Forth Worth, Texas ? Dry out the charcoal or check the propane. One of the most popular days for backyard grilling is upon us.

Rain or shine, the summer breezes are bound to be carrying the scent of brisket and burgers these days. Just remember that the U.S. Department of Energy advises that when the coals are ash and the gas is out, they aren’t gone. They are in the air.

The millions of barbecues lit nationwide on the Fourth of July consumed enough energy to equal the residential demand of a city of about 47,000 for an entire year, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates.

Particulates from grilled meats have been found in air-quality studies in Houston, Los Angeles and Atlanta. A Rice University study in 2003 said barbecuing was a small but significant source of particulate air pollution.

So it pays to grill smart.

Propane, natural gas and electric grills generally are considered easier on the air than charcoal. Proponents of charcoal argue that other fuels create serious emissions, just not in your own back yard.

Here’s a tip: Limit your use of lighter fluids on days when air quality is bad, or use lighter-fluid alternatives

A charcoal chimney, available for $10-$20 at barbecue and home-supply stores, is a replacement for lighter fluid. Set it on the grill, roll up newspaper at the bottom, and pour in charcoal. Light the newspaper.

One example: The Weber RapidFire chimney with a “stay cool” handle. You still need to use heat-resistant barbecue mitts, but the handle doesn’t get as hot as metal or wood. Cost: $13 at Home Depot.

Traditional charcoal briquettes contain wood scraps that normally would end up in a landfill, sawdust, coal, lime – used to create the white ash – binders made of wheat, corn or other plant starch, and borax, which releases briquettes from the mold.

Instant-light briquettes contain all those ingredients, plus an accelerant.

Tip: Let charcoal briquettes burn off accelerants before starting to cook.

Options: Several charcoal brands are releasing briquettes made without additives. One to try is the Original Charcoal Co. It makes Rancher, a nearly additive-free briquette made from South American hardwoods and bound together with yucca starch.

Lump charcoal, which also is called charwood or hardwood charcoal, contains wood from trees or sawmills or wood from scraps of flooring, building materials, furniture or pallets.

Watch out: This kind of charcoal isn’t made into briquettes, so it retains the natural shape of the wood. The outside of the bags doesn’t specify if you are getting tree wood or scraps from a factory. You’ll know if you open the bag and see burnt pieces that resemble tongue-and-groove floorboards or other crafted shapes. Manufacturing scrap isn’t necessarily bad, but consumers can’t tell from the packaging information if the scrap is certified to be clean and chemical free.

One company, Lazzari, says it harvests only dead mesquite and pruned branches from live trees in its Mesquite Charcoal.