water use, keep the thermostat low in the winter and hardly ever use air coolers in the summer. But I have to have my grill! more ›