GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

Drying Naturally

6/30/2020

going green, going true green, clothes lines,

Mother Nature Drying Clothes Naturally

Always nice to get help from Mother Nature to save Money, Energy, Health and Earth.

Having a clothes line is an inexpensive set up and saves on many topics. This method that was once the staple to completing the wash in America just a few decades ago, is still used by most people around the world. The image above shows a retractable clothes line drying some bathtub mats and bathroom floor mats, but any rope will do, along with a dozen or so wooden clothes pins. Even apartments can set up clothes lines with a pull cord over the tub or the umbrella style stands.

BUT, I don't have the time and my clothes dryer is faster! These statements are true, but to overcome them all you have to do is implement the elements from decades ago that made the system work all the time. Now we don't have to utilize a clothes line with every wash, but at least we can make the effort to offset the modern dryer with a clothes line as often as possible. Here is how we can do this...

First element to grasp again is the Organization of yesteryear families. Everyone had chores and they may even alternate between family members because...

Second element to bring back is Team Work of yesteryear families. Whoever is part of our family, is part of our team and scheduling tasks are done by communicating well with everyone before just stating what must be done.

Third element, make a list of items that can be identified as feasible to dry on a clothes line for your family. Such as bulky items like towels, bath mats, blankets, jeans, sheets and comforters. These items will save the most energy and money because they take up a great deal of space in a dryer, causing us to run multiple loads.

The end result is Big Time Savings for everyone along with obtaining a better understanding of accountability, empathy, responsibility and problem solving. Below is a breakdown on Big Time Savings:

SAVE Money:
No fuel needed to dry clothes
No added costs from utility companies
No need to buy "extras" like static cling removal products

SAVE Energy:
No need to use Electricity or Gas to create heat for drying clothes
No need to use Electricity as an energy source to operate drying machine motor
No need to have lightbulbs on (I hope they are LEDs) by the dryer

SAVE Health:
Clean fresh aroma from solar light and cool wind
No chemicals with store bought dryer sheets to prevent static cling
Getting exercises with the physical effort involved with "hanging clothes out to dry."

SAVE Earth:
Less fossil fuels used
Cleaner Air
Less carbon emissions
And we are leaving a healthier planet for our children's children.

Just think about all this, then speak to the family and together as a team, make a difference.

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

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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!

Use this LINK to see testing results and report card...

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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."

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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!

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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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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!

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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
Contribute your comments!

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My Last BBQ Grill!

7/30/2017

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propane, propane gas, gas grills, propane gas grills, BBQ, cooking outdoors, grilling and costs, saving money BBQ, going true green, going green, sustainable living

I stretched the use of my gas BBQ Grill out for the longest run ever... 5 years. Depending on the brand, I usually get 3 or 4 years use from my propane tank gas grills. I don't know about any of you, but I say that smells bad. Two of my four burners are now done and the replacement cost is more than half the cost of a new basic grill. AND there is the trap! I fell for this 2 times, but no more.

I am done with buying crap that doesn't last, I am making my on grill with fire bricks and parts from my old grill. My grandparents built their own grills and pizza ovens!
So will I and here is why:

New grill: $200.00 (3 to 5 year life)
Tank fill up: $20.00 (two fill ups per year, $40.00)
Generic Cover to save money: $29.00 (lasted 2.5 years)
Manufacturer's Cover to last longer: $47.00 (lasted less than 2 years)
Also note that a date is stamped on the collar of each gas tank for when it was made. With a 20 pound propane tank you have 12 years before the tank needs to be re-certified. Then you must re-certify every 5 years. The cost of a new certified tank almost always costs less than re-certification.

VS

Costs for material to build BBQ: $200.00 (my labor, will last 50 years)
Apple Wood Pellets: $29.00 for 40 pounds. (1.5 bags per year)
I will not use coal, too many carcinogens.
Box of Stick Matches: $3.96 for 300 (will last years)

I think in the long run, this will not only save money, but be much more sustainable while helping our environment. Now, I am done with this BBQ blog.

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

Telomeres, Telomere, Cold Spring Harbor Lab, hitler, world war two, L. J. Williams, BBV Publishing

TELOMERE, by L. J. Williams "Telling The Untold Stories™ BBV Publishing

Watch Video Trailer for the Novel Telomere below...

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Default Towel Saves Money

11/28/2016

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Electric Dryer, Clothes Dryer, Bath Towels, moisture sensors, going green, going true green, bath towels, wet clothes, drying clothes, saving energy, saving gas, saving electricity, saving on utility bills

Dry Default Dryer Towel

Do you own a Clothes Dryer? Do you use a Clothes Dryer? This Going True Green Blog teaches how one easy action can save you money and drying time, as well as significantly helping our environment every time you dry clothes in a dryer.

No matter what type of Clothes Dryer you have, take the biggest bath towel you own and throw that towel into the Dryer with all your wet clothes! That is correct! To save approximately 7 minutes drying time (give or take a few minutes), each and every time you dry clothes, get the largest bath towel you own and make it your Dryer's towel. Yes, this towel shall stay and live in the Dryer forever. In other words, make this towel your Dryer's Default Towel.

Why does this help?

Save Money!

Having an already dry towel in the Dryer with wet clothes will help absorb the moisture out of the air inside the dryer, thus helping to dry clothes in less time. This action doesn't take much and when you start adding up the minutes saved each time the dryer runs, money is also saved. Especially when there is a moisture sensor inside the Dryer. This moisture sensor feature can save 15% alone and with the large dry bath towel also being used the savings will be even greater.

So each time the Dryer is done, remove the clothes and then toss the Dry Default towel back into the Dryer for the next load. You can also read all the details to saving money, energy, and earth with electric and gas clothes dryers at this Link to our EnergyHotwire website.
...And then there is using a clothes line outside in the fresh air to dry your clothes. Remember that sustainable way? Many people in the world still use them!

Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

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What's Your EBB?

7/15/2016

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electric bill, electricity, saving energy, lower electric bills, lowering electric costs, bill lauto, going green, sustainability, sustainable living, solar, solar power, natural gas, electronics, cost of electronics, grid, electric grid, kilowatts, kilowatt hours, vampire power, vampire draw, electrical costs

Electric Meter

Electric Bill Breakdown:

Saving at home on electricity starts with knowing what is using the most electricity in the house. Differences will exist between an ALL Electric houses or a house that uses natural gas to make hot water in a separate gas fired Hot Water Heater. Nevertheless, let us look at some examples so that we can start to put our own house bills into perspective.

Twenty years ago and still today, the biggest daily user of electric power is most likely your refrigerator and/or your Air Conditioner. All your Incandescent light bulbs used 15% of your total power. Today that has changed to your electronics. They pull power even when they are not on! Today, electronics will use about 15% of your total electric consumption. Please review my blog on October 31, 2013 called Vampire Appliances.

Below is the average breakdown of electric power consumption for a house in the northern States of America. If the house is in the southern areas of America, the shown percentage for heat must be reversed with the percentage for cooling:

Electric Meter

Heating 29%
Cooling 17%
Consumer Electronics 15%
Water Heating 14%
Appliances 13%
Lighting 12%

Yearly electric bill for areas with the highest Kilowatt cost (West and East Coast Cities) would be an average of $6,000.00. Please note that this is in addition to any natural gas or oil consumption bills.

Solar Energy!

My costs are as follows:
Heating - I use Natural Gas with a 92% efficient unit, yearly cost: $ 340.00
Cooling - I use Solar Power, yearly cost: $ 0
Consumer Electronics - I use Solar Power, yearly cost: $ 0
Water Heating - I use Natural Gas with a 92% efficient unit, yearly cost: $ 420.00
Appliances - I use Solar Power, yearly cost: $ 0
Lighting - I use Solar Power, yearly cost: $ 0

My yearly grand total for Energy costs: $760.00. When I go with Solar Hot Water, I will save the $420 a year cost in Natural Gas. FYI: After the tax credits for going solar, my payback is just 4.5 years because I went with the pre-paid Lease program.

Now, I also receive a check at the end of the year from my electrical power company, this reimburses me for the approximate $10.00 a month cost they charge me to still be hooked up to the Grid. They pay me .4 cents per Kilowatt, while taking the extra power I created and placed back onto their Grid, so they can sell it to others for a price between .18 and .23 cents per Kilowatt. Wow! Twenty years ago we paid .12 cents per kilowatt and they paid .4 cents to anyone creating power by wind, solar, or a burning garbage facility. Since then our cost has gone up to .23 cents per kilowatt and they are still paying us .4 cents. Amazing, but that must be fair right? If it wasn't, how could they get away with that type of scalping? All our government politicians have failed us. For more on this, see my Solar Sabotage blog posting!

Bill Lauto , GTG
Environmental Scientist
 International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 
Contribute your comments!

Telomeres, Telomere, Hitler, L. J. Williams, BBV Publishing, Untold stories, world war two, cold spring harbor, science fiction

Telling the Untold Stories: TELOMERE by L. J. Williams

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GravityLight

11/26/2015

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The GravityLight

In America we are celebrating Thanksgiving today and when our Sun sets in the sky tonight we will all turn on our lights, without thought, to continue giving thanks with family and friends. Some may go shopping in stores for sales that start tonight and all these stores will have lights on as well to facilitate this marketing melee. As you may have surmised, I do not subscribe to this as a time to buy material possessions. One of the reasons...

As we turn on our lights this Thanksgiving night and every night in America, there are 1.3 Billion people without electricity in this world. That is one out of every five people living; most use kerosene lamps to light their way through the dark of night. Kerosene, a known carcinogen with an open flame burning a wick, can cause burns, cataracts, and cancer. Yet, for most this is the only source of light to do homework, read, cook, and to see where they are walking. Finally along comes Humankind's ingenuity!

GravityLight was designed by a company called Deciwatt for use in third-world and developing countries with the goal of making kerosene lamps obsolete. The LED light that comes on is powered by Earth's gravity just like the descending weights of a Cuckoo clock. All you need to do is pull a strap, fill the ballast bag with 20 pounds of rocks or earth and let gravity illuminate the LED bulb in an adjustable lamp. No real operating costs once you buy or are given a GravityLight kit. This is key to many families since the cost of kerosene can consume up to 30% of their yearly income! This is an amazing and logical invention, as the weight slowly falls to the ground, gears are turned that drives a small motor to produce at least 25 minutes of power for the light.

So now I ask you to review the following LINK and Watch the Video to see if you wish to contribute and help make these GravityLights more readily available to the remaining 1.3 Billion people in our world that don't have light like you and I. Flipping a light switch on is easy and so is using this LINK. Contributing to this project may become one of the best ways for us in America to say thank you, thank you for all that we have right at our fingertips. Happy Thanksgiving and peace be with you.

Bill Lauto , GTG
Environmental Scientist
 International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 
Contribute your comments!

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America Hung Out To Dry

9/4/2015

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Heat Pump Clothes Dryer

When I think of American Technology, I remember Americans walking on the moon, not once, but several times and all returned home safe. However, since the spirit of the Apollo program ended, "American Know-How" has taken many back seats. This analogy applies to our Clothes Drying machines. America's Clothes Dryers arguably LOSE big time. However, near the bottom of this blog post, you will have data to help you save big time when drying your clothes!

Even the most energy efficient Electric Clothes Dryer made in America will still consume an enormous amount of energy. Mostly because the unit is using electricity to create heat and if you don't have Natural Gas for use inside your home, then you can't use a Gas Clothes Dryer and you are compelled to use electric dryers. Nevertheless, there is much to know and many steps to take that will keep money in your pocket while helping to improve our planet's climate.

The first thing we CAN'T do is go out and buy a Heat Pump Dryer made in Europe. Why? Because they are not available in America. Many believe the European market is years ahead of America when it comes to Clothes Dryers. Over 25 models are available in Europe and none in America. Sweden's Electrolux was the first to produce the Heat Pump Dryer almost 20 years ago! Germany's Bosch model uses 40% less energy than America's basic Energy Star electric operated clothes dryers.

Some reports state that a Heat Pump model is available to buy in America, but at what price and why did this take so long? I did a Live Chat with the only manufacturer I found selling a Heat Pump Dryer in America. They are a South Korean company and their representative was clueless. She finally admitted she didn't understand half my questions and didn't have any information dealing with a savings comparison between an electric Heat Pump dryer and a gas operated dryer. She finally stated, "I will be honest but the information that I have here is just that it use 53% less energy." Compared to what, was the question I needed answered, because I have a gas operated dryer that uses 75% less energy than an electric dryer. Therefore, it is difficult to justify spending $600 plus for an electric operated Heat Pump dryer that has a good chance of providing me with no savings when drying my clothes! Thus Seven (7) Energy, Money, and Earth, Saving Facts for your clothes drying needs are listed after the image below to help while we wait for American dryers to catch up in efficiency.

Electric powered Heat Pump Clothes Dryers send the hot exhaust air first through the lint screen and through an evaporator. Moisture is removed and the hot air is sent back into the dryer.

Here are 7 steps that SIGNIFICANTLY lower your energy cost to dry clothes so you wouldn't be hung out to dry:

STEP ONE:  Throw a Big DRY Bath Towel in the Dryer with the wet clothes!
To save approximately 7 minutes drying time, every time you dry clothes, get one of the largest bath towels you own and make it your Dryer's default towel. Yes, this towel shall stay in the Dryer forever. Having an already “dry towel” in the Dryer with wet clothes will help absorb the moisture out of the air inside the dryer, thus helping to dry clothes in less time.

STEP TWO:  If you have an Electric Dryer and you have Natural Gas available. Consider getting a gas Dryer because the savings will justify the expense to switch.

If an Electric Dryer cost $1.00 to dry clothes, it will only cost 25 cents to dry the same clothes in a Gas Dryer.
That is a possible 75% savings. The range of savings is from 50% up to 75%!

Make sure the cost to switch is within reason. Note that a master license plumber will be needed to run the gas line inside your house and to properly vent the gas dryer. Also make sure you buy the most energy efficient Dryer made.

STEP THREE:  Use the "Automatic Cycles" if your machine has that feature. Do not use or set a "timed" cycle because the clothes may be fully dry well before the "time" is up.

STEP FOUR:  Start saving with your clothes Washer by using the longer spin cycle on your washing machine to remove as much water from your clothes as possible. Obviously this will NOT apply to "Delicates" because you will be laying these clothes flat to air dry.

STEP FIVE:  Do you use fabric softener sheets? How many boxes do you buy each year and at what cost? For about $10.00, Dryer Balls can replace the sheets, save money, drying time, and our environment.

STEP SIX:  On Wash Day try to run your Dryer two, three, or more times in a row. This will allow you to take advantage of the retained heat in the Dryer. Make sure the Dryer is filled, don't run the Dryer just to dry a pair of socks. Dry as you washed: Meaning, you just ran a load of underwear, then dry underwear. Don't mix “long to dry” items such as bath towels with underwear. ALWAYS clean out the Lint Screen after EACH time you run the Dryer! Lint is the number one cause of house fires.

 STEP SEVEN:  You can save 100% on your Dryer cost by using Solar, aka Clothes Line.
Electric Clothes Dryers are one of the biggest electrical consuming appliance in the house vs a Gas Dryer.
Some reports show Electric Dryers responsible for one whole ton of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Using a Clothes Line has numerous benefits: 
a. No utility bill
b. Fresh clean air smell to the clothes 
c. Less wear and tear on clothes, thus clothes last longer
d. Exercise for your TriCeps and BiCeps
e. More energy saved for our grandchildren .
f. Helping our planet's environment

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

Telomere, telomeres, Cold Spring Harbor National Lab, Hitler, World War Two, living forever, L. J. Williams, BBV Publishing

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Making Coffee Amazing & Sustainable

8/13/2015

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Do you drink coffee? This Going True Green Blog Post will teach you how to make an AMAZING cup of coffee every time, save a tremendous amount of MONEY and live HEALTHIER while being more SUSTAINABLE.

By learning the facts about making coffee, water, plastics, and energy, you can save from hundreds of dollars to over four thousand a year as you enjoy the most delicious cup of coffee you every made, every time.

coffee, french press, hand grinder, coffee, coffee maker, carcinogens, water, plastic, coffee beans, going green, saving energy, sustainability

Plastic Coffee Maker

Let us start with your coffee maker. If you use a coffee maker, then you are using electricity. Also coffee makers are being made with cheaper plastics to have a lower price tag. That cheap plastic with boiling hot water will leach a soupy chemical mix into your coffee. Your health will not be affected tomorrow, but over your life time, do you want to risk those carcinogens being a contributing factor to problems later in life?

So let us do away with the coffee marker and immediately save at least $100.00 off your electric bill per year and remove another plastic source that can put harmful elements into our bodies. For more details on your electrical savings visit our EnergyHotwire page on the topic.

Solution for not using a coffee maker is a French Press coffee maker, which will be a major contributing factor to a better tasting coffee! The second contributing factor to better tasting coffee is Distilled Water.

French Press Coffee Maker

French Press coffee makers come in various sizes to make just one mug or up to 8 to 10 cups of coffee. The French Press you buy must have tempered GLASS not plastic because only three things DO NOT put carcinogens into our food or drink and that is Glass, Wax Paper, and Porcelain.

Having and making your own Distilled Water will not only make your coffee taste better, but this is where you can save thousands of dollars per year. For more details on glass, wax paper, porcelain and distilled water savings visit our EnergyHotwire page.

The last ingredient to making the best coffee in the world is Hand Ground coffee beans. Again your Hand Grinder must have a tempered GLASS container and a Porcelain Stone to grind the beans. With glass and porcelain there is no retention of smell because they are easier to clean! I do realize some of the decorative square wooden box Hand Grinders look great, but stained wood can leach and the corners are hard to clean, thus growing odors.

Hand Coffee Bean Grinder

Also when you manually grind your coffee beans you get a consistent size, cut, and texture, so all the solubles can be extracted evenly. This is a major contributing factor to taste! Electric steel-cut coffee bean grinders can add a metal like taste and they pulverize the beans. Thus the fragments and small particles causes a result where different amounts of coffee solubles are extracted.Thereby sacrificing an even creation of flavor.

Making coffee was always 100% manual and when electricity came along that process was no longer acceptable. However, today energy and electricity is no longer cheap, so why not consider putting real flavor back into your cup of coffee by making coffee the original way? You will be saving so much more all around.

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