The season for backyard barbecues and fun filled days at amusement parts is quickly approaching. Summer is such a special time. The weather's nicer, beaches are open, colors are brighter and the days are much longer. Around the house, flowers and plants are in full bloom, children are playing outside and big, bothersome bees are buzzing away. If you live in a location that experiences four seasons, then summertime is always a refreshing break from cold, harsh winters. Summer is a time for celebrations, graduations, 4th of July festivities, and other outdoor activities. The truth is that there is usually so much going on during the summer. Some of the daily activities that people participate in are not always eco centric or safe for the environment. So, what steps can you take to be sure that your summer is eco-friendly?
Who doesn't love to bring out the grill during the summer? It certainly is the season for good eating. There's nothing like the taste of food hot and fresh off the grill. Certain people favor charcoal grills because of the unique, smoked flavor that it gives to food. Unfortunately, charcoal isn't too environmentally friendly or safe for your body. Charcoal or charred food has been linked to the dreaded "C" word. That's right, you guessed it. Cancer! You want to be sure that the grilling that you do is safe for yourself and the other people that you serve food to. Using a gas grill is actually better than using a charcoal grill. Using a gas grill will not produce as much fumes and pollutants as a charcoal grill will.
If you still refuse to make the switch to a gas grill, try using a pollutant free charcoal briquette brand such as Greenlink Charcoal which is 100% chemical free. When grilling, it also certainly helps to precook your meat and to be sure to cut the fat off of the meat. The fatty parts of the meat produce flames and flares once on the grill. Slower cooking of food on the grill will create less charring.
(2) Waterbottles and Plastic
It's hot outside and plastic water bottles will be purchased by millions of people this summer. It will definitely help the environment if more people would invest in reusable BPA free water bottles. You'll especially want a water bottle that is able to filter out contaminants and chlorine. Let's not forget about the plastic that is used so frequently at parties and events during the summer. By using less plastic materials, you can reduce your waste imprint on the Earth. $15 billion dollars are spent each year on water bottles and 35 billion pounds of plastics are thrown away every year. According to the Clean Air Council, between 827,000-1.3 million tons of plastic water bottles were produced in 2006. These statistics show that society is engaging in practices that are not economically sound or environmentally friendly. Try to utilize cutlery and dishware that are reusable this summer.
(3) Carbon Offsets for Reducing Carbon Footprint
If you're planning on traveling this summer, many places offer Carbon Offset packages. If you're not sure why purchasing a carbon offset package would be helpful for the environment, this is how it works: Traveling by car or by airplane can have a negative impact on the environment. These methods of transportation emit CO2 into the air. There are websites like Terrapass, Expedia, Native Energy and Travelocity, which allow you to calculate your carbon foot print (the amount of carbon that you've emitted into the air when completing various activities) and purchase a carbon offset. The carbon offset basically allows you to sow funds into environmental and conservation organizations to help remove the CO2 that you placed into the air by traveling.
Of course traveling is not the only way that the environment can be negatively impacted. Weddings, parties and events are also quite prevalent during the summer. You can even calculate your carbon footprint for weddings and parties on Terrapass. These websites offer a great way for people to understand how every day activities and actions can severely impact the environment.
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