Have a Better Barbecue

Summer and barbecues go hand in hand. But, did you know that your backyard barbecue can cause harmful carbon emissions? Especially when it is used improperly or with outdated equipment.  Below, find our top tips for having an eco-friendly barbecue.  

Find a fresh fuel
New fuels can reduce your harmful emissions and maybe even make your food cook better. For charcoal grills, look for organic or natural lump brands. Liquid petroleum gas is an even better alternative as it emits one hundred times less CO₂ than the average charcoal briquette. Avoid lighter fluids and self-lighting charcoals, as these fuels release chemicals into the atmosphere.  

Cut your cooking time
Reduce the amount of time you are burning fuel. Don’t preheat too long. Most grills only take five or ten minutes to warm up. Keep track of time and conserve your fuel and energy.

Clean your grill regularly
A clean grill means less smoke and less pollution. Use an all-natural grill cleaner green to scrub down your grill when the party is over.

Don't do disposable 
We all know it's tempting but don't create waste by using disposable dishes. Use reusable cutlery and washable cloths instead of napkins. If you must use paper plates, look for biodegradable or  recycled eco-friendly options.

Follow these tips and have a great summer! Happy Grilling!

Last Minute Eco-Friendly Holiday Ideas

It is the season for giving! Here at National Home Services, we were thrilled with the results of our Holiday Toy Drive for SickKids Hospital. During this time of giving, we try our best to remember to be green whenever possible. We are delivering our donations unwrapped but, one of the biggest areas of holiday waste is in packaging and wrapping.

Check out our tips to reduce the amount of packaging and wrapping you use.

• Try out reusable wrapping ideas, like cloth bags, baskets and boxes.
• Recycle your newspapers, brown paper bags or Christmas flyers into wrapping paper.
• Instead of sending Christmas cards, send e-cards to your friends and loved ones.
• Bring your own bags when shopping. Keep them in your purse or car so they are nearby when needed.
• Think about alternative gifts that require no wrapping, like theatre tickets, museum passes, or gift certificates.
• Give homemade gifts like these Gifts in a Jar. Check here for more recipes.

If everyone in Canada wrapped just three gifts in reused paper or gift bags, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 hockey rinks!

8 Tips to Curb Your Waste

The Holiday season is here! Whether your plans include hosting or traveling, use our 8 tips to curb your waste and your carbon footprint. 

1. Take inventory on the pantry. If you can avoid a trip to the store, you'll save time, fuel and money. 
2. When you've used up an ingredient, make sure to rinse the container and recycle. 
3. If you are cooking the turkey in an aluminum pan, don't throw it away! By clearing it of all food waste and rinsing it out, you may be able to recycle it instead. As always, be sure to check with your city to make sure. 
4. Serve cans of beer without fear. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable and easier to process than glass. Consider making the switch to cans this season. 
5. Pack the freezer with your leftover turkey and fixings instead of throwing away. The fuller the freezer, the more efficient it becomes. Save energy and prevent food waste from heading to the landfill. 
6. Don't want leftover dry goods to go stale? Consider sharing your extra food with the less fortunate this season. Prevent food waste by helping someone in need. Donate to a food bank or shelter. 
7. Holiday traffic is the worst! Spare yourself the trouble and hit the road early. Stop-and-go driving adds wear and tear to your vehicle and the environment. Beat the rush and do them both a favour. 
8. Give the host or hostess a real gift, not extra trash. Wrap presents in recyclable or reusable materials. 

Happy Holidays! Good luck managing your "waste" line this year! 

Green Grilling and Your Summer BBQ

Summer and barbecues go hand in hand. Unfortunately, your backyard barbecue can cause harmful carbon emissions, especially when used improperly or with outdated equipment. Thankfully, new technology offers options for a lower carbon footprint so that we can happily enjoy the summer barbecue season. Below, find our top tips for having an eco-friendly barbecue.  

If you are in the market for a new grill:

• Consider an electric grill. They are an economical option and release 99 per cent less carbon monoxide and 91 per cent less CO₂ than grilling with traditional charcoal.
• A natural gas grill is also a good option. Natural gas burns as the cleanest fossil fuel, with a lower carbon footprint than propane.
• An infrared grill is a good investment if you are willing to spend a bit more. They heat quickly, decrease smoke emissions by up to 80 per cent and use 50 per cent less gas.

 If you already have a barbecue:

• Select cleaner burning fuels. For charcoal grills, look for organic or natural lump brands. Liquid petroleum gas is an even better alternative as it emits one hundred times less CO₂ than the average charcoal briquette. Avoid lighter fluids and self-lighting charcoals, as these fuels release chemicals into the atmosphere.  
• Don’t preheat too long. Most grills only take five or ten minutes to warm up. Keep track of time and conserve your fuel and energy.
• Clean your grill regularly. A clean grill means less smoke and less pollution.
• Use an all-natural grill cleaner green to scrub down your grill when the party is over.
• Avoid disposable dishes. Use reusable cutlery and washable cloths instead of napkins. If you have to use paper plates, look for biodegradable or  recycled eco-friendly options.

 Do you have any tips we’ve missed? Please share in the comments. 

Stay Eco-Smart While Entertaining

Here is the last post in our series an energy efficient holiday season! Today we will focus on keeping your home appliances running efficiently while entertaining and baking.

Kitchen Tips

• Keep the oven closed and use your oven light to check cooking progress. Your oven loses heat every time you open it to check on your baking.
• Wash dishes by hand, but don't keep the water flowing. Fill the sink once and rinse your dishes in cool water.
• Wait until you have a full load to run your dishwasher.
• Cook smart – plan out that meal to make the most of oven time. Turkey roasting at 400 degrees? Choose sides that can go in the oven at the same temperature.
• Embrace leftovers – ask everyone to bring a reusable container to fill with leftovers to take home.
• Make it easy – put out clearly labeled trash, compost and recycling containers so your guests don’t have to guess what goes where.

Vacation tips

• Unplug your appliances while you are away to stop them from draining unnecessary energy
• Turn your heat down (but not off!) and shut the doors of unused rooms
• Check if your water heater has a vacation setting and use it while you are out of town

Most of all enjoy spending time with your family and loved ones and enjoy the last week of 2012!