GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

Report Card Time

4/8/2019

Previously on Going True Green's Blog we spoke about two products that would hopefully save Money, Energy and our Earth. The testing and evaluations are now complete and here are the results:

On February 15, 2019 Going True Green shared information about Eco-Friendly Swedish Dishcloths to see if they would replace a wasteful use of Paper Towels. The blog's title was Cheese Cloth.

On February 26, 2019 Going True Green shared information about Dryer Balls covered in Wool to replace the plastic dryer balls. The blog's title was Woolly Balls - Not Plastic!

Wool, Wool Dryer Balls, no more plastic, plastic, plastic dryer balls, dryer sheets, saving money, saving energy, sustainability, Sustainable Living, environment, green deal, going green, going true green

Wooly Balls

Eco Friendly, sponges, paper towels, dishcloth, cheese rags, cheese cloths, sweetgum, swede, threebluebirds, going green, sustainable living, sustainability, going true green, cellulose, cotton, absorbent, streak free, compostable, biodegradable

Swedish Dishcloths

First I will report on the Wooly Balls for the Dryer. They are working well with no signs of deterioration or ripping. However, sometimes socks do cling to other clothes and this can be observed at the end of the drying cycle when unloading the dryer. They come 3 to a box and all 3 are to be used in the dryer. When 4 Wooly Balls are used in the dryer, the static cling of socks dissipates. The draw back with this, is that we need to buy two boxes instead of just one. For the sake of rating, I will use 5 Oak Leaves with 5 being the best.
The Wooly Balls get 4 Oak Leaves out of 5.

The second product is the Swedish Dishcloths. They are strong and great for cleaning like cloth rags. Also very functional for polishing furniture when mixing a furniture polish/cleaner with water. They show little wear with several rounds of washing them clean. However, they are not good for dusting furniture and they have virtually no absorption ability. This last inability voids any possible replacement of paper towels that are mostly used to dry and clean up a spill.
The Swedish Dishcloths receive 2.5 Oak Leaves out of 5.

That is my report. All in all, the products have their pros and cons. They both help to different degrees, but each one of us will have to decide the full benefits from their use.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

This Easter Read a Historical Novel With 5 Stars!
Upper Room, The Way: 33AD to 57AD
The review below on Goodreads says it all.
Both Digital and Hardcopy available at Amazon.

Easter, Jesus, Upper Room, The Way, L.J. Williams, BBV Publishing, Shroud, Shroud of Turin, crucifixion

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Plastic Clouds

3/19/2019

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Plastics, Plastic Clouds, Microscopic Plastic, Plastic Fibers, aerosol particles, CEDP, Invigorated Process, Super Storms, Severe Storms, small particles, going true green, Bill Lauto, sustainable living, sustainability, going green, environmental issues, climate change, changing climate, greenhouse effect, global warming, BBV Publishing

Is Humankind creating Plastic Clouds?

Is Humankind creating Plastic Clouds? Humankind’s future “may” hold serious repercussions based on the various evidence nature is presenting today with numerous issues. Yet, no one knows when, where or how anything specific may or may not happen. There also isn’t any precedent for exact matching elements in earth’s history that mandates our attitude to be passive or to panic. Scientists don’t know the time frame for any specific disaster, healing or level of harm. Nevertheless, Humankind has created new elements that did not previously exist, so we contribute in various degrees on various issues.

With the injection of plastics into our environmental equation and because everything is connected, we have a contributing factor that quite possibly can be a major catalyst for the severe storms that are occurring around the world. After reading multiple studies on two different topics and presenting at two lectures, one in Rome and the other in New York, I am asking the scientific community to investigate a possible clandestine connection between plastic and severe storms. Combining available data from multiple studies done on microplastic fibers and studies done on severe storm conditions, problematic possibilities are presented for an ever growing interconnecting issue. Recent findings show that the smallest of particles, smaller than one-thousandth the width of a human hair, have a prodigious role in creating large storm clouds. Taking data from these research projects, I present the hypotheses that the microfiber plastic we have been adding into our environment "may" actually be a player in any stronger Invigorating Convection process of storms.

The first topic on plastic is now quantifying what has been a growing concern for many years regarding the issue with plastics and the environment. We have significant evidence that we are drinking, breathing and eating plastic fibers. One main source of plastic particulates has been shown to come from a single wash load that can release up to 700,000 Microplastic fibers into our waterways. The clothes we wear today that contain plastic, outnumber clothes made of cotton and wool. Cotton and wool naturally decay, plastic does not.
Please see my previous blog: Plastic Water, Air and Food on December 27, 2017.

The second topic has research showing how tiny particles have an impact on storm clouds. The smallest of dirt particles will rise to the top of storm clouds making the cloud bigger and the storm more severe. I am now questioning if microscopic particulates made of plastic can be a factor in larger cloud formations, holding in heat, producing more rain and larger storms. A serious interconnecting problem may be manifesting between these two environmental concerns. The question became: How are microscopic plastic particulates getting into our atmosphere?

Research Studies have shown that tiny particles are a catalysts for more powerful storms and influence weather far greater than previously known. Small particles of dust, dirt and pollutants, known as aerosols, help form clouds and air pollution created by nature and man are all contributing to this water cycle. Particles smaller than one-thousandth the width of a human hair can create clouds to grow taller, intensify the storm and cause more rain to fall. These ultra fine particles less than 50 nanometers wide were studied to learn their role in the development of a thunderstorm. The data comes from 21 authors and 15 institutions world wide that conducted a study operated by Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Climate Research Facility.

From this research scientists found that the ultra-small particles are numerous and plentiful. They can form many small droplets where excess water vapor can condense. This increase in condensation will release more heat, which in turn makes the updrafts so much more dominant. Increase the amount of warm air to be accumulated into the cloud and we have more droplets aloft to create additional rain, hail, snow and lightning. This process known as the Invigorated Convection, though the popular phrase used by the media is now Super Storm after Sandy struck the Northeast coast.

Plastic Sparkles On Greeting Cards

Weathering Plastic Fence Decor

From all these implications, facts and queries, I present the theory that aerosol microplastic particles from worn down and weathered CEDPs (Common EveryDay Plastics) may be a new culprit to changing our climate by being a player in the Invigorating Convection process. This theoretical connection between Microplastic Fibers and Severe Storms needs to be evaluated. If microscopic particles from CEDPs are proven to be an increasing contributing factor, humankind must realize that we are all guilty. From plastic sparkles on cards to outdoor plastic fence decor, we are all putting plastic particles into our environment everyday.

Humankind needs to be intelligent about our evaluations, approach and solutions that incorporate feasible transition periods. As I proffer this theory where microplastic fibers play a role in more severe storms, a full scientific study must be done. Without any research conducted nor samples taken to be examined from the highest point of severe storm clouds, this remains a theory.

Through educating and providing a long list of solutions on all topics makes the needed difference when implemented world wide. All of humankind is on the same team.

(For additional knowledge, please use the Link below to receive an email on when my first book is published. The title is: Plastic Clouds) Thank you.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

PLASTIC CLOUDS
by William J. Lauto; Environmental Scientist, Naturalist, International Sustainability & Energy Consultant
Is Humankind creating Plastic Clouds?
How are microscopic plastic particulates getting into our atmosphere?
What are weathered CEDPs?
From plastic sparkles on cards to outdoor plastic fence decor, are we all guilty?
What are the solutions and isn't all of humankind on the same team?

Please use the Image Link to receive an email on info to Pre-Order or when my book is published. Expected date of publishing is by the end of this Spring. Thank you.

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Woolly Balls - Not Plastic!

2/26/2019

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Wool Dryer Balls!

Laundry Day, what can I say... How about, "Ugh."

Nevertheless, when laundry needs to be done, I always look upon the task as a challenge to find a better way. After all, humankind has come a long way from washing a handwoven piece of cloth on a rock by the stream. Yet, we have brothers and sisters in our world still doing some washing of clothes exactly that way. Thus making our own individual accountability on how we wash our clothes very important in order to do the least harm to our environment. From the amount of energy we use to the kind of soap. From the amount of water we use to the kind of clothes we wear. (please see previous GTG Blog - #A)
And now, eliminating those static free sheets or plastic balls.

I know the static free sheets we add to our dryers smell nice and work well, but they are costly and create various possible waste management issues. Then came along plastic balls to eliminate static cling on our clothes and that proved to be a more cost effective way. However, as those plastic balls wear down with use, we have to be mindful of where those microscopic particles of plastic go. Each year, more and more data is showing the harm being done by microscopic plastic particles. Going True Green will be publishing next month the details of the study we have done on this subject. Last year I spoke at several conferences about my theory that addresses one aspect of the issue and we all need to be aware of the various possibilities.

So what alternative do we have now? We are not going back to washing clothes in the neighborhood stream, but we can get the plastic balls out of the dryer by using Woolly Balls. I am not sure of the final outcome for these Wool Balls that prevent static cling, but at least wool is bio-degradable while plastic is not.

The breakdown on the Wool Dryer Ball design is below:

All Natural and 100% Wool
Saves Money
Can reduce drying times by absorbing moisture out of the air in the dryer (please see GTG's previous Blog - #B)
Can save energy & reduce drying times especially with information from GTG's previous Blog, #B.
Reusable for at least one year or more
Hypoallergenic
Can be washed and refreshed with your favorite essential oil scent
Will reduce static and soften clothes
3 Wool Balls per box and use all 3 in every drying load

The testing has started and I will report back in a future Going True Green blog post. So far so good, but I hope the inside of these Wool Balls is rubber and not plastic. I will open one up soon enough with my testing. Meanwhile, if anyone else can provide me with input on their experiences, please comment below or email us at GoingTrueGreen.com. Thank you!

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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Cheese Cloth

2/15/2019

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Swedish Dishcloths

Cleaning up around the kitchen with dishcloths and paper towels always frustrated me since I had my first job at 16 years of age. I was working as a dishwasher and I could not stand wet and smelly dishcloths. Especially when left around for hours where the growing bacteria on the rag creates a rotten cheese smell. Thus the reason why we have the name “Cheese Cloth” used by the restaurant industry. I tried to toss out the old cheese cloths as often as possible, but most of my managers disapproved because of the costs involved and they wanted these cloths used until they tore or were over-ripe with odor.

Paper towels avoid the smell, but are a huge waste. A waste of money, trees and the infrastructure needed to manufacturer them. I tried various alternatives over the years, but I have yet to find a better way. Perhaps now I have received a better way…

Susan, a close friend and colleague, saw these Eco-Friendly Swedish Dishcloths in New York City when visiting on business. Knowing that I would love to test them out, she bought some as a gift for me.

The breakdown on this Eco-Friendly Dishcloth design is below:

These cleaning cloths can be used in the Kitchen, Bathroom, Workshop and all around the house.
They replace sponges, paper towels and “cheese cloths”.
They are made of 70% FSC-certified cellulose and 30% cotton.
Very absorbent and virtually streak free.
Dishwasher (top rack) safe, washing machine safe or boil clean.
100% Biodegradable and Compostable!
Can be used with soaps, spray cleaners or just water.
Each cloth is washable for over 200 times and is bleach safe. Just “air” dry.
Each cloth replaces about 17 rolls of paper towels and lasts over nine months.
They come in plain colors or with any design from dozens of choices.

So the testing has started and I will report back in a future Going True Green blog post. So far so good, and if anyone else can provide me with input on their experiences, please comment below or email us at GoingTrueGreen.com. Thank you!

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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International Recycling Market Changed!

1/22/2019

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Recycling, Recycle, Glass, Plastic, Paper, Recycling Market, going green, going true green

Flyers used by some Townships

No and no, the International Recycling Market didn't Change. The International community buying our recycling are only now holding the United States to original standards. Glass was to be clean with a small percentage of dirt being acceptable. Plastic wasn't to be mixed with paper and paper wasn't accepted with plastic mixed within. Again a small percentage of mixing was acceptable, but the Recycling systems in America changed and those changes caused the recycling market to collapse. America's recycling is heavily contaminated and very few countries want to buy a contaminated product.

Back on February 17, 2016 my blog titled "Is Recycling Striking Out?" and on May 16, 2018 called "Caught Looking! Strike Three!" were about this very issue. Now our Townships want us to think this change is by the hands of the International Recycling Market. No, the change started at America's Townships trying to make more money and cutting corners. Townships did away with multi-level sorting and we no longer had to rinse out glass jars. End results: We are no longer recycling Glass! Glass, one of the very first items that was recycled. Why? Because the Townships of America were saving money by not washing out the glass and they told us years earlier that we no longer had to rinse out the jars, so they could accumulate more glass. America started to send more and more "dirty" Glass to China. China finally said they will no longer buy dirty glass from our recycling system. This issue is the same with all recycled items.

Unwanted Recycling

The solution is easy, just REWARD those who sort and properly prepare recycling items before they are placed at the curb. Lower our taxes paid toward Recycling and watch how money is saved, even after more and more people join the ranks and receive a tax break. (Eventually the Townships will do away with the Tax break, but at least more people will be recycling correctly.) Reward for multi-level sorting done by Americans (done with RFID tags) instead of levying fines and punishing those who do not recycle correctly. Then, China may start buying our recycling items again, instead of us sending these items to our landfills or stacking unwanted recycling up in a warehouse parking lot. At least we will be helping our environment again on God's green earth.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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Batteries Included

1/1/2019

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Apollo 11, Tesla, Lithium-air batteries, Lithium-ion batteries, power wall, nuclear, solar, fuel cells, hydrogen, electric cars, non-renewables, sustainability, going true green, going green, bill lauto

Tesla's Current Power Wall Battery

This New Year will bring us the 50th anniversary of America's Apollo 11 Moon mission. This American accomplishment, against all odds, proves what Team Work will always give us... Success.

Currently a Team effort for better batteries is underway at the University of Cambridge. Scientists from Cambridge have recently pointed out that in less than the necessary time it takes to build a Nuclear Power Plant, lithium-air batteries could be contributing to making oil, coal and nuclear obsolete. Lithium-Air batteries are five times cheaper and lighter than today's lithium batteries.

These new developments place the technology of battery storage comparable to non-renewable fuels. Lithium-air batteries have a density that is ten times more than a lithium-ion battery. That is over 90% efficient through the discharge and recharge cycle. Also these batteries can be recharged well over 2,000 times before a need to replace them. This can drive down the cost for an electric car with batteries to a fifth of current costs. Additionally, these newer lithium-air batteries will weight a fifth of current batteries, thus allowing a car drive of over 400 miles possible on one charge.

Now technically the energy density is still lower than energy produced from oil. However, much of that oil producing energy is wasted by today's trucks and cars. The oil fuel is not utilized efficiently and as much as three-quarters of the oil fuel energy is lost in heat. Nevertheless, researchers at the University of Cambridge have shown how the development of a lithium-air battery looks very promising.

A New Year is upon us and time will tell. Meanwhile, Fuel Cells that make electricity by running off of free Hydrogen obtained from free rain water with power from free sun light working a photovoltaic panel are also moving closer to the launch pad, where we will all hear those heart stopping words, "Mission Control, we are GO for launch!"

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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All I Wanted for Christmas is Cotton and Wool

12/26/2018

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Merino Wool, Cotton, 100% cotton, sustainable material, sustainability, organic clothes, natural clothes

Merino Wool and 100% Cotton

With my recent work, presentations and investigations on plastic, I have become acutely aware that as an individual, I can be contributing a great harm to the environment by the clothes I wear. I am not talking about doing evasive action or anything drastic, I am slowly transitioning as much as possible, to 100% cotton and wool clothes. My ensemble of clothes already consist of mostly cotton products. Shirts, jeans, socks easily fall into that category. However for various reasons and possible future results from new studies, I am re-evaluating my wardrobe.

Therefore to maintain the part of my mission where helping to save our environment and saving energy does not mean making sacrifices to our current lifestyle, I am happy to report the following:
When I hear the word wool, I get itchy just thinking about wearing clothes made of wool. However, pullover sweaters made of Merino Wool is not your standard itchy wool. No sacrifices made by wearing Merino Wool when purchased on sale. This is truly a sustainable material to make fabric from and unlike clothes made with plastic, we will not be contributing any possible long term harm to our environment. I will present additional details and facts in my Going True Green blogs next year on clothes made with plastic and consequences when washing them, but for now I am just sharing some small steps I am taking. Perhaps this is a good time for all of us to consider wearing more cotton and wool clothes to live a little happier and healthier New Year.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

BBV Publishing, L.J. Williams, Telomere, Telomeres, cold spring harbor, living forever, fountain of youth

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Assorted Timers Saving Money, Energy and Earth

12/5/2018

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Precious Time

There are various products that involve Timers so we can utilize these products to save Time, Money, Energy and Earth in our own homes. Of course this means we need to read the instructions of each product to determine if this is the right one for us and then if yes, how to use the TIMER correctly and efficiently. Additionally, by doing this, most of us will find that these individual timers are far more economical and a better solution than all the new computerized Smart Houses and Apps that we control from our cell phones. They also eliminate the possibility of being hacked. Below are examples of assorted timers that we can all use to save Time, Money, Energy and Earth:

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Entertainment Center #3

Human Timer Switch for Home Entertainment Centers
When we are done enjoying our Entertainment products (TV, Cable Boxes, Game Boxes, Stereo, DVD Player, Apple TV Box, etc.) just shutting them off does not stop the consumption of electrical power! Most, if not all of these Entertainment Appliances continue to use electricity through the plug to maintain a "standby" mode. As much as $30.00 per center, per month can be consumed without even turning them on. So we must ask, do we have an entertainment center in the Living room, our Bedroom, a Play room and how many Bedrooms for the kids? Adding up just 4 Entertainment centers in one house can cost $1,444.00 per year on the electric bill even when they are not being used.

Look into a Remote Controlled Power switch that works with a Surge Protector Strip. The switch is a wall mounted on/off radio signal that will turn your Power Strip on and off. This product's Surge Protection continues to function even when the switch shuts down all electricity to the entertainment appliances.

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Radio Control Switch

This way we are now saving 100% on the electric bill because all the entertainment appliances can no longer draw any electricity through the plug to maintain a "standby" mode. This is over a 75% savings when we can have each Entertainment center truly off from 11:30pm to 7:50pm most days of the week. The only issue is when we do this manually with the wall switch, we will need to wait a couple of minutes for everything to power back up after turning the Power Strip back on. I go and get some snacks in those two minutes. Also note that these Power Strips with switches come with two or three different frequencies. So you can have another Power Strip working all your Home Office equipment right in the next room without conflict.

Infrared Motion Sensor

Infrared Motion Sensor Switch and Timer
These units that are reliable cost around sixty dollars and about another sixty dollars for the electrician to install. Depending on the number of lights this switch controls and the time saved by having them automatically shut off, this product can offer paybacks within a year or up to three years. The best part about these units is the programming control: Sensor Range, Ambient Light, Time before going off Automatically and the amount of Body Heat needed with Movement to avoid erroneous turn ons and turn offs.

If the kids never shut off the lights or someone always forgets to turn off the lights when leaving a room or the house, this item can offer tremendous savings. I installed my first one in 1987 and loved when guest would ask, "Do you have ghosts?"
"No, why?" I would reply.
"Well, someone just shut off your kitchen lights and nobody is in the kitchen."
"Oh that, no, I am just saving money, energy and our environment."

Bathroom exhaust fan, exhaust fan switch, Time, Time Travel, Timers, Saving Money, Saving Energy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Going Green, going true green, clock timers, electric timers, pre-set timers

Exhaust Fan Timer Switch

Bathroom Exhaust Fan Timer Switch
Exhaust fans use a great deal of energy, especially if we forget to turn them off in the morning when we leave for work! Not having a timer for exhaust fans is like not having a window for a room. Well, maybe, I just made up that analogy. Nevertheless, accidentally leaving an exhaust fan running all day is a waste of money, energy and our environment. The Timer shown in the image on the left is very inexpensive to buy and have the electrician install this the same time he or she is putting in any Infrared Motion Sensors. Again, payback can be a fast as one year or less and the savings in money and for our environment go on year after year.

Digital Timer Switch

Outside Door Light Timer Switch
Every point stated already above also applies to the lights mounted outside the doors of any house. A programmable timer switch will help reduce the hours these lights are left on when not needed. In addition to the lights by my doors, I also have solar power, motion activated and photo sensor LED spot lights around the house.

From the image on the left, the light is programmed to come on at 4:30pm for the winter months and goes off at 1am. Then the light comes back on for half an hour at 3am. Obviously we can set and program the light to come on and go off to what is best for our needs.

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Set Back Clock Thermostats

Multi Setback Clock Thermostats
Many times we need to STOP and think if a product is something that we need or we are told that we should WANT this product. This is the case with Bottled Water and with the new App Controlled Thermostats from our cell phones. Spending more money on a product that gives us more things to do, such as turn our heat on from our cell phone is ludicrous. Especially when we can program a Multi Setback Clock Thermostat (as shown in the photo) only once to match our schedule and be done. Yes, there are over-ride buttons for changes in schedules. The end result is a payback on the product's cost in one winter of heating.

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Timer for Watering Lawns & Gardens

Timers for Watering the Lawn
There are many battery operated timers available for watering flowers, gardens and lawns. Saving clean drinkable water is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone on this planet.

My first GTG's OnLine Inter-Active Workshop for Living a Sustainable Life is on WATER! Who should take this OnLine Water Workshop:

Anyone who drinks water!

water shortage, don't drink the water, polluted water, saving water, Time, Time Travel, Timers, Saving Money, Saving Energy, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Going Green, going true green, clock timers, electric timers, pre-set timers

Waiting for Clean Water

Additionally if you are the person who pays the bills, a Student studying in an environmental field, a Teacher for Outdoor Education, a Parent, Grandparents, Business Owners, Community Leaders, and Politicians.

Water Use Awareness is essential for all of us, please see my additional GTG blog posts under the topic of Water, listed on the right and visit my GTG's OnLine Inter-Active Workshop page. The reasons for our acute awareness with water is numerous, especially when there are people in this world that have to walk miles each day, just to get clean drinkable water.

These are the "actions" we can do around our own home. We need to stop putting our faith in the hands of politicians and elitists to save our world. We must put our faith in our own hands and we will save humankind, for with God all things are possible.

Anytime, someone needs additional information on any item or suggested action in a GoingTrueGreen blog, just email us through our contact link. Thank you.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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APPLIANCE DEGRADATION

11/28/2018

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Refrigerators, Saving energy with Refrigerator and Freezer, top freezer, most energy saving refrigerator, going true green, going green, sustainable living, energy star, energy saving appliances, lower utility costs

Bottom Freezers Glup Up More Energy

Over the years the evolution of appliances has been seen as advancements. They are sleeker looking, loaded with convenient features and use less energy so our utility costs are lower. New appliances are delivered, installed and our old ones are taken away to be recycled to whatever level of recycling utilized at that time.

Sadly, we are being duped. I see and hear about so many issues from people who are shopping or just purchased a new appliance. The issues are so numerous that I do a Workshop just on appliances. So if we are in need of a new appliance, here are just a few items to familiarize ourselves with for some of the major appliances we all use.

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House Fires: Dryers #1 Reason

End of Life Recycling:

Let us not get our hopes up. Most appliances, if recycled, are only done so for the metal. Glass windows, rubber, all items plastic and electrical wiring are off to the landfill.

Free Installation:

With the cost of delivery, installation is Free. Yet “FREE” can increase the chance of our house burning down if the people installing a particular appliance don’t know enough. The appliance is a Clothes Dryer.

The number one cause for house fires is from the Clothes Dryer. Let the Dryer be electric or gas, that doesn’t matter, the build up of lint is the fire starter.

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Clean Lint Trap Each Load

Lint build up in the ductwork that is being blown out of our house always makes me nervous because we can’t see if the lint is accumulating. Just last year, friends of someone that I know, lost their house to a fire started by lint build up from the dryer. They left the dryer on when they rushed out to do a last minute errand on Christmas Eve. They were homeless on Christmas Day, but gave thanks to God that nobody was injured or died.

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Do Not Use Flexible Duct

We all can take steps to avoid this tragic possibility by cleaning the lint trap after every load, buy an extendable wire brush to clean out the ductwork and always use solid metal ductwork to exhaust the lint. However, even with so called professional installers, we have to watch them and know what to look for as they work. This actually happened to me, so this is a first-hand account with no exaggeration nor a presentation out of context.

As I watched the two gentlemen install my clothes dryer they had a problem with the metal ductwork fitting on the back of the dryer. First they wanted to put a screw into the ductwork to hold it in place. I immediately informed them that would increase the chance of a FIRE. The reason is because the screw will extend through the wall of the ductwork and stick out on the inside catching lint when being blown by the screw. Lint will build up and back up while being ever so close to the source of heat. Lint ignites very easily.

They understood my concerns and proceeded with an alternative course of action that was to install a flexible tube. A tube with many ridges and bends that catches lint to cause the same exact problem. I showed them an old flexible tube that I use for demonstration purposes and how the edges were filled with lint. They were out of options, so I instructed them to leave the dryer as is and I would buy a metal tube extension to put on myself.

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Tonight's Movie: WHERE'S THE HEAT

Sleek Looking:

This is another costly degradation in the name of having such fancy looking appliances. What we are actually buying is a ludicrous feature.

- Ludicrous Feature Number One -
A plastic window in the door of a clothes dryer so we can have matching "Looks" for our Washer and Dryer. We are trying to dry clothes, so why would we want heat to escape through a plastic window. Is the new feature in town our dryer’s window? Are we making POPCORN and pulling up chairs so we can invite the neighbors over to watch our clothes dry! Give me a solid insulated door please!

Bottom Freezer - Waste Energy & Money

- Ludicrous Feature Number Two Through Eight -
The double French Door fashion statement for refrigerators has been in vogue for decades. We can have our fridge door provide us with ice cubes, tell us that the cheese went bad, do online shopping, show calendars, grocery lists and photos while increasing our electric bill. Also now we can have a plastic window in the door! Tap twice and we can see inside. The falsehood presented is that we save energy by seeing the location of what we want to get first, before opening the door and letting cold air out. That is correct, opening and closing the door faster saves energy, but the window is allowing some cold air to escape 24/7 compared to a solid insulated door. Besides, having two smaller French doors instead of on big door is cutting down on the cold air lost. However, what really takes the grand ludicrous prize is the Butter Warmer inside the refrigerator. An electric heater is keeping the butter compartment warm so our butter is soft when we take the butter tray out. An electric heater inside an appliance designed to keep food cold. Take the butter out first, put the butter dish on the table and by the time the food is served and everyone sits down, the butter will be softer. Unless paying a higher electric cost for unnecessary features is the thing to do today.
Don’t be sold a Bill of Goods!

Convectional Oven, Saving energy when cooking, conventional oven, oven circulating hot air, going true green, going green, sustainable living, energy star, energy saving appliances, lower utility costs

Convectional Oven with Fan

Lower Utility Costs:

In the end, we are being told that these new bells and whistles save energy and our environment. However, when I match up the newest refrigerator loaded with features, that will cost me almost $200.00 more a year in electricity compared to my top energy efficient refrigerator from twenty years ago. How is that more energy efficient?

Also don’t depend on the Energy Star label to blaze a path to the most energy efficient appliance. The Star only means the appliance meets minimum requirements and can be the least efficient model made when compared to the most efficient. Find and study the Yellow Energy Guide Label.

Below are some very important features we most certainly need in order to save energy and help our environment:

OVEN - Convection design that uses a fan to circulate the hot air, thus cooking faster. Preferably a Gas oven and stovetop if natural gas is available, because operation cost is much lower than Electric ovens and stovetops.

Best Energy Saving Design

CLOTHES DRYER - Preferably a Gas model if natural gas is available, because operation cost is 75% less than Electric models. Also a Moisture Sensor to cut down on the drying time.

CLOTHES WASHER - Front Load design uses up to 70% less water and thus less fuel to heat.

REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER - The Freezer should be on TOP because the first rule of physics is Cold Air Drops. Putting the Freezer at the bottom by the hot motor and compressor is ludicrous. A Freezer on the top can drop excess cold air from the freezer into the refrigerator thus cutting down on the refrigerator’s running time.

AIR CONDITIONERS - Learn about EER & SEER (for central air) to know the energy efficiency of the air cooling unit. Also use the WHILE formula to know the correct BTU size for your window units. For more details see my previous GoingTrueGreen blog posts under Appliances.

Besides the jesting around in this blog post, all this information, especially the serious life saving facts above on Clothes Dryers, needs to be shared with family and friends around the dinner table this holiday season.

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

11/23/2018

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IVBEC, Father Flanagan, Bill Lauto, St. John's University, Climate Change, Business and Ethics Conference, sustainability, sustainable living,

IVBEC, New York City

By the conclusion of the 2018 International Vincentian Business and Ethics Conference (IVBEC), I had the good fortune to meet, befriend and network with professionals from around the world. This was an amazing 3 day event where I now have colleagues from Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Australia, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, India, Spain and several American Universities, including St. John's University, the Host of this 25th IVBEC event in New York City.

We all came together as one team to help God's Green earth. Sustainable living saves money, energy and our environment without any sacrifices being made. All while living happier and healthier. At meals over the three days, conversations abounded about sharing realistic sustainable solutions on multiple levels. Solutions not only for our own families, friends, and workplaces, but also for the world's environment.

My lecture and discussions on the paper I presented covered facts about Climate Change that shows how the two opposite sides have taken various approaches to issues while being guilty of the same fault. At the same time, systematic failure to evaluate the entire scope of our changing climate in several areas of our planet, has caused many to just focus on one issue, forgetting that everything is connected. Thus, I was compelled to present a personal theory in my paper showing a link between two separate studies where I saw the potential for another serious contributing catalyst to our changing climate and potential health issues. Currently I am in contact with various journals to submit my paper for publication. Upon obtaining more details, I will confirm protocol about writing a blog on my theory and speaking at a few Universities that extended me an invitation at the IVBEC's three day event.

I extend a gracious thank you to all those who make the IVBEC, that is extremely effective and important, possible year after year. My inclusion for this 25th anniversary conference is an experience I will always cherish.

Below are a few images from when I attended and presented at the 25th IVBEC in New York City:

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