GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

My Own Great Tasting Blueberries In January

1/28/2020

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Fresh Organic Blueberries

I grew them, I harvested them, and I didn't eat all of them.

Besides sharing my organically grown blueberries with family and friends, I also froze some immediately after picking them. The objective: To have fresh frozen organic home grown blueberries in January!

I am writing this GTG blog post just after cooking up some blueberry pancakes all made with healthy ingredients. It is the end of January and a cold wind is gusting outside, but this pancake breakfast started back in early August of last year.

First, I placed the fresh picked blueberries into a glass pyrex bowl with a rubber cover.

Second, I placed the covered pyrex glass bowl filled with blueberries into a ziplock freezer storage bag.

I made sure as much air as possible was expelled from the plastic bag before closing. I labeled the plastic bag with pertinent information, such as date frozen and date to use by.

I did all this for better tasting blueberries come the middle of winter. I never place blueberries or any food item directly into a plastic bag. As I have stated in many previous GTG blog posts, only three items do not put carcinogens or contaminants into our food and drink:

Glass, Porcelain, and Wax Paper

If I was to use another container, I would use cast-iron cookware or steel / tin. All other containers, such as aluminum, viscose, plastic bottles, bags, and wrap, will leach bad tastes, contaminants or carcinogens over time into our food and drink. Especially when there are changes in temperatures, such as being placed into a freezer or leaving a water bottle in a car on a hot summer day.

So if you have grown or just purchased fresh organic blueberries in the summer, try freezing some for a cold winter morning early the following year!

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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First Presentation For Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

1/21/2020

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Since the middle of last year I have been talking with different organizations, schools, and universities, about presenting for this year's 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. My main purpose is to speak the truth about our multi-level and very complex environment. I wish to share data, stories and suggestions on how, we as Individuals, are the solutions to a better tomorrow.

Each one of us, by living a more "sustainable life" will save a great deal of money, our health, energy, and our Earth without making any sacrifices! I know, because I practice what I preach. I have no electric bill and what I have done over the years within my own "budget of time and money" is not rocket science. I made no sacrifices. The facts, the trade secrets and encouraging support, is what the world needs. Each of us as an individual is the solution, not some government, corporation, political party, politician or celebrity. Yes, all of these entities have a role and can assist us in our goals, but only when they have the complete picture, all the facts and not just coffee or tea table chatter.

St. Anthony's High School, Earth Day, EarthDay, 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, Bill Lauto, Rome, Pontifical Regina, National Honor Society, rocket science, sustainable life, sustainable living, sustainability, save energy, save earth, save money, Franciscan Brothers, St. Francis

Chapel Entrance to St. Anthony's HS

Nevertheless, I hope to be a positive contributing factor. I have three speaking engagements already confirmed. The first will be at St. Anthony's High School in Huntington. The administration approved my presentation last week and I will be speaking to 500 National Honor Society students. That date is February 5 and my Earth Day talk is scheduled for 5:45 to 7:00pm.

Just after Earth Day, on April 28, I am humbled to be invited back to speak in Rome at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum Institute of Science and Faith. I am currently in the process of finalizing additional presentations in both domestic and international venues for this important milestone. I will keep you posted on the dates and locations.
Thank you.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Top 100 Environmental Blogs

1/15/2020

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Feedspot, top environmental blogs, environment, going true green, Bill Lauto, Going green, sustainable living, blog awards, top 100 environmental blogs

With the start of 2020, I am honored to share the news we just received about Going True Green's Blog being listed as one of the
TOP 100 ENVIRONMENTAL BLOGS by Feedspot.

In part, one of the two emails we received from Feedspot stated:

Hi Bill,

My name is Anuj Agarwal, I'm the Founder of Feedspot. I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog
Going True Green has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Environment Blogs on the web.

I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Environment Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to have you as part of this!

I am greatly honored and appreciative of being awarded placement on this list of Top 100 Environmental Blogs. I extend my sincere gratitude to Anuj and the Feedspot panelists for the time they afforded us. Thank you for the consideration of my Going True Green blog and placing us on your list of Top 100 Environmental Blogs.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Old Man Winter, Old Houses and Insulation Answers

1/7/2020

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Happy New Year everyone and with the cold winds of winter blowing down on us, I wish to share some insulation questions I receive each year. Some of these questions have been asked several times over the decades. Below I am sharing some of these questions and concluding with the most popular query.

I am thinking of buying an old wood frame house constructed in the 1920s. Would there be insulation in the walls?

Balloon Construction, insulation, vapor barrier, insulated homes, insulated walls, going true green, hot air rises, hot to cold, GTG Blog

1920 Farm House

Not unless a previous owner of the house had insulation put into the walls. Houses back then were built without insulation because fuel was very cheap. Your best test would be to drop a small marble from the attic down into the wall. If the marble comes out in the basement you know the walls are empty.

This type of design is not only costly with energy bills, but also outside noise will be louder inside. In addition, this design known as "balloon construction," is a serious fire hazard. The walls would act like a chimney in a fire and the wood frame house would be destroyed. Putting insulation into these walls will address all three of these problems: Costly energy bills, Noise levels and Fire hazard.

Is it possible to put insulation in backwards?

Yes, and this happens far too often. Many serious problems come about with insulation installed wrong. In most cases the cause of these problems are a mystery to the homeowner. For example, nobody can imagine why a certain wall gets damp or sweats. The Foil or Paper on one side of the insulation is known as a "vapor barrier" and this "vapor barrier" must always face the warmer side of the house. Always! If there is an outside facing wall that is crying or moisture builds up on the inside surface of that wall, odds state that the insulation was installed backwards. Once confirmed, the inside wall needs to be removed, the compromised moisture filled insulation must be discarded and replaced the correct way.

Insulating the ceiling in my unfinished basement isn't going to save much, right?

This action, in most cases, saves a great deal of money and energy. Put insulation in an unfinished basement ceiling with the "vapor barrier" facing up, because upstairs is the warmer side of the house. However, if you are going to heat or cool your basement, then different rules apply. Also don't let the air from upstairs that has been cooled by air conditioning drop through the floor to your unfinished basement because there is no insulation in the basement ceiling. Cool air dropping into the basement only makes the basement damp and the electric bill higher for the air conditioners working longer on the main floor. "Cold Air drops" that is the rule of mother nature. The other rule mother nature has "Hot Goes To Cold First" then Hot Air Rises! Don't let your heating bills be higher because the heat comes out over a cold floor that is over a cold basement with no insulation in the ceiling. Insulate and save! Reports have shown the savings of several hundred dollars can provide a payback on the cost of insulation and labor as fast as four months.

For more information on insulating houses, see my previous GoingTrueGreen blog called:
Buying A House? Beware!

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