Which is more environmentally friendly and/or energy efficient--gas grilling or charcoal?

Question

Hi all,

I'm shopping for a bar-b-q grill, and have used charcoal most of my life, but now I hear that it pollutes the air way worse than propane grills do, promotes deforestation, wastes fuel (burning for long periods of time to warm up, tossing unspent lumps/briquettes if they're not used, etc) and just the process of making even high-quality lump charcoal emits significant greenhouse gasses. But propane is...well, propane, and a petroleum derivative, resulting in oil consumption. Obviously the best way to go is a solar cooker, but I live in upstate NY where we barely get enough sun to grow our vegetables, let alone cook them (especially in my tiny backyard--all the sunny spots are reserved for plants/vegetables). I still plan on making/buying a solar cooker, but in terms of grilling--what is the best solution between traditional charcoal (using the most sustainably harvested woods/chimney starter/etc) and traditional propane?

Thanks!

Answer 1

i appreaciate that you care about the environment this way!

i too care about it, but im too young to know anything about grills. [besides the ones on your teeth! lol]

way to go on planning to buy a solar grill though.

:D

im glad other people care..

Answer 2

Charcoal is a nasty form of heat. Waists trees and gives off carbon monoxide which is very bad for the environment as well as you. Propane burns pretty clean and up until the last 50 years was largely considered waste. Gas was burned at the well head until the oil came out.