By Lori Luechtefeld

Cooking outside may keep household kitchens cooler resulting in a reduction in energy usage and cooling costs. (Courtesy of The Green Scene)

With environmental awareness at an all-time high these days, homeowners might question the eco-friendliness of additions to their homes more than they would in the past. Fortunately, outdoor kitchens — especially in light of new products emerging on the market — are relatively green add-ons to any back yard. 

Nearly all outdoor cooking will create some smoke, said Frank Raethke, owner and president of Outdoor Kitchens in Portland, Ore. “It’s nothing like a fireplace or an outdoor burn pit [though],” he said. “It’s pretty minimal. The propane or natural gas used is very small compared with what’s required to heat water.”

Similarly, Deidra Darsa, media and public relations manager for the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association in Arlington, Va., said an outdoor kitchen will not affect the environment any more than an indoor kitchen. “[Also,] cooking outside may help keep indoor cooling costs down during the warmer months since the indoor oven and broiler aren’t heating up the kitchen,” she said.

“There are also new and exciting environment-friendly grills and charcoals on the market that aim to reduce their footprint,” Darsa said. Indeed, lesser-known grilling options for homeowners include:

• infrared grills
• solar-panel grills
• longer burning and all-natural briquettes
• low-ash charcoal

In addition, outdoor kitchen fixtures can be designed and built with conservation in mind. Some outdoor kitchen features make creative use of recycled materials, said Scott Cohen, a garden artisan with Los Angeles-based The Green Scene and www.OutdoorKitchenDesignIdeas.com. <HOME>