Red, White and Green for 4th of July, 2010
The 4th of July is the pinnacle of the summer barbecue season. Last year, over 66 million Americans participated in a barbecue, with a large number of these events taking place on the Fourth. And, according to the Women's Day Magazine, the 4th of July is the day with most beer consumed in the US.
While the 4th of July is a time to celebrate and spend time with friends and family, it is also an opportunity to spread the green love. As a sustainability consultant, I encourage clients to expand eco awareness in all areas of their life- holidays are a great place to start!
There are a number of ways to add eco awareness to your celebration. Here are a few green tips from Sierra Magazine to help reduce the impacts of your grill this weekend:
- Cleaner-burning propane or electric grills are preferable over charcoal fired grills, which contribute more to poor air quality. For those seeking a more sustainable lifestyle, consider a solar oven or a stove avoids emissions altogether.
- For those who do use charcoal, consider lump brands. These are made from real hardwood firewood chunks which have been charred and do not contain chemical binders or igniting agents.
- Switch from lighter fluid, which releases smog-forming VOCs, to a chimney starter.
Incorporating sustainable choices into your daily living not only impacts you but the community and environment in which you live. For those drinking beer this 4th of July, drink responsibly. Oh, and drink organic beer!
Here are 5 good reasons:
- It's good for the environment.
- It represents the latest wave of craft brewery movement.
- If you are a beer drinker, then drinking organic beer is aligned with a sustainable lifestyle.
- Your purchase of organic beer supports the growth of sustainable business.
- It tastes great.
Organic brewers, wineries and distilleries set themselves apart by using only non-synthetic substances in production, and working from crops raised without pesticides or petroleum-based fertilizers. Not sure which organic beers to try? Click here for some suggestions.
Take this 4th of July holiday as an opportunity to add sustainable choices to your celebration and to explore the independence of a sustainable lifestyle.
Julie Urlaub is the founder and managing partner of Taiga Company, a Houston based sustainability consulting firm. Read more blog post connect on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.