Edited by Boston Educator Brian Stilwell, tips from the Center for American Progress article.

Nothing quite says “summer” like an outdoor BBQ, and at ACE, we’re as excited as you are to get outside and start grilling those burgers and veggie burgers! However, have you ever stopped to consider the carbon impact of this activity?

According to the Center for American Progress, more than 60 million households are expected to fire up the grill during each holiday weekend this summer, releasing approximately 225,000 metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere! Whoa — who knew?

But never fear, the Center for American Progress didn’t just supply us with a startling statistic, they also armed us with six easy steps we can all take this summer to significantly reduce your BBQ emissions. Here they are:

1. Use a propane, gas, or electric grill. These three grills burn more efficiently than charcoal or wood, which means cleaner air for you to breathe and fewer pollutants released into the atmosphere.

2. Use natural charcoal. If you do choose charcoal choose a natural lump brand—you can find a great list of brands over at greenyour.com. Avoid briquettes, which can contain coal dust, sodium nitrate, sawdust, starch, or limestone. These can all release toxic byproduct. Briquettes soaked in lighter fluid are the worst offenders—they release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs that contribute to smog when burned.

3. Lay off the lighter fluid. Petroleum-based lighter fluid releases harmful VOCs, too. To get your grill going, use a chimney starter, electrical charcoal starter, or another do-it-yourself fire starter.

4. Buy only what you need. Count up your guests, and buy food only for that number to ensure that leftovers don’t go to waste.

5. Focus on the food. Your eco-minded guests will certainly appreciate grass-fed beef burgers, pesticide-free lettuce, and especially home-grown tomatoes. Organic beer or wine will also reduce the impact of your meal, and serving filtered water from a pitcher instead of bottled water will keep your guests hydrated while minimizing trash. Pick up some mushrooms from the farmer’s market or veggie burgers for a meat-free meal that will really reduce the impact of your food.

6. Ditch the disposables. Use reusable plates, cups, and silverware instead of paper or plastic disposable ones. If you’re using plastic utensils, consider collecting them at the end of the night and washing them for reuse. Or find some compostable utensils made of potato or cornstarch.

Read more from the Center for American Progress’s “It’s Easy Being Green” series here.