The weather is starting to get warmer and with it comes barbecue season! Who doesn't love a nice cookout in the backyard with friends and family? While many people do cookouts for the fun of it, few are aware that grilling your food is actually more energy efficient than cooking with a kitchen stove. With a little bit of planning, barbecues can be one of the most eco-friendly things to do in the summer.

Go Gas

Many people swear by charcoal but gas grills are actually by far the more environmentally friendly option. The reason being that even though the grills use fossil fuels, they have tiny carbon footprints. Propane not only burns cleaner, but it's also easier to control so it's a lot more efficient.

Although charcoal is made from renewable resources, the briquettes most of use are made from sawdust bound together by additives. When burned, these release chemicals as well as high doses of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Theoretically, real/natural "lump" charcoal is carbon negative, however, it's a lot harder to come by and often the resources used to transport the charcoal negates the benefits. In addition, when charcoal is burned, a lot of energy goes to waste. It takes a while to get a decent heat going and unlike propane, it can't simply be turned on and off with a switch.

Electric grills, while seemingly environmentally friendly, are very inefficient and actually use more resources than gas and charcoal. If possible, switching to a gas grill can save you money and time while helping out the environment. They're a little pricier than traditional charcoal grills but some are available for as low as $60.

To go a little more high-end, check out this stainless steel natural gas grill - Genesis S-320 Stainless Steel Natural Gas Grill

Go Local and Organic

When choosing your food, go for organic and if possible, local. Organic meat and produce are much healthier and can help the environment through using less pesticides and chemicals. Buying from your local farmer's market will not only ensure fresher fruit and produce, but also reduce the carbon footprint of transporting food.

Use Reusable Cookware and Utensils

While is it more convenient to use disposable paper plates and plastic utensils, the amount of waste that is generated is enormous. By using reusable plates, utensil, and cloth napkins, you can keep a lot of garbage out of the landfills. Bamboo plates and bowls are always a good alternative. If this is not possible, then opt for greener options. Biodegradable unbleached and non-laminated plates and napkins are readily available as are utensils made from recycled plastics. A company called Earthware Biodegradables makes biodegradable cutlery out of wheat. Definitely worth looking into.

Buy in Bulk

Buying food, drinks, and utensils in bulk will help reduce the amount of packaging waste that will hit the landfill. Instead of buying cans of pop, buy larger bottles and use cups. Buy large packages of snacks and serve them in bowls instead of getting individually wrapped portions. Not only will it save you money but it will also lessen your carbon footprint.

Recycle

I think this is a given but it can never hurt to reiterate. A lot of trash generated by a large backyard barbecue can be recycled. Bottles and cans can go into the recycling bin. Paper plates can easily be recycled along with your other household paper products. Scrap/leftover vegetables can be composted. All it takes is a little preplanning to have separate containers for people to dispose their garbage into.