Green Your BBQ

School's out. Work's slow... Summer is fast approaching and for BBQ fanatics, there is no better way to spend a Summer Sunday than flipping patties and dogs on the grill.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day and that means no Moody Monday. As we all keep our fingers crossed for good weather, we could also be thinking of how to make the BBQ in the backyard a little bit more green.

There are many things you can do that will lower your footprint and most of them will likely result in a better BBQ flavor. BBQs are also great because not only can you enjoy them with your closest friends, but you also get to enjoy them outside, whether that is on your patio, balcony or backyard.

The first thing you will need to do is get yourself a grill and all the corresponding chachkis for mastering the art of the locally grass fed ground beef burger (not frozen Kirkland Signature patties...riiiiiiiight??). One thing to consider is the quality of the grill itself - a better-built grill will last longer and therefore create less environmental waste because it will need replacement less often. So don't feel bad splurging on that higher-end model (provided you're actually getting what you're paying for) - splurging in this case might just help the environment. Test various models before you buy to see how sturdy they feel, and don't buy a "starter" model thinking you'll just upgrade later. That's just a plan for creating unnecessary waste.

Using gas is the most resource-efficient means of powering a grill. It is also the least carbon polluting method.

But if you simply must have that traditional charred flavor that only charcoal can provide, Whole Foods Market and other retailers sell charcoal made from either recycled scrap wood (in Whole Foods' case, discarded furniture and wood flooring) or from sustainable forests. You can find some interesting info on Whole Foods' charcoal, along with reviews of other sustainable lump charcoal makers, at Green Link Charcoal. So don't feel bad if you're a hardcore grilling purist - you can still grill in environmentally-friendly ways.

Since green inventions are very stimulating for the imagination, and this product might actually work, check out this Solar BBQ Kit. This device will allow you to BBQ your goods with ZERO carbon footprint.

If you are looking for a few BBQ odds and ends, check out Sprig.com and see some of their suggestions for an environmentally friendly BBQ.

Check out this simple guide to green grilling found on Ideal Bite.

When it comes to what food you will put on the grill, you can definitely buy grass-fed beef or you can also get slightly less expensive beef that is produced without pesticides or hormones. The same thing goes for chicken and pork.

When it comes to vegetables or tofu, you can pretty much put whatever you want on the grill and the environmental impact is more or less the same. However, if you can afford it, buying local and/or organic vegetables taste much better in addition to aiding your planet's food chain.

And don't forget to save me a burger...I prefer it Medium Rare, thanks.