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chimney charcoal starter
Summertime or any time, firing up the barbecue is a tasty way to make dinner special. Here's how to make it earth-friendly, too.

Most grills use either natural gas, propane, charcoal, or electricity. Of these options, charcoal causes the most trouble, emitting more carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and soot than any of the others.

"Charcoal grills and lighter fluid also contribute more to ground-level ozone [smog]", says Ana Gomez, of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, not exactly the ambience you're looking for when you invite friends over for a cookout.

Alternatives?

· Use lump charcoal instead of briquettes. Briquettes may contain coal dust and other additives. Lump charcoal actually comes from a tree, and you can find brands from sustainably- managed forests certified by the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program.

· Trade in your lighter fluid. These toxic petroleum distillates produce volatile organic compounds that create smog. No sense ruining your skewers or burgers with an air quality alert, is there?

· Try a chimney charcoal starter (like the one pictured above). Tuck crumpled newspaper into the bottom of the canister, load charcoal on top, and light with a match. You'll be able to pour hot coals onto the fire grate in about 15 minutes.

· Go solar. A solar stove cooks more slowly and won't get you the grilled flavor you enjoy off the barby. But it can't be beat for a clean-cooking cookout.

Where to buy

· Chimney charcoal starter - They average $15 on Google.

· Solar oven - The "sport solar oven" costs $150, but you'll never buy charcoal or other cooking fuel again.

* Gas grill - This website lists dozens of grill choices by brand. Start with the page, "What to look for?" Don't buy a larger appliance than you need or you'll end up wasting energy and money.
grilling meat
Grilling or broiling meats at extremely high temperatures can form carcinogenic hydrocarbons if fat from the meat, fish or poultry drips onto hot coals and shoots back onto your food. Have a healthier cookout by choosing lean meats; trimming the fat; and marinating in citrus juices, olive oils and herbs. Be safer yet, and grill vegetable kebabs or skewers of pineapple, melon and other fruit .

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE- I know Green Purse Alerts! have been scarce these last two months. But there's a good reason. I'm writing a new book, Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World, and my deadline is fast approaching. Come September, you can expect to receive your Purse Alerts! on a regular schedule again.

One more thing: Several readers have suggested the Alerts! come from Big Green Purse rather than me personally to avoid looking like spam. So let your spam blocker know that future Purse Alerts! from Big Green Purse are allowed. Thanks!

You can find more environmentally-friendly shopping ideas at the Shop Green Here pages of www.biggreenpurse.com

By the way, if you want to pass this information along to a friend, just click on the Forward button right below my signature.

Talk to you again soon,

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Diane MacEachern
Big Green Purse

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