Going True Green
  • GTG Home
    • GTG Contact Us
    • GTG's Clients
    • GTG's Team
    • Credentials
    • Advertise on GTG Blogs
    • Sponsor a GTG Video, OnLine Class or CheckList
    • GTG Survey
    • How and When to Fly Old Glory
    • Legal Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
  • GTG Blog
    • Blog Preface
    • Blog Awards
    • Interview with Bill Lauto
  • GTG Insta
  • GTG MEMBERSHIP
    • Become A GTG Member
    • GTG Members' Input
    • Members Only Page >
      • GTG Videos & Podcasts
      • GTG OnLine Classes
      • GTG PDF Check Lists
      • GTG Question Request
  • GTG ENGAGEMENTS
    • Planned & Previous Presentations
    • Request Speaker Info
    • Presentation Survey
    • GTG AUDITS
  • GTG Galleries
    • GTG Gear Gallery
    • GTG Print Gallery
    • GTG Book Gallery

Going True Green Blog:

Please use our SEARCH BOX above to find a specific subject. Also use our ​Membership link to receive access to valued benefits.  This GTG Blog started on Earth Day 2013. Also see our "blog" style postings dating back to 1995 from our original two websites, as well as articles written and published since 1982 at our link Yesteryear Articles & Blogs.

See the Back Story - Blog Preface

Nuclear Reality Check

1/27/2014

3 Comments

 
I revisited one of my previous Blog postings on Nuclear Power that had been posted on EnergyHotwire.com dated April 20, 2011. (The postings on EnergyHotwire are no longer available, but I am slowly updating them to be posted on GoingTrueGreen.com. Thank you for being patient with this move, because I have Blog postings going back to 2001 and articles going back to 1987.)
Ronald Reagan, USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrierAircraft carrier is a small floating city
The reason why I revisited and now re-posting on GoingTrueGreen's Blog is because of the updated news I read today about sailors from the USS Ronald Reagan Aircraft carrier and seals dying in Alaska.

America sent U.S. Navy sailors on the USS Ronald Reagan to Japan for support and help with the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. After a few days off the coast, a snow fall fell upon the ship, a snowball fight between sailors on deck and contaminated water used on-board, many after returning home were reported to have thyroid cancer, Leukemia and brain tumors. If this is true and the report about 71 sailors only in their twenties, having radiation sickness caused by Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy plants that exploded, this is a horror. Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) downplayed the dangers of nuclear radiation leaking from the site initially, thus causing many to enter into harms way.

Nature and humankind is damaged far greater by the nuclear power plants exploding then by a tsunami. Seals have been reported to be losing hair and dying off the coast of Alaska and California. Also Sea Lions, Polar Bears, Bald Eagles, Sea Stars, Turtles, King and Sockeye Salmon, Herring, Anchovies and Sardines in the Western part of North America are suffering and dying in large numbers. If this is from Fukushima Daiichi's disaster, then we have contaminated a major food supply.

We humans are our own worst enemy. We drill up oil in the gulf and it leaks into the gulf coast. We polluted the waters of the east coast, and now the west cost and Gulf of Alaska may need to post warnings.

Therefore, my blog posting written back on April 20, 2011 is published once more below. With today's news about the sailors and wildlife, the words I wrote 3 years ago about nuclear power, hold an unpropitious truth.


Read More
3 Comments

Home Heating Systems

1/20/2014

0 Comments

 
heating, heat, oil heat, gas heat, heating system, saving heat, saving energy, going green, goingtruegreen, environment, fire, boiler, furnance, warm air, baseboard, oil bills, oil, gas, cold outsideHow much more efficient are we today?
Winter brings colder temperatures to most of America. The majority of Americans no longer keep warm with a fire similar to the one shown or heat their houses with a fireplace. However the way we heat our houses, on average, is not that efficient. We are wasting on average, 60% of the fuel we consume. Let the fuel be oil, gas, propane gas, coal or wood.

How would you like to lower your heating bills by an average of 60%? I know this sounds too good to be true. Well, the good news is that this is true and you don't need solar panels or any rocket science to address your heating issues. All you need is the knowledge and data to apply the correct application of current technology to save money, energy and Earth. We have the technology, but don't expect your oil  or gas company to teach you the details. They want to sell you fuel, they don't want Trade Secrets or Insider's Info utilized to consume less. Now while I am unable to provide all the data in just one blog (that is why I have EnergyHotWire.com and GoingTrueGreen.com) I can tell you about myself practicing what I preach...


"When I purchased my first and only house after years of renting, I learned the previous owners consumed at least 1,000 gallons of heating oil per year. After 2 years of energy saving steps, I only used 290 gallons. I received a payback on the energy saving steps within 3 winters. Today I am using 265 gallons of oil per year and this is all without making sacrifices. I do not put on a big wool sweater so I can lower the heat. The same is true for my electric bill when it comes to lights and electronics."
So what did I do? Below is the list of the steps I did to save a great deal of money, energy and our environment. Nevertheless, there are many variables involved so please realize that the list below was applicable to my situation. However, I also provide more specific data for free through my websites and blog postings so that individual home owners, such as yourself, can determine what applies to your situation.

What I did in my house that saved over 60% of consumption and cost:
1) Installed a separate domestic hot water heater
2) Added a second heating zone
3) Installed two multi stage programmable thermostats
4) Installed insulated wrap on all the hot water pipes
5) Installed more insulation on attic floor to a total value of R30. (Extra insulation did not have a vapor barrier)
6) Installed a Cold Start Control panel on the boiler for a total cost of $400.00. Parts and labor (12 yrs. ago)
7) Lowered the boiler's "maintained" temperature to 125
Many would be surprised to see the list on the left not showing new windows as a step. While you change windows for comfort and convenience, they are not a big energy saver. The average payback is 33 years because of this little known fact:
These new windows will save you 30% off your heating costs. Yes, but when you are only losing 7% of your heat because of your very, very old windows, you are only saving 30% of that 7% being lost!
So start perusing my websites and blog for more data on these topics. We are here to answer any of your comments or questions within a reasonable time, but you must spend some time and work at this to get things right for yourself and your surrounding world - Yes, our environment for you, me and our children. After all, great rewards never come easy.

Bill Lauto, GTG
0 Comments

Food Labels Decoded, Farm Raised

1/13/2014

2 Comments

 
Farm Raised
Farm Raised, farm raised fish, farm-raised, farm raised label, food labels decoded, going green, goingtruegreen, GTG, GTG blog, sustainability, FDA, food and drug administration, ocean, netted farm fishFarm Raised or Wild Caught
Does something smell fishy? You should decide before you purchase fish again.

Farm-raised fish are from irrigation ditches, ponds, pens, netted areas and tanks. These fish do not live in a natural habitat and the majority are not caught by fishing boats. (A small percentage of Farm-raised fish from fish hatcheries are released into the ocean for commercial fisherman to catch.)

Due to the public's increase demand for seafood, Farm-raised fish was first believed to be the answer. However, rules for this label are mostly non-existent. Pens can be over-crowded and the prevailing question is how often are the pens cleaned out or how often is the fish feces cleaned out? Yes, a netted area opened to the ocean will offer better circulation of water and flush the area clean, but how can the consumer know if the fish they are buying had those living features? The Farm-raised label doesn't tell these details.

Farm Raised, farm raised fish, farm-raised, farm raised label, food labels decoded, going green, goingtruegreen, GTG, GTG blog, sustainability, FDA, food and drug administration, ocean, netted farm fish
Farm Raised Label
Many consumers now look to buy only Wild Caught labeled fish because they are considered healthier for several reasons: Wild-caught fish have a more balanced diet, have less fats, they are more nutritious. They also have more protein and live longer compared to Farm-raised fish according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Consumers might know that Farm-raised fish are less expensive to buy
and less of an environmental concern due to fishing techniques that use drift nets, and may cause damage to the ocean's environment. Fishing lines and cage traps are the preferred methods and do the least damage. However, there are no laws making these better fishing techniques mandatory. Also to consider is the possibility of netted areas with Farm-raised fish causing a discharge plume with overbearing amounts of fish feces into the ocean.

When shopping for fish if we wish to live with the highest outlook for sustainability, we should look for another label: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
label, which will be covered in this blog within a few weeks.

When eating out in a restaurant, there are several questions one should ask if ordering fish: How was the fish caught? From what waters did the fish come from? (Location such as: the North Sea, off Cape Cod, New York's Hudson River or Prince William's Sound in Alaska?
) If Farm-raised fish is on the menu, ask how was the fish raised? In a tank, pond or netted area? What was the diet and were the facilities sanitized?
chef, cooking fish, fish dishes, Farm Raised, farm raised fish, farm-raised, farm raised label, food labels decoded, going green, goingtruegreen, GTG, GTG blog, sustainability, FDA, food and drug administration, ocean, netted farm fish
If the fish store or the chef of the restaurant have any pride in what they are serving their customers, they will know the answers to these questions! If not, leave and go elsewhere.

So on one hand we have the over-fishing of the ocean and on the other hand we are without guidelines and detailed labels that state all the facts. We also have corrupt fish retailers marking Farm-raised fish as Wild Caught. Oceana, who is a nonprofit ocean protection group, stated that 1/3 of all fish purchased between 2010 and 2012 were mislabeled. Consumer Reports in 2006 stated that almost 50% of Wild-caught salmon bought in supermarkets were actually Farm-raised.

No matter what you decide, like it or not, we as consumers must strive to be informed.

Bill Lauto, GTG
2 Comments

Holes in your Attic

1/2/2014

2 Comments

 
Heating, heating bills, energy, lower energy bills, oil heat, gas heat, snowstorm, billard, snowing, rooftop, snow on rooftop, going green, going true green, GTG, energy audits, infrared camera, energy audits, heating the neighborhoodSnow and Saving Energy
Snow is on the way according to the 2014 weather report and any snow fall will be a significant help to confirming if you are keeping your house warm or if you have holes in your attic. Yes, you may very well be paying to heat the neighborhood!

Okay, not exactly "holes" in your attic, but close enough if your Attic floor is not insulated correctly or sufficiently. No "Rocket Science" needed to know if your house is losing heat and costing you money. To answer this very important question is to simply go outside a few hours after a snow fall and LOOK at your roof. No infrared cameras needed by you or
any energy professionals if you are having them do an energy audit. AT GTG we don't need any special cameras when we conduct Energy Audits, so please don't fall for the line: "Oh that will cost extra because we have to use the special "Thing-A-Ma Jig" to detect heat lost from your attic." That is a complete Lie.

Also don't listen to any insulation company that tells you insulation is needed up on the inside roof of your attic as well as your attic floor. Unfinished attics only need insulation on the floor with ONLY ONE Vapor Barrier (foil or paper layer) facing downward to your warm house below. The R value of the insulation should be no less than R-30. Please take note of these facts because this is a big money saver OR a very costly mistake year after year. In fact, this is such a costly situation, we can list this as a major contributing fact to why America is NOT energy efficient. The photograph below shows the rooftops of two homes with snow on them. The house in the foreground has a rooftop completely white with snow and that is excellent. The house in the background is showing parts of the roof tiles through the snow where heat is escaping! Feel free to click on the images to enlarge and view details discussed:
The Tale of Two Houses: The house in the foreground on the right and below this text box is warm inside, saving money for themselves & fuel for America because no snow is melting off the roof from rising heat.
Remember, Hot air rises!
snow melting, roof, rooftop, heat lost, insulation, attic, attic insulation, vapor barrier, R-30, Heating, heating bills, energy, lower energy bills, oil heat, gas heat, snowstorm, billard, snowing, rooftop, snow on rooftop, going green, going true green, GTG, energy audits, infrared camera, energy audits, heating the neighborhood
Two Houses. One Heat Efficient and One Heat Inefficient.
The house in the background and shown below is losing heat and money to the outside. The solid white lines of snow is where heat is being blocked from escaping by the wood beams supporting the roof from inside the attic. The dark color areas show heat being lost.
efficient homes, energy efficientcy, snow melting, roof, rooftop, heat lost, insulation, attic, attic insulation, vapor barrier, R-30, Heating, heating bills, energy, lower energy bills, oil heat, gas heat, snowstorm, billard, snowing, rooftop, snow on rooftop, going green, going true green, GTG, energy audits, infrared camera, energy audits, heating the neighborhood
Solid White Layer of Snow on Roof Means No Heat Lost
efficient homes, energy efficientcy, snow melting, roof, rooftop, heat lost, insulation, attic, attic insulation, vapor barrier, R-30, Heating, heating bills, energy, lower energy bills, oil heat, gas heat, snowstorm, billard, snowing, rooftop, snow on rooftop, going green, going true green, GTG, energy audits, infrared camera, energy audits, heating the neighborhood
Roof Showing through Snow Equals Heat and Money Lost
efficient homes, energy efficientcy, snow melting, roof, rooftop, heat lost, insulation, attic, attic insulation, vapor barrier, R-30, Heating, heating bills, energy, lower energy bills, oil heat, gas heat, snowstorm, billard, snowing, rooftop, snow on rooftop, going green, going true green, GTG, energy audits, infrared camera, energy audits, heating the neighborhoodRoof Losing Heat
A closer look actually shows a couple of larger spots of roof showing through. This is where there is very little insulation inside on the attic floor just below the spots. Probably a low R-11 insulation value because part of the insulation was pushed away, moved, or folded over. However, the most probable possibility, there is just NO Insulation in that spot at all!
Click on image to enlarge and continue to read about savings.



Read More
2 Comments

    Follow GTG Blog

    Picture
    Please us SEARCH box at very top of page to find specific topics of interest or our Categories below. ​Also please consider becoming a GTG  MEMBER. Thank you.
    Honors, Going True Green's Blog received, are below:
    Picture
    Top TreeHugger, TreeHugger award, Climate Change, Climate Change Award, Climate Warrior, Climate Warrior Award, going green, going true green, environmental, sustainability
    GOLDEN LEAF AWARD, GTG, Going True Green, LawnStarter, Bill Lauto, sustainable living, sustainability, going green, eco-friendly, earth, saving energy, saving earth, environmental issues, growing your own food
    Top TreeHugger, TreeHugger award, Climate Change, Climate Change Award, Climate Warrior, Climate Warrior Award, going green, going true green, environmental, sustainability
    GOLDEN LEAF AWARD, GTG, Going True Green, LawnStarter, Bill Lauto, sustainable living, sustainability, going green, eco-friendly, earth, saving energy, saving earth, environmental issues, Top Enviro Blogs
    Feedspot, top environmental blogs, goingtruegreen, going green, blog awards, sustainable living
    GOLDEN LEAF AWARD, GTG, Going True Green, LawnStarter, Bill Lauto, sustainable living, sustainability, going green, eco-friendly, earth, saving energy, saving earth, environmental issues, Top Enviro Blogs

    Categories

    All
    Appliances
    Climate Change
    Comic Relief
    Composting
    Cooling
    Eco Friendly Products
    Events
    Explanations
    Food Labels Decoded
    Heating
    Insulation
    Introduction
    Issues
    Less Lawn More Garden
    Light Bulbs
    Make A Difference Now
    Memories
    Nature And Universe
    News Interviews
    Nuclear
    Pollution
    Preface
    Recycling
    Solar
    Solutions
    Speaking Engagements
    Speaking Greenish
    Survey
    United Nations
    Water
    Welcome
    What We Waste
    Wind
    Yesteryear Articles & Blogs

    Author:
    Bill Lauto
    Environmental Science, International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 

    Bill Lauto, Environmentalist, Energy Consultant
    Bill Lauto came on the scene in 1981 to present facts and teach details about how we can save our environment without making  sacrifices. He demonstrated how correctly implementing the technology we already obtained in 1981, allowed us to save Money, Energy and Earth. He voice was one among the few who taught green facts long before anyone else talked about sustainability. 
       Bill Lauto's Credentials
    By 1994 the Internet was being explored as a tool to provide energy saving information to all of America by Mr. Lauto. Having the foresight, he first launched the Light Bulb HotLine web site off of the company's Domain in 1996. Then in April of 2001, EnergyHotwire became a resource. Today,
    GoingTrueGreen.com presents decades of info to dispel mis-information and provide the facts about truly Going True Green.
    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    October 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    April 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    December 2006
    August 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2004
    June 2004
    April 2004
    January 2004
    November 2003
    July 2003
    April 2003
    February 2003
    January 2003
    December 2002
    November 2002
    July 2002
    June 2002
    May 2002
    April 2002
    March 2002
    September 2001
    May 2001
    June 2000
    May 2000
    April 2000
    March 2000
    December 1999
    June 1999
    May 1999
    April 1999
    February 1999
    July 1998
    June 1998
    May 1998
    April 1998
    February 1998
    September 1997
    August 1997
    July 1997
    June 1997
    April 1997
    November 1996
    May 1996
    April 1996
    February 1996
    January 1996
    December 1995
    May 1995
    April 1995
    March 1995
    January 1995
    December 1994
    November 1994
    October 1994
    April 1994
    November 1993
    May 1993
    April 1993
    January 1993
    October 1992
    June 1992
    May 1992
    April 1992
    March 1992
    February 1992
    January 1992
    November 1991
    October 1991
    September 1991
    August 1991
    July 1991
    June 1991
    May 1991
    April 1991
    September 1990
    June 1990
    May 1990
    April 1990
    March 1990
    October 1989
    September 1989
    August 1989
    May 1989
    April 1989
    March 1989
    February 1989
    December 1988
    September 1988
    April 1988
    November 1987
    April 1987
    January 1987
    December 1986
    November 1986
    October 1986
    November 1985
    September 1985
    July 1985
    April 1985
    February 1985
    December 1984
    September 1984
    May 1984
    April 1984
    February 1984
    October 1983
    September 1983
    July 1983
    April 1983
    April 1982
    November 1972

    Going Green, Going True Green, Green, Green Products, sustainability, going green Tshirts, save the environment

    Categories

    All
    Appliances
    Climate Change
    Comic Relief
    Composting
    Cooling
    Eco Friendly Products
    Events
    Explanations
    Food Labels Decoded
    Heating
    Insulation
    Introduction
    Issues
    Less Lawn More Garden
    Light Bulbs
    Make A Difference Now
    Memories
    Nature And Universe
    News Interviews
    Nuclear
    Pollution
    Preface
    Recycling
    Solar
    Solutions
    Speaking Engagements
    Speaking Greenish
    Survey
    United Nations
    Water
    Welcome
    What We Waste
    Wind
    Yesteryear Articles & Blogs

    Picture
    Coming Soon

Parent Company:

 B and B Ventures dba BBV Publishing
​www.BBVpublishing.com
Copyrights © 1995, 1998, 2000, 2013,
2019, 2020 by BBV Publishing.
​All rights reserved​

Noteworthy:

 legal terms of use
​
 privacy policy
Picture
GoingTrueGreen, GTG, GoingTrueGreen Blog Awards, Going Green, Bill Lauto, Eco-Friendly, Green Living, Golden Leaf award, Eco-Conscious, Treehugger
GoingTrueGreen, GTG, GoingTrueGreen Blog Awards, Going Green, Bill Lauto, Eco-Friendly, Green Living, Golden Leaf award, Eco-Conscious, Treehugger
Treehugger & Climate Warrior Award
Picture
GoingTrueGreen, GTG, GoingTrueGreen Blog Awards, Going Green, Bill Lauto, Eco-Friendly, Green Living, Golden Leaf award, Eco-Conscious, Treehugger
GoingTrueGreen, GTG, GoingTrueGreen Blog Awards, Going Green, Bill Lauto, Eco-Friendly, Green Living, Golden Leaf award, Eco-Conscious, Treehugger
Going True Green, GTG, Going Green, Bill Lauto
going green, america, united states, freedom, old glory, american dream
Photos used under Creative Commons from JohnSeb, Camp Pinewood YMCA, jeffgunn, Center for Neighborhood Technology, ndrwfgg, T100Timlen, C Jill Reed, c. felicori, kennethkonica, Dendroica cerulea, PSNH, Scrap Pile, fishermansdaughter, gailf548, www.metaphoricalplatypus.com, bobosh_t, Ted Drake, Dick Thomas Johnson, jimbrickett, russf, sally9258, inkknife_2000, magesomido, Gene Hunt, PrescottFoland, stallio, RosyPics, post406, blair_25, PermaCultured, ampersandyslexia, Anny Turolla, steve p2008, kvanhorn, PseudoGil, Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), stab at sleep, www.metaphoricalplatypus.com, R Schofield, Thalita Carvalho ϟ, m01229, Dennis Wong, AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker, cam_rich345, SierraTierra, mlinksva, KOREA.NET - Official page of the Republic of Korea, jeffdjevdet, ampersandyslexia, Upupa4me, thewebprincess, juliejordanscott, JessyeAnne, gruntzooki, Andy Morffew, quinn.anya, EcoLivingAdvice.com, Soil Science, jbloom, jc.winkler, shig2006, photographerpandora, AngelaShupe.com, AlishaV, jenny downing, CMFRIESE, sirqitous, JULIAN MASON, Sarah Elizabeth Altendorf, kevin dooley, kevin dooley, xbeta, Phillie Casablanca, Iwan Gabovitch, CapCase, BiblioArchives / LibraryArchives, Plutor, Iana Peralta, stefano lubiana wines, m01229, Vu What When, generalantilles, smkybear, pestoverde, n.karim, Paul J Everett, Bob Stein, net_efekt, Minnaert, cogdogblog, Mr. T in DC, Äpfel X, MMU Engage, ikthuse, MTAPhotos, ** RCB **, SOMBILON ART, MEDIA and PHOTOGRAPHY, christophercarfi, fabsit, DixieBelleCupcakeCafe, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Seattle Municipal Archives, symphony of love, David Holt London, slopjop, pelican, Sustainable sanitation, ninahale, joefutrelle, Images_of_Money, emma.kate, Cliff Johnson, Editor B