GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

NUTS

9/13/2018

Two colleagues and members of the Going True Green team created a video when in Boston last month. They saw an opportunity to send me a zinger and they were intrigued to see my reaction. Below is the video:

My return text to them was one word, NUTS. The same answer used by Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe's in World War Two's Battle of the Bulge. When I saw them a few weeks later, they were laughing as I slowly shook my head. We then laughed and shared how they made the short video.

Nevertheless, the point made is well known and with that understanding, the improvement and development of energy storage advances each year.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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This Sustainable Living Is Killing Me!

8/10/2018

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GoingTrueGreen.com

I have done national and international energy saving and sustainability consulting for many individuals, couples, businesses, corporations, organizations and nonprofits over the years. Recently I received some positive feedback from a client at a dinner party. This client had implemented the majority of my recommendations to live a more sustainable life. The feedback I was given is the title of this blog, however the comment was positive!

The statement was made in jest as my client realized that one ingredient was still missing for preparing dinner. The conversation went as follows:

My client and host, who was preparing for a dinner party, expelled with half a smile, “Oooh, now I have to get parsley. I picked and washed the carrots, string beans, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, eggplant and blueberries, but I still need to get parsley for the main course. This sustainable living is killing me.”

“But don’t you have some in your herb garden?” queried another guest.

“Yes, but I have to go out and pick it.” Replied our host and then added, “Yet, much easier, and faster than getting into a car and driving to the food store to buy.”

We all laughed because my client has accomplished many money saving and environmental actions such as:

No electrical costs.
Only $500 per year in Natural Gas to heat the house and make domestic hot water.
Water costs have been drastically reduced with dual flushed toilets and rain barrels.
Discounts and tax credits have been received for energy saving actions taken.
Living healthier with fresh picked organically grown food in the backyard.
Savings realized with no need to buy fertilizer or mulch by making their own compost.
More efficient recycling actions has also created income and waste reduction.

The details to accomplish each of the above is based on each individual need and lifestyle, nevertheless, all can be achieved without any sacrifice to how one lives. Each action has many variables and sub-steps that I identify when consulting, each action has to be implemented based on savings and payback working in tandem with one’s own budget of time and money.

The end results are enormous and we get to enjoy sharing what we do to obtain a more sustainable life. From mouths hanging open because of no more electric bill and to comments like these:

“This is the most delicious tomato I have ever eaten. I have eaten many tomatoes in my life. I am 90 years old! What is your secret to growing these amazing tomatoes?”

"Oh, what are your electric costs?" Someone would ask me at a party.
“I don’t have any electric costs,” would be my reply.

How is this done?… The answers are at GoingTrueGreen.com

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Save Money, Energy, Water, Earth and Health while living happier without any sacrifices!

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Venture Into the Past to Prepare for the Future!

8/2/2018

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1925 Marshall Fields III Mansion, aka OceansWide's Land Base

Sitting on the top of a hill and overlooking the waters between Long Island and Connecticut is a 1925 Mansion built by Marshall Fields the third. This roaring twenties structure is now in the care of OceansWide organization that will be operating educational adventures at sea and on land.

I am very happy to be one of the teachers with OceansWide organization. Programs are already underway for this summer and signing up for any one of the programs offered will not disappoint. Building and Flying ROVs, Scuba Diving, Mansion Tours, Nature Walks, as well as Sustainable Living and Survival classes are just a small selection of the ventures waiting to be discovered.

Some of the programs allow a lunch break where you can enjoy the view of Long Island’s Sound or walk the trail rumored to be used by patriots of the Revolutionary war and then have lunch at the Cove where some say the 21 year old Nathan Hale came ashore from Connecticut before being captured by the British.

This month of August, adults who pay utility bills can sign up for one of the two times I will be teaching Sustainable Living. Learn how to save money, energy, and earth by living a more sustainable life without any sacrifice to our current lifestyle. The class is offered on Thursdays, August 9th or the 16th starting at 11 in the morning. Students of all ages will enjoy sitting on sofas in the Mansion’s main living room for the class and lunch will be on the promenade overlooking the Long Island Sound. Class will conclude around 2:00 pm. For more information please visit:

Information on OceansWide Organization
Info and Schedule on Programs (My program is titled Environmental Science-Outside and Inside the Home)
Register for a Program

OceansWide is a non-profit organization whose mission is to put students of all ages together with scientists at sea and on land. OceansWide’s team is made up of a dedicated group of scientists, teachers and marine professionals who believe it is important to educate people about the amazing and mysterious world we live on.

Please consider signing up with your family and friends for various programs now and throughout the year. I will look forward to seeing Going True Green members at my programs.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Sustainable Summertime Supper

7/23/2018

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A Sustainable Summertime Supper

The flavors I enjoy with my sustainable summertime suppers are non-existent in supermarket bought food and to relish these types of meals as often as I can make possible, is worth the labor. For I am saving Money, Energy and Earth while living happier and healthier by growing some of my own food in my small backyard.

The dish above shows my Homegrown Organic Fresh Picked carrots and string beans briefly sautéed in olive and flaxseed oil. The flavor from the carrots was amazing and the string beans was incomparable. Both were picked just twenty minutes before preparing the meal.

My salad was also just picked from my garden. Fresh Picked Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes were outstanding with a little homemade dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top.

The main entree was Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon that adhered to Alaska's Department of Fish and Game laws as well as Alaska's acclaimed salmon science based management programs, research, and sustainable salmon policies. Slowly BBQ over Apple flavored hardwood pellets, which is a renewable source of fuel, after being marinated in Flaxseed oil with a few seasonings from my herb garden growing in clay pots. A dash of basil, garlic and dill contributed to the exclusive taste.

My drink was pure clean distilled water, made in my water distiller that costs .33 cents per gallon in electricity. However, I am producing more Solar Electric power than I consume, so this was FREE for me since I just had a full Return on my Solar Investment last month. The water was served nice and cold in a glass, made of glass that contributes no carcinogens into my food or drink. The energy efficient refrigerator that made the water cold also operates off of the same Solar Electric system.

My ceramic dish, cloth napkin, (left side of image) homemade burlap table runner (not shown) and cloth placemat on a solid oak table (top edge of photo) designed and handmade with non-electric tools by the Amish, rounds-off the connecting factors for me to save money, energy and our environment while enjoying a supper with unbelievable flavors!

Yet, I have one more tantalizing ingredient to add... Dessert! A large piece of Blueberry pie.
Fresh picked Blueberries with condensed milk and a graham cracker crust. That was delicious.

However, the most delicious part of this blog is that everyone can also do some or all of the above. Peruse my previous Going True Green blog post called: Benefits to Growing Our Own Food and the other Links above.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Benefits To Growing Our Own Food

7/16/2018

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blueberries, blueberry jam, preserves, Composting, compost, gardens, top soil, fertilizer, going green, sustainable living, sustainability

Fresh Picked Blueberries

I believe I can safely say that everyone who is reading my Going True Green Blog at this time is blessed to have shelter, an apartment or house of some type. That fact offers all of us a powerful gift where we can grow some food for ourselves!

Perhaps we have a window ledge inside our apartment windows or access to the building’s flat roof that has been approved as a “green roof” by an architectural and engineer firm. Is there a balcony or some space for clay pots? (Try to avoid plastic pots because only glass, porcelain and wax paper do not leach carcinogens into our food or drink) Maybe we are fortunate to have a small back yard, plot of land or blessed to have a half acre or more of property.

No matter what the situation we have, we should be growing food for ourselves and perhaps some to share! The reasons and benefits to do so are numerous and the “How To” is much easier than we think.

Benefits and Reasons:
Save Money
No Pesticides
No Growth Hormones
No Chemicals or Fertilizers
No Genetically Modified Food
Cooking and Eating Healthier
Make Money Selling Surplus Crops
Self Satisfaction when Sharing with Others
Enjoying the Amazing Taste of Fresh Picked Food
Enjoying Time Together to Can or make Preserves
Abounding Compliments when Sharing with Others
Peace Within Ourselves when Giving to others at Church’s Food Kitchen
Less Trips to the Food Store, just Harvest Our Own Freshly Grown Food
Having Homemade Gifts for others at Christmas, such as Blueberry Preserves or Grape Jam

How To:
The first step to growing our own food is to start making our own Top Soil and Fertilizer, AKA - Composting.

Composting, compost, gardens, top soil, fertilizer, going green, sustainable living, sustainability

Compost Strainer in Sink

Placing an open curved stainless steel strainer in the corner of your sink starts us off. When preparing a meal, deposit all food scrapes into the strainer, but NO meat or dairy. Never compost Meat, Fish, Bones, Cheese, Oil, Fats, Diseased Plants, Coal, Cat Litter, Plastics and Paper with Ink or print.

When the strainer is full, place contents into the compost bin. Let it be a small one for under the sink in apartments or a larger bin for outside. Compost bins come in all sizes and designs. Building one is also feasible, just make sure there is enough air flow to assist in decomposition. If there are animals about the outdoor area, make sure the compost bin locks tight to keep out all woodland neighbors.

Outdoor Compost Bin

Never have any one element in the compost bin build up to more than 2 inches high. A good blend of food scrapes, leaves, small twigs, dried out weeds, is the best way to go. Grass clippings should be used like salt. Just sprinkle on a little ever now and then, but grass is not necessary. Egg shells and coffee grinds are great and about 10 weeks later the finished product will be nutrient rich top soil that will nourish plants and keep weeds from growing.

Currently GTG is looking into finding a company to Sponsor an OnLine Class/Workshop at GoingTrueGreen.com about methods and benefits to composting. This OnLine Class/Workshop will operate like our FIRST money and earth saving Inter-Active On-Line Workshop on WATER. For more Info please visit our webpage at:
GTG's WATER Workshop and view our Trailer below.

The end results would be amazing if everyone, who could, started to grow some food. Even businesses and corporations that have big lawns, which cost them money, could be making money by having the land yield a crop such as organic corn. For most parts of America there are two crops of corn per year based on the weather. Every time I see a half acre or more of land that is not used for sports but has grass, grass and more grass, I see a waste compared to what God's Green Earth can yield for us in food. If everyone did what they could, we would have no need for Genetically Modified Food to feed the masses, because the masses will be feeding themselves. Thus we could delete hunger in our country, in our world.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Video Trailer Above is for Going True Green's OnLine WATER Workshop. For More Info CLICK HERE
Our GTG OnLine WATER Workshop is sponsored by BBV Publishing - Telling the Untold Stories

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Fruit of the Vine

6/27/2018

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wine, grapes, going green, going true green, grape vines, grape jam, eating grapes, amish, peaceful valley, pergola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, LED, LEDs, red grapes, patio, Peaceful Valley Furniture

Grapes abound on my Pergola made by the Amish

Five years ago, within my budget of little time and money, I began working on building a patio with a grape vine overhead. My entire backyard project is ten years in the making and I am still working toward completion.

Nevertheless, this year I should enjoy the fruits of my labor on the patio section and I believe my Grandfather would be proud. I planted two grape vines 5 years ago, one is Swen Red grapes for eating and the other, Bluebell for making jam.

I selected these two vines for their ability to flourish in my zone of weather patterns and to have organic grapes that have several medicinal values. The parts to my wooden Pergola kit were custom made to size by the Amish. The ordering and coordination was done through the Peaceful Valley Furniture store in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The customer service and workmanship was impeccable.

Peaceful Valley's Pergola

So while my grape vines where growing along my new fence, the Pergola was delivered at the end of August and pouring the cement footings was paramount before the weather turned cold at night. I didn't have the time to complete the top of the Pergola until November and the sand for the patio stones sat all winter long in a pile.

I installed Bistro style lights across the Pergola's top and each light bulb you see in the image to the right uses only 1 watt of electricity. They are LED bulbs and they are operating off of Solar electric power. The entire set of lights consumes a total of 15 watts of electricity, but is providing a light level equivalent to 375 watts of old style Edison incandescent bulbs.

First crop of Bluebell grapes

At the end of last year's growing season I had a small crop of grapes, however the night before harvest, the birds, squirrels and cats had a war. Despite my Owl facsimile, the next morning I found all the red eating grapes gone. Not one was left. The squirrels must have torn open my netting, the birds ate the grapes and cats ate some birds. The patio floor told the tale of a brutal scene. Smashed red grapes with squirrel and cat foot prints stained the stone, bird feathers were everywhere and a torn off bird's leg was left behind. For some reason, most of the Bluebell grapes survived and I was able to make a few jars of jam.

This year after the arrival of the patio table and benches, all made from 100% recycled plastic, many friends and family have expressed their enjoyment of the ambience created under the grape vines. Almost everyone has asked me why not grow grapes for making wine? My Grandfather made wine with his grapes and I remember all the work involved. So I am leaving the wine making to the professionals. The only thing left for me to do is buy a stronger netting before this year's harvest.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Sustainable Payback With Solar

6/12/2018

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Above Data is tracked, recorded and presented by Tesla Incorporated

Three Years, Eight Months ago... I went with Photovoltaic Solar Panels for producing electricity at my house. This month I saved the complete amount of my cost to install the panels. The reasons for my fast Three year and Eight month Return on my investment starts with having an energy efficient house. The actions I have taken to live a more sustainable life and have a very energy efficient house took about 12 years prior to implement. Nevertheless, these energy efficient actions taken are NOT rocket science. The estimated "reach" of 1.7 million people who can access my Going True Green blog posts know that obtaining optimum energy efficiency isn't difficult when you have all the facts and done within your own budget of time and money. With my energy efficient house and solar panels, I have not had an electric bill above the 9 to 13 dollars per month service fees from my Electric Utility.

The second reason for the fast payback is due to my research and evaluation of many Solar companies. (Several of the companies that I did not go with are now out of business or their suppliers have bowed out) Product performance was also key, knowing where the products were manufactured, who installed what components and comparing the costs between Lease programs or buying.

The third reason is because I was confident enough with my knowledge of Solar to be one of the first to take the leap ahead. The timing was perfect because the best offers were being made as well as the best tax credits. I did a Lease Program that offered a 33% discount on the total cost if I pre-paid the twenty years of lease payments up front. I then received a tax credit from the Federal Government and the State that was equal to half of my up front cost.

So when I reached a savings of $6,000.00 this month, I had a full Return on my investment. In fact, I have been producing more electricity than I consume, thus suppling power back onto the Grid. Yes, I have AC cooling the house and the lights (LEDs) are on at night. As I took action to live a more sustainable life, I have saved money, energy, our environment and all without making any sacrifices. I am living healthier and happier as I try to present the educational facts through my GoingTrueGreen.com and EnergyHotwire.com websites that provide assistance to everyone who visits.

One additional note... Since installing Solar on my house, several neighbors followed and the value of my house has increased.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Paint vs Trees

5/31/2018

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Image by BSS Los Angeles

After a pilot program in the neighborhood of Canoga Park in San Fernando Valley, California thinks they have an answer to the Urban Heat Island Effect. This is when miles and miles of asphalt, aka blacktop, heats up in the hot sun light. As the surface temperatures of the blacktop road increase, so does the ambient heat that radiates throughout the surrounding air. This can cause an average air temperature increase of 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

So they tested painting the blacktop roads white. The pilot program was declared a success... A success for wet skid tests, durability and lower surface temperatures. Now we all know a lighter color and the color white will reflect heat as darker colors will absorb heat, thus an average 10 to 15 degree decrease was noted with this CoolSeal white paint that is applied twice.

End result, many are saying this is a half baked idea because several concerns are not answered. The first thing I thought about was the paint, with only a 7 year life expectancy, wearing off and washing down the sewers. This in turn will go into our waterways. Was this part of the testing? I found no answer. Next thing I thought about was a solution as easy as planting trees. The solution is planting trees and will cost far less than the $40,000.00 per mile to paint. Additionally, trees last far longer than 7 years, while not putting any paint into our waterways and drinking water tables.

For clarification, when I speak of planting trees, I don't mean Palm trees that cast less shade. Now with extreme heat areas, the water supply for some trees that cast more shade may be crucial. This can be solved by allowing Homeowners on the block to collect rain water off the roof in any number of ways. The extra water supply can be used for their flowers and the trees by the curb. Also looking into building codes to see if lighter color roof material is standard or should become the new code. Light color roof material lowers air cooling costs for Homeowners and when matched with a minimum of R30 insulation on the attic floor, along with a Solar Powered Attic fan, money is saved big time. One more thing, make sure Homeowners have the right amount of open vent space for their attics. Details on all of this can be perused under my Insulation Category found on the right side of this page.

UPDATE: While researching for this topic, I found that the state of Arizona also had the idea of painting roads white presented to them. They have decided to take the side of complete logic by looking into increasing the canopy and foliage along their roads. Smart.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Caught Looking! Strike Three!

5/16/2018

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The WSJ printed an article on May 13, 2018 with the title:
Recycling, Once Embraced by Businesses and Environmentalists Now Under Siege

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Back on February 17, 2016 I posted on my Going True Green Blog: Is Recycling Striking Out? So just over two years later, we have a serious situation for township's recycling programs. A situation that was rapidly developing when I posted my blog and asked if America's Recycling programs would be caught "Looking" at Home plate for strike three. With the Wall Street Journal's article, I believe we just heard the umpire yell, "You're Out!"

America continued recycling the same easy and cheap way only to now find ourselves sending unwanted recyclable items to Landfills again. I strongly suggest for everyone to read my 2016 Going True Green blog post again, the Link is above in Green, and then look up the WSJ article by Bob Tita. As individual's we need to notify our Town's Recycling Departments that we need to go back to the multi-layer sorting system and that we are not allergic to work. We are all capable of spending a few extra minutes to sort our paper from plastic and glass from cardboard, before putting it to the curb. The bottom line is the fact that, "Three strikes you're out" does not just apply to America's past time called Baseball.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Solving The Individual

4/22/2018

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Solving The Individual
(What Earth Day Should Be About)

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Accountability for each of us as an individual has become the casualty of the current Environmental Movement from both sides of the spectrum. When I was young, we were learning about doing something as an individual to help with the environmental movement. Today we have many names, Global Warming, Climate Change, and Sustainability. Unfortunately with the changing names, so did accountability change. We as individuals no longer accept blame, we no longer take the time to learn how to make a significant change to help our world. We blame the other side, we accuse the other to be the enemy or we expect a government to save the day with mandates. We as an individual have become faultless and we as individuals have become the problem.

When I was young I had a lasting impression made on me by a television commercial. I will never forget the tear coming down the face of the actor who represented Native Americans after viewing the ways people littered upon the water and land from his canoe. The elements were multi-leveled and yet the message was very simple: We as an individual can make the difference.

I know this to be true because my own actions over the past thirty years are slowly, but surely, directing me to Going True Green someday. I spent the time learning, presenting and implementing solutions. Everyday solutions for individuals that range from Basement to Attic, from Appliances to Water Use, from Composting to Recycling, from Photovoltaic Solar Cells to Geothermal, from foregoing what is in vogue to taking the right actions as individuals. The end result saves us all Money, Energy, Water, Air, our Health, and our world's environment. All while living happier and without any sacrifices.

When as an individual we make a difference in our own home, we can then take those solutions to our workplace and eventually set the examples for governments to follow. Sadly this is no longer taking place to any great extent. Some of us may focus on one objective such as installing solar panels or changing incandescent light bulbs to LEDs. While this is productive, one or two elements is not the complete topic. We may have challenged ourselves to accomplish one project so we may feel less guilty, but we fail to understand the complete picture. Today we have the two extreme sides guilty of the same fault. A well known business person may take steps to protect money being made by claiming there isn’t anything to worry about because Climate Change isn’t real. While on the other side we see well known individuals making money with various media presentations by claiming the sky is falling. Both sides are being irresponsible because they have one thing in common: Greed.

This leaves us without all the facts and we easily deviate from the truth. Either extreme only instills fear; and fear cripples all critical cognitive thinking, responsibility, progress and solutions. We as an individual will make the difference when we become accountable and learn all the solutions we can do for each topic element, instead of focusing on just one issue or one type of argument. Pope Francis described the results of these acts in one sentence, “The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast.”

So this Earth Day, ask yourself what have YOU done to save MONEY by reducing consumption of: Electricity, Oil, Gas, Water, Air, Plastic, Fertilizers, Weed Killers, Paper, Trees and our world's environment? What have you done to understand all the elements involved with the furniture, appliances and clothes in your possession? What kind of soap do you use and how many chemicals are under your sink when vinegar or lemon juice accomplishes the same objective? How much Garbage do you put to the curb and how much do you really Recycle? Every aspect of our lives, every decision is yours and only yours. All this sustainable living is accomplished while being happier, healthier and without making any sacrifices. We are all one team as an individual, period.

Earth Day is a teaching moment and should be about solutions for us as individuals. Nevertheless, if we don’t solve ourselves first, then humankind will never solve anything.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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