GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

Going True Green Blog:

Please use our SEARCH BOX above to find a specific subject. Also use our Membership link in the right column below to receive a quarterly email, at most, on new Blog Postings or Workshops. 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

First Presentation For Earth Day's 50th Anniversary

1/21/2020

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
Contribute your comments!

Top 100 Environmental Blogs

1/15/2020

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
Contribute your comments!

Old Man Winter, Old Houses and Insulation Answers

1/7/2020

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
Contribute your comments!

The Sun's Only Rival

12/19/2019

Edison, GE, Thomas Edison, Lewis Latimer, Lewis Howard Latimer, Edison Electric Light Company, LED, incandescent, Earth Day, 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Pontifical Regina Apostolorum Institute, Bill Lauto

1925 GE Edison bulb

When Thomas Edison finally produced a successfully working electrical light bulb, with the help of an amazing team, the world was amazed. Light bulbs became the wonder of the world and a company called GE came up with a great catch phrase to sell their light bulbs after the turn of the century.

The catch phrase is the title of this Going True Green blog post. I took the photo of a GE bulb, still in the original package from 1925, when consulting on a job involving energy savings for a house built in 1925. This bulb was in the basement for almost 100 years, as if waiting for me to take a photo. This was surreal, a time warp for me, but this also created a teaching moment.

Edison, GE, Thomas Edison, Lewis Latimer, Lewis Howard Latimer, Edison Electric Light Company, LED, incandescent, Earth Day, 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Pontifical Regina Apostolorum Institute

Lewis Howard Latimer

One scientist that became part of Thomas Edison’s team was Lewis Howard Latimer and he was a major contributing factor to the success of the light bulb. Latimer and Joseph Nichols, invented the carbon filament light bulb, which was a tremendous improvement on Thomas Edison’s original filament that would burn out rapidly. After receiving a United States patent for the carbon filament, a second patent was received in 1882 for the process of “Manufacturing Carbons” which was an amazing improvement to the method of producing light bulb carbon filaments.

The Edison Electric Light Company in New York City hired Lewis Latimer in 1884 and he supervised the installation of public electric light throughout New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London. Then in 1892, the Edison Electric Light Company merged with the Thomson-Houston Electric Company to become General Electric or as we all know, GE.

Bonnard, Pierre Bonnard, Le Soiree Sous Les Lampes, Barnes Foundation Collection, Evening Under the Lamps

"Evening Under the Lamps" by Pierre Bonnard, c. 1903

The future looked so bright, that even famous artists did paintings and photographs featuring the light bulb. So by the 1920s, GE was selling the new improved light bulbs like the one in my photograph above and then in 1928 came the incandescent bulb we all used until compact fluorescent bulbs slowly replaced them. Today and the future seems bright with LED technology leading the way. Some data shows that a 2 or 3 watt LED will soon give off the light level equal to a 75 watt incandescent light bulb.

In April of next year, the world will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and for that event, 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.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all. Best wishes for a happy, safe and blessed New Year.

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

Tree Top Garbage

12/5/2019

Plastic Clouds, Bill Lauto, microscopic plastic, BPA, PS, oligomer, bisphenol A, molecular bond, pollution, plastics, petroleum, plastic islands, plastic in beer, plastic in air

Tree Top Garbage

Tree Top Garbage
by Bill Lauto

There it shall stay,
until it erodes away.
Let loose by humankind,
into our air & out of mind.
Innocently caught by a tree,
until it’s digested by you and me.

If the garbage is some kind of foam, plastic or any other very slow degradable product made by humankind, the key word or the upsetting word in the poem above is digested. Litter, such as plastic, is made from petroleum. The official name is polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. When organic material, such as grass or an apple, is exposed to the elements of nature or buried, bacteria breaks down the item into the original compounds that formed the organic element. This biodegradation process doesn't occur on plastic in the same way or period of time.

Studies have shown that UV light will break the molecular bonds holding plastic together so that item can break down into smaller pieces. And smaller and smaller and smaller pieces. Nevertheless, there are problems because buried plastic in landfills are in a place where the sun doesn't shine and when plastic does break down into smaller pieces, this is proving to be a very serious problem.

First let us review what we all know: Plastic is building up in our oceans, especially the Pacific ocean. Humankind's plastic shopping bags, water bottles, take out containers, soda bottles, product packages and six-pack plastic rings are bathing in sunlight as they float in our oceans and waterways. The UV rays will eventually break down that plastic into smaller pieces. Ten years ago, a study from Nihon University in Chiba, Japan, discovered that plastic in our oceans can start to degrade within one year. Thus, creating smaller and smaller pieces.

BREAKING PLASTIC DOWN INTO SMALLER PIECES IS BECOMING A MAJOR WORLD WIDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM

These smaller pieces of plastic are not natural. They are made of bisphenol A (BPA) and PS oligomer. These are carcinogens and these toxic chemicals end up in the bellies of fish and perhaps evaporate into our air. So let us continue with that natural process of the rain cycle...
After Evaporation is Condensation and finally Precipitation, allowing these chemicals to settle on the land and crops. Animals eat the chemicals and humankind eats the fish, the animals and the crops!

I am now asking everyone who is perusing this GoingTrueGreen blog post to also revisit or read for the first time, these two previous posts:

Plastic Water, Air and Food (12/27/2017)

Plastic Clouds (03/19/2019)

As for all of us, may I suggest that we be extra mindful this time of year with the Christmas and holiday wrappings, boxes filled with shipping material and plastic waste.

GoingTrueGreen.com is teaching the complete picture for saving money, energy, our Earth and our health - Not teaching poetry.

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

Shipwrecks, Forensics & Three Village Historical Society

11/22/2019

Brett Curlew, Forensics, Outdoor Education, master diver, Three Village Historical Society, artifacts, marine, marine enviornment, New York Aquarium, Maritime Museum, English Frigates, Steamers, Paddle Wheelers, Rum Runners, Tug Boats, Barges, War ships, World War one, World War two

Brett Curlew's Marine Forensic Lecture

This previous Monday, I attended a lecture presented by my good friend Brett Curlew at the Three Village Historical Society. The topic was Diving Into History with artifacts from shipwrecks that tell a ship's story from pivotal times in America.

Brett operated the lecture like a forensic investigation as items were examined for clues to their ship's story. As a master diver, Brett has been on shipwrecks from the 1700s to the late 1900s. He has researched and explored English Frigates, Steamers, Paddle Wheelers, Rum Runners, Tug Boats, Barges and War ships from World War one and two.

As the audience waited for the lecture to start, many took the time to view the several artifacts on the tables that Brett had set up upon his arrival. The evening was a success and questions from the attendees abounded because Brett had many in attendance examine and participate in the evaluation of the data obtained from each artifact. As pieces of the puzzle for a shipwreck were put into place, the type of ship, the name, where the ship was built, the year when the ship was built and even discovering that a part was made in Paul Revere's refinery came to light. Also, answers to what year the ship met its demise and why the ship sunk, were disclosed. At the conclusion of the evening, I heard a few TVHS members thanking Brett and congratulating him on an amazing presentation.

Brett has a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Science. He has been teaching environmental and outdoor education since 1998. Brett has provided programs for Nassau and Suffolk BOCES (K through 12) and college level and professional development for teachers. Additionally, Brett has designed and taught AP environmental summer programs for Brookhaven National Laboratory since 2005. He has been a founding partner in Hands-on Environmental since 2000, an organization which brings environmental and education programs into the classroom. Brett is also a founding member of The Maritime Oceanological Society (MOS).

Brett Curlew, Forensics, Outdoor Education, master diver, Three Village Historical Society, artifacts, marine, marine enviornment, New York Aquarium, Maritime Museum, English Frigates, Steamers, Paddle Wheelers, Rum Runners, Tug Boats, Barges, War ships, World War one, World War two

Brett Curlew, Forensics, Outdoor Education, master diver, Three Village Historical Society, artifacts, marine, marine enviornment, New York Aquarium, Maritime Museum, English Frigates, Steamers, Paddle Wheelers, Rum Runners, Tug Boats, Barges, War ships, World War one, World War two

With his passion for the marine environment and diving since 1985, he loves marine history, and has worked to preserve the history of shipwrecks. Brett has lectured extensively and provided programs for all ages on the subject of marine history. He has had artifact displays and had provided lectures at the New York Aquarium at Coney Island, the Maritime Museum at Fort Schuyler, Seacliff Museum, Whaling Museum at Cold Spring Harbor, Maritime Museum at Sayville, OceansWide.org and New York State's Outdoor Education programs.

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

Sustainability Talk

11/12/2019

Sustainable practices, sustainability, Bill Lauto, STEM, Oceanswide, Caumsett, Marshall Fields, Main House, going green, going true green

My presentation was in the old Reading Room with some furniture and rug from circa 1927.

Honored to be one of the speakers at an excellent program last Tuesday for OceansWide organization at Caumsett State Historic Park. Teachers from multiple school districts came on their day off to attend presentations the provided them with credits for Professional Development Accredited by STEM Hub.

My presentation was given twice on Sustainable Practices and Environmentally Conscience inside the Marshall Field the third's mansion. I explained how key concepts in science education can connect to sustainable practices and environmentally conscience decision making. From appliances in our own kitchen to solar energy. Industry's trade secrets were shared, stories told and facts presented.

At lunch time we enjoyed the beautiful view and warm weather as discussions abound. The image below can be enlarge upon clicking...

Sustainable practices, sustainability, Bill Lauto, STEM, Oceanswide, Caumsett, Marshall Fields, Main House, going green, going true green

Our Lunch Time View

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

Enjoy A Day Of Education & Nature

10/17/2019

Bill Lauto, Caumsett, Mansion, sustainable living, nature, outdoors, saving energy, saving earth, earth, earth day, education

Mansion at Caumsett State Park

Save the Date! Nov. 5th, 2019

Registration Deadline is November 1, 2019
Please use Registration LINK on right to do so now.

Cost: $25.00 per person payable by cash or check on day of event when you arrive. Breakfast, Lunch and Environmental Sustainability in Education Workshop is included along with two other Workshop time slots.
Check is made payable to: OceansWide Organization

Workshop Time: 10:30 to Noon for my Environmental Sustainability in Education Workshop.
Lunch will be after my workshop

Event Time Available: A total of 7 hours is yours to use to peruse the Grounds, attend Workshop(s), have lunch with a view of the Long Island Sound.
Arrive at 8:00 am for Breakfast and stay until 3:00 pm.

Location: Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve
Please use LINK on right for map and directions
Main Mansion House
25 Lloyd Harbor Road
Lloyd Harbor, NY 11743

Professional Development accredited by STEM Hub

Creating A Better Planet Through Education
OceansWide Professional Development Day

Registration

Light Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. Please be sure to include any dietary restrictions you have when registering.
Bring a NOTEBOOK and a few writing utensils!
Be ready to learn and enjoy a beautiful view.
P.S. Bring binoculars!

Workshop Description: UPDATE - 2 Talks Now
Environmental Sustainability in Education

Bill Lauto from GoingTrueGreen.com explains how key concepts in science education can connect to sustainable practices and environmentally conscience decision making. From appliances in our own kitchen to solar energy. Trade secrets will be shared, stories told and facts presented, because everything is connected.

Learn about how to truly save money, energy and Earth!

Map & Directions

Schedule For the Day

8:00 am to 8:45 am
Check-in / Networking / Enjoy the View / Take Photos / Enjoy a Light Breakfast / Visit Tables

8:45 am to 10:15 am
Workshops #1

10:30 am to High Noon
Workshops #2
Environmental Sustainability in Education with Bill Lauto

12:00 Noon to 1:00 pm
Lunch / Networking / Enjoy the View / Take Photos / Take a Brief Walk / Visit Tables

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Workshops #3
JUST ADDED: Environmental Sustainability in Education with Bill Lauto

2:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Wrap Up / Visit Tables / Share Business Cards / Enjoy the View / Take Photos

FYI: Some Park and Mansion Information

Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, situated on a scenic peninsula extending into Long Island Sound, offers miles of bridle paths, walking, jogging, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and nature trails over acres of woodland, meadows, rock shoreline and salt marsh.

In 1921 Marshall Field III purchased 1750 acres of Lloyd Neck to create one large estate. He named the land after its Matinecock Indian name, Caumsett, which means "place by a sharp rock." Field created a self-sufficient English-style estate as a combination country club, hunting preserve, and home, complete with its own water and electrical supply.

Today, the Marshall Field III Mansion hosts OceansWide Education and Research organization and the Masters Garage houses the BOCES Outdoor and Environmental Education programs where Bill Lauto teaches at both locations.

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

Victory Gardens Are Needed Again

10/2/2019

Victory Garden, Victory Gardens, World War One, World War Two, World War II, fresh food, food, organic food, growing food, compost, composting, Home Front, Going Green, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Going True Green

I am sadden how the stories of our past, let them be His-Story or Her-Story, are forgotten or completely changed for a false narrative. I know just a few people reading this Going True Green Blog Post will know what a Victory Garden was so many years ago. Nevertheless, Victory Gardens are needed again.

Victory Gardens were planted by individuals on the Home Front as a patriot sign to make a difference as World War I and World War II were being fought. The premise was simple and the difference made was tremendous. These Victory Gardens were planted in yards, window pots, apartment rooftops and empty plots of land around the neighborhoods. They helped in the battle against food shortages as two world changing wars raged on for years. The food that was produced, was used and shared with those in need.

Today, a Victory Garden would be a major part of the multitude of solutions we can do as an individual. Having a Victory Garden will allow us to eat healthier with fresh organic food and be a positive contributing factor for our changing world. For more facts and information see my Going True Green Blog posts under the Category called: Composting.

If we truly want to be part of the solutions, we all need to have or take part in a Victory Garden. This Fall is the perfect time to start planning your very own Victory Garden for next Spring!

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

What Home Heating Fuel is More Efficient, Oil or Natural Gas?

9/24/2019

snow, winter, heat, heating system, oil heat, gas heat, oil, gas, natural gas, saving on heating bills, heating costs

Snow & Heating Costs Can Pile Up

With the 2019 winter heating season just around the corner for most of the United States, the title of this article is the most popular query I have been asked over the years about Heating Systems. Unfortunately the answer is not that simple and the answer depends on several variables.

If you ask someone who is associated with Oil heating in any way, shape, or form, the answer is Oil.

If you ask someone who is associated with Gas heating in any way, shape, or form, the answer is Gas.

Both "someones" are leaving out important details and information so immediate justification for their fuel can be given.

The question now becomes:
Who is correct? Here is the TRUE answer:

Depending upon several different circumstances either answer can be correct...
The reason for this is because heating your home ALSO depends on what type of Heating Unit being used and HOW Heat is Delivered throughout your house. All Heating Systems consist of three (3) parts:
The type of Fuel used, the Heating Unit, and the Heat Delivery Method throughout the house.

The question now needed to be asked is:
What are the circumstances and how do we know what is the most efficient Fuel for us?

With OIL, the fact is more BTUs are produced by Oil as compared to Natural Gas, thus making Oil the more efficient FUEL at face value. HOWEVER, some Gas Heating Units offer the highest efficiency rates. Thus by using Gas as a Fuel in tandem with a higher efficiency Gas Heating Unit and a more efficient method of delivering the heat throughout the house, GAS becomes the more efficient FUEL.

BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. This is an approximation for the amount of energy needed to heat up one pound
of water, one (1) additional degree in the Fahrenheit scale.

Let us start to break down the circumstances...

First thing to realize is that there are numerous steps to improving and making all the components contributing to heating the house far more efficient. Even if you finally do decide to get a new heating unit, gas or oil fired, all the additional steps must be looked at, considered, evaluated and implemented when necessary for maximum energy savings. Below are two questions from some of my clients:

I now use oil to heat my house, the heating unit is almost seven years old and I have gas in the house. Currently natural gas is cheaper than oil. Do I make the switch from oil to gas?

Whenever the above details are true, the answer is No. This is because the cost to switch (at least $5,000 to $7,000) probably will have a long payback period of 7 years or more. Additionally, over the years the cost for oil and gas will follow historical trends making one fuel more expensive than the other from one year to the next. Another expense will probably come into play if the way heat is "delivered" throughout the house needs to be upgraded to one of the more efficient methods. Now this action with save more on heating costs, but add additional years to the payback period. Thus upgrading the way heat is delivered throughout the house, such as changing from a Hot Water Baseboard delivery method to a Hot Water Radiant Floor Heating method, will wipe out the additional savings gained.

Rating the way heat is delivered throughout the house:

Pex, Pex tubing, radiant floor heat, snow, winter, heat, heating system, oil heat, gas heat, oil, gas, natural gas, saving on heating bills, heating costs

Radiant Floor Heat

Most efficient delivery method to send heat around your house:
Hot Water Radiant Floor Heat
(Today, PEX tubing - not copper pipes, would go down first in order to be under the floor. This is best installed with new construction or complete remodeling projects.)

baseboard heating, hot water base board, snow, winter, heat, heating system, oil heat, gas heat, oil, gas, natural gas, saving on heating bills, heating costs

Hot Water Baseboard

Second best delivery method to send heat around your house:
Hot Water Baseboard

Then comes methods such as:
Forced Hot Air; Hot Water Radiators; Steam Radiators / Steam Pipes; etc.
(The order of efficiency for these methods could alternate depending on other variables in the house, such as how well the house is insulated and / or the location of vents. {Facts on vent location is below})

Also please note these delivery methods of heat throughout the house become less efficient with additional variables.
For example: Forced Hot Air coming out of one set of vents on the wall where the vents are up by the ceilings. This (less expensive to install for a builder) "single room vent" with a dual function for delivering heat in the winter and AC cold air in the summer, has a much higher expense in energy cost for the homeowner due to a lower efficiency with delivering heat. The reason for this is because we have basic laws of physics that state Hot Air Rises. Why then would we place the vent that delivers heat to a room up by the ceiling and not down near the floor? Vents by the ceiling are only good for delivering Cold Air from a central AC system, because Cold Air Drops. Another law of physics. We all need two vents per room, one for heat by the floor and one for cold air at the ceiling.

Below is another question from a different client:

I have oil heat for my house and the boiler (heating unit) needs to be replaced. I have gas in the house for my gas stove and clothes dryer. Should I switch from oil to gas and will I save money on my heating bills?

The answer will be Yes, if all the answers to the following questions are YES...
- Do you have Hot Water Baseboard or Hot Water Radiant as the Heat Delivery method throughout the house?
- Can you get the new gas heating unit installed with a rebate, tax credit, or low interest loan?
- Is the new gas heating unit offering a high efficiency rating of at least 87%?

If your answers are NOT all YES, then consideration should also be given to a new more efficient oil heating unit, compare the numbers with payback times as well as look at all other elements connected to lowering overall operating costs for heating. For example: Insulation levels throughout the house and if hot water pipes are covered with insulated wrap.

WARNING - Please Note that sometimes we can get an incentive from our utility company for converting, when they also provide Natural Gas service, but in most cases they are only offering a new gas heating unit that provides 80% efficiency or less. A far cry from 87% and the better gas heating units that offer up to 95% efficiency.

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