Backyard Entertaining

Fire it Up

Cooking over an open flame is a great way to save electricity. An oven consumes about 2 kilowatts per hour (kWh) at 350°F, plus it raises the indoor temperature, forcing your air conditioner to work harder. A gas-fired grill – natural gas or propane – burns cleaner than charcoal, produces less carbon dioxide, and allows far less heat to escape. But all barbecues produce some emissions, so make sure you have ample ventilation and never use them indoors.

Keep it Clean

Regular maintenance helps keep your gas grill at peak performance, while reducing smoke and preventing grease fires. At the start of the season, scoop out ashes and debris, and scrub the grime from the cook box and burner tubes. Clean the drip tray of grease build-up regularly. After every use, burn off food residue and scrape down the grill while it’s cooling.

Choose lump charcoal

Aficionados may prefer the smoky flavour of charcoal, but it’s not the greenest choice: a charcoal grill releases twice the carbon of a gas grill, and it emits particulates, volatile organic compounds and ground-level ozone, which adds to smog. Plus, it heats up faster and keeps temperatures consistent, making it more efficient. If charcoal’s your thing, choose a natural lump charcoal that’s free of additives, and eliminate lighter fluids and self-lighting charcoal.

Go for a gas BBQ

Not all fossil fuels are created equal. Natural gas is the cleanest, most energy-efficient fuel for barbecuing, and it burns cleaner than propane. (For a greener choice, look into solar-powered, electric or pellet grills.) Also consider durability and longevity; replacing a cheap grill every few years has far greater environmental impact than investing in a quality grill that lasts for decades.

Green your grill

The classics – steaks, hamburgers, hotdogs and ribs – are always a hit. Also consider grilling vegetables or plant-based meat substitutes. Choose in-season, locally sourced foods. Meats, fruits and veggies transported from afar create more fossil fuel emissions. Make your table greener by buying local and supporting Ontario farmers.

Harness the sunlight

Use solar energy to harness the sun and save electricity. Between solar-powered spotlights, motion lights and those small path lights on stakes, solar lighting can illuminate your walkways, create a warm glow, and turn your favourite fruit tree into a focal point. When choosing lights, consider battery life, durability and lumen rating, or brightness. Position the lights for 6 to 8 hours of full sun a day.

Rethink disposables

Disposable plates and cutlery give you a break from doing dishes, but consider the litter. Besides, a fully loaded, energy-efficient dishwasher is a much greener choice – especially if it was made after new energy-efficiency rules were introduced in 2013. It typically takes about 5 gallons of water to run a full load, compared to 20 gallons or more to wash by hand – plus electricity to heat all that water. And with so much talk about reducing single-use plastics, it’s a great opportunity to show the Joneses you care about the environment.