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Going True Green Blog:

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

See the Back Story - Blog Preface

Ancient Roman Cement Can Help Our Environment!

5/24/2023

2 Comments

 
Bill Lauto, Going True Green, Roman cement, cement, clasts, lime clasts, self-healing cement, sustainability, Rome, Roma, volcanic ash, calcium carbonate, MIT, Archeological Museum of Priverno in Italy.Ancient Roman Cement 2K Years Old
Roman Cement, aka Cement made 2,000 years ago by the ancient Romans has lasted amazingly well compared to modern cement. Some data states that today's cement starts to breakdown within 50 years. Actually, I have seen cement for sidewalks start to flake off surface layers within 5 years. Yet, ​Rome’s famed Pantheon, which has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome dedicated in 128 AD is still intact. In the photograph on the left, I am standing next to cement steps and the columns of a Roman Temple, now a Catholic Church in Assisi Italy. This structure was made over 2,000 years ago.

Now since some calculations say that manufacturing cement today contributes 8% of carbon emissions world wide and our modern cement can crumble within decades, especially when exposed to eroding environmental conditions, longer lasting cement will help our environment by lowering carbon emissions.

So why does Roman Cement last thousands of years? The answer came this year in a 2023 study that used reverse engineering on samples of cement made by the ancient Romans. A team of investigators from MIT and laboratories in Italy and Switzerland, discovered ancient concrete-manufacturing strategies that incorporated several key self-healing functionalities. One of several papers was published in the journal Science Advances.
​

First, everything previously assumed about ancient Roman cement is wrong:
  • The one magic ingredient was pozzolanic material such as volcanic ash
  • ​The various small particles in the cement was due to poor mixing practices or just being sloppy
  • The slaking process using water and lime to form a highly reactive paste material made the difference

Under high-resolution with multi-scale imaging and chemical mapping techniques, researchers gained new insights into the potential functionality of "Lime Clasts" and the slaking process was not a contributing factor. Studying samples of ancient concrete, the small white particles were forms of calcium carbonate. Under spectroscopic examination it was determined they had been formed at extreme temperatures. This was the key to the super-durable nature of Roman cement and the hot mixing produced compounds that would not otherwise form. Additionally, this increased temperature significantly reduces curing, setting and construction times.

Trevi Fountain, Going True Green, Roman cement, cement, clasts, lime clasts, self-healing cement, sustainability, Rome, Roma, volcanic ash, calcium carbonate, MIT, Archeological Museum of Priverno in Italy.Rome's Trevi Fountain With Water via 2K Year Old Aqueduct
Studies conducted show that the hot mixing process has the lime clasts develop brittle nanoparticulate architecture, thus creating the ability for self healing. If a crack started in the concrete, a reaction would start with water and create a calcium-saturated solution that would recrystallize as calcium carbonate filling the crack. This adds further strength to the cement and heals cracks before they can spread. Recent examination of ancient Roman concrete samples exhibited calcite-filled cracks.

To test this mechanism, which was responsible for the durability of the Roman concrete, samples of hot-mixed concrete were made and then deliberately cracked. Water was sent through the cracks and within two weeks the cracks had completely healed. As a result of these successful tests, work is being done to commercialize this modified cement material.

If commercializing is successful, this "old made anew" cement material will help improve the durability of the 3D Printing of concrete homes for the poor, (see previous GTG blog post of this topic) save money in production and time, less cement manufacturing due to this cement having a longer lifespan, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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

Research was done by Janille Maragh at MIT, Paolo Sabatini at DMAT in Italy, Michel Di Tommaso at the Instituto Meccanica dei Materiali in Switzerland, and James Weaver at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. The work was carried out with the assistance of the Archeological Museum of Priverno in Italy.
L. J. Williams, Upper Room, Bill Lauto, Shroud, Shroud of Turin, Sudarium, Oviedo, Climate, Climate 2,000 years ago, climate facts, Easter, Jesus the Son of God
2 Comments

GTG Influencer: UPDATE

2/11/2023

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Influencer, GoingTrueGreen, Eco-friendly, product reviews, social media influencer, Product Reviews
Different companies inquired last year about possible GTG reviews on products they made. All the products had some claim to being Eco-Friendly and wanted a Going True Green blog post to contribute a review as a social media influencer.

Since I did the GTG blog review on a new underclothing product dated February 22, 2022, other companies who requested a GTG blog post on products with the same caveat, withdrew their request. This occurred after seeing what I stated about products, Eco-friendly or not, that were made in China and shipped from China. The main reason was that no matter how Eco-friendly their product was, shipping from China wiped away any benefits. They all had the same issue with their products in need of shipping half way around the world. Additionally, the sale prices were not any less expensive compared to a more local manufacturing set up. The difference comes down to the profit margin demanded.

Influencer, GoingTrueGreen, Eco-friendly, product reviews, social media influencer, Close Up
At this time I also wish to provide an update on
​the underclothing blog done last February. Unfortunately, a hole developed in the same location on both of the men's underwear I received for review and testing. This occurred immediately after we posted our blog.
​

The time of use for both pairs, is based upon wearing each pair once a week for a day. After 5 months, the same defective hole appeared one week apart on both pairs. The holes were in the same exact location on both pairs, thus indicating a possible defect in manufacturing. I trust that the company has reviewed this issue and I hope they are successful in correcting the cause. I also wish them the best in changing manufacturing to be here in the U.S. because I do appreciate their products being made of hemp. I state this because this material along with organic cotton is a plus, especially to keep microscopic plastic fibers out of our wash water!

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

Influencer, GoingTrueGreen, Eco-friendly, product reviews, social media influencer,
After 5 Months of Use, Same Defect on Both Pairs of Underwear.
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Clear the Air with House Plants

1/30/2023

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air, air quality, indoor air pollution, indoor air, air filters, plants, boston ferns, hepa filters, NASA, air contamination, formaldehyde, oxygen, trichloroethylene, toxins, fertilizer, toluene, xylene, sunlight, green leaves, benzene, peat moss, goingtruegreen, going green, sustainable living
Electrical Air Filter

VS

air, air quality, indoor air pollution, indoor air, air filters, plants, boston ferns, hepa filters, NASA, air contamination, formaldehyde, oxygen, trichloroethylene, toxins, fertilizer, toluene, xylene, sunlight, green leaves, benzene, peat moss, goingtruegreen, going green, sustainable living
Boston Fern
I have purchased many different types of air filters since the 1980s. I stopped buying them just after the turn into this century. Perhaps I was just buying a "bill of goods" just like Bottled Water is today, but some of the HEPA filters did help with my Hay-fever days. Then there was the cost to operate them... the electric bill, batteries, replacement filters. When winter enters the equation, we have the heat on and air circulation is cut dramatically due to closed doors and windows. Unlike AC units in the summertime that have filters, heating systems raise dust and do not filter. Yet, there is always another way, a better way.

About twenty plus years ago, at least three investigators with NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America found that specific house plants were very good at expunging elements expelled by items such as: new rugs, building materials, furnishings, cleaning agents, paints, varnishes, cigarettes, fabrics, preserved foods and other airborne pollutants.


Everyday items found in every home and office contribute to indoor air contamination. So to improve air quality and add oxygen into your living and working spaces, adding certain types of plants will make a difference for the better.

We already know that plants take in carbon dioxide and substances from the surrounding air through openings in each leaf. These elements are pollutants to us, but are broken down by plants to become food through translocation to the roots of the plant. Below is a list of plants that work the best for cleaning indoor air. They are in alphabetical order:
Aloe Vera 
Known For:     Treatment for cuts, scraps and minor burns
Accomplish:    Removes benzene and formaldehyde
Care:               Sun, well drainage and don’t over water


Areca Palm: 
Known For:     Seven foot height, grow 7 inches per year
Accomplish:    Absorbs formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene
Care:              Indirect Sunlight, water and fertilizer


Bamboo Palm: 
Known For:     Loves the tropical amount of sunlight
Accomplish:    Removes trichloroethylene toxins
Care:               Water only when the soil is dry and never overwater

Boston Ferns: 
Known For:     Needs space to spread and grow its fronds
Accomplish:    Removes formaldehyde and improves oxygen levels
Care:               Water frequently, mist twice per week and add peat moss


Gerber Daisies: 
Known For:     A variety of bright colors and broad green leaves
Accomplish:    Absorbs benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene
Care:              Direct sunlight and moist soil


Peace Lilies: 
​Known For:     Inability to tolerate cold, love warm and humid climates
Accomplish:    Absorbs benzene and trichloroethylene
Care:              Direct sunlight and moist soil that drains well


Snake Plant 
Known For:     Available in yellow, dark and light greens
Accomplish:    Removes formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, and trichloroethylene
Care:              Indirect sunlight and keep the soil dry

There are a few more plants that can help, nevertheless, using house plants in your home or office saves money while being Eco-friendly with cleaning out indoor air toxins.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
Picture
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Best Western Plus in Intercourse, PA Provides EV Stations

11/4/2022

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PicturePeaceful Amish Country Side
The other week I made a trip to Lancaster PA to complete some sustainability work I was doing with some Amish craftsmen. Making various furniture items from new or reclaimed wood and with hand tools is not easy. Additionally, I have to communicate in person or through liaison with the carpenter craftsman. No cell phones, fax machines or emailing pictures is the rule. 

After completing my business, I took time to enjoy the peaceful country side during a season with far less tourists. Meals were freshly made and by 8 pm all the horse drawn buggies and most cars were off the road. I enjoyed the modern amenities at the Best Western Plus in Intercourse, Pennsylvania. Operated since 1983 by the Thomas family.

On the third day of my stay, I slept in late and by the time I stepped out onto my balcony, I heard some banging against something aluminum. I looked down and saw something being installed that would never be used by anyone in an Amish community. At least I don't think so, but I could be wrong. The young gentleman from Kyler Electric confirmed he was installing the first of several EV stations to charge electric cars at this Best Western Plus location. He didn't have a confirmed time as to when the EV station would be operational, but he estimated a few weeks.
PictureKurt Thomas, General Manager
I must admit that I was impressed that management would make the investment to provide this type of amenity. Yet I had already met the General Manager, Kurt Thomas, the other day and based on his impeccable service I was not surprised. Kurt and his staff went the extra mile for every guest staying with them. By the end of the day, the job was done.

Now with EV stations for electric cars the Thomas family is going the extra mile to help our environment. From their LED lighting to EV stations this family is part of all the individuals in our country that are real superheroes helping to make a difference.

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

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Earth Breeze Product Review

10/21/2022

1 Comment

 
Earth, earth breeze, laundry, detergent, eco, clean, fragrance, biodegradable, he, detergent sheets, sustainability, sustainable living, energy savings, water savings
Earth, earth breeze, laundry, detergent, eco, clean, fragrance, biodegradable, he, detergent sheets, sustainability, sustainable living, energy savings, water savings
My cousin Emily told me about Earth Breeze's laundry detergent sheets. These solidified soapy sheets Immediately provide benefits to eliminate large plastic containers from our environment. This offers savings on the issues with raw materials, manufacturing and disposal of the large plastic laundry detergent containers.

After using and testing this new product for three months, I am happy to report that my clothes are just as clean. I no longer have to clean up liquid laundry detergent from
the occasional spill. They work fine in my energy and water efficient front load washing machine and you can enlarge the above images to read more about the details.

​However, these solidified soapy sheets are made in China. We must consider components like price that will always be affected by the supply chain size. Distance between manufacturing and consumer is considered sustainable by most scientists when within 200 to 250 miles. I myself always ask if the carbon emissions created by shipping across half the planet outweigh the carbon emissions saved. Therefore, when consumer choices must be made in the realm of sustainability, all factors must be evaluated. I will be seeking out another manufacturer who makes the same product but with a far shorter Supply Chain, because everything will be made here in the United States of America.


Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!
BBV Publishing, BBVpublishing, L. J. Williams, READING SKILLS, read, sustainability
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Sneezing Outside The Box

10/7/2022

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Sneezing, Think outside the box, paper, cardboard, plastic, refill, tissues, improvise, sustainability, going true green, Fire departments, recycle, waste pail, wooden boxes, paper bagsHomemade Tissue Box
We all use them...
Tissues are very useful and because everyone uses tissues one time or many times in their lives, perhaps we should use some good old American ingenuity to improvise the way they are sold.

The image shown is a tissue box I made to cover the cardboard tissue box purchased in a store. I used left over pieces of wood from other projects and made a matching waste pail. Now while these actions avoided the purchase of new wood and a tissue box cover and pail made of plastic, the key word is plastic, I also was trapped in a whirlpool of thought involving redundancy.

The very wooden cover I made in the shape of a box, was covering a cardboard box. A cardboard box that may get recycled, tossed into the garbage or very rarely today, used to build a house for toys by turning the box inside out and drawing windows and doors upon the surface. When I was a kid, I did that all the time. Cereal boxes became castles, cookie boxes became Fire Departments for Matchbox cars and Refrigerator boxes became space ships. Sadly, are those days of creativity over?

Nevertheless, my wooden box and plastic box covers create redundancy. We do not need two boxes, so hopefully the manufacturing companies of tissues in boxes can take this suggestion to the bank. They can save production money while less cardboard is used or wasted. A lower manufacturing cost should mean lower prices for us the consumer! Additionally, all the cardboard being saved will help our environment.

The solution is easy... sell the tissues in a paper, not plastic, a paper bag as a refill in the boxes we already have at home. Perhaps even do an Introductory Offer by selling different sized decorative boxes for the bag of refill tissues. My parents had a nice metal tissue box cover from when they were married. That decorative metal tissue box cover lasted almost 50 years before the edges started to rust. When I saw the rust, I painted the box with a new color.

Tissues sold as refills and packaged in paper instead of cardboard will be more sustainable across-the-board. Reason being, paper gets recycled more than cardboard.


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

Picture
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SMALL TOWN RESTAURANT PROVES HOW INDIVIDUALS HELP SAVE ENERGY AND EARTH

9/26/2022

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Front Street Station restaurant, greenport, southold, north fork, long island, LIRR, David Sailor, Sharon Sailor, saving energy, sustainability, saving money, saving earth, going green, going true green, waterless urinal, kohler, infrared motion switch, greenport  new yorkFront Street Station Restaurant In Greenport
I had the pleasure to visit, over a two day period, a family owned restaurant that does more proportionally to help our environment and save energy than big corporate chain restaurants. Additionally, the food and desserts were amazing.

Out near the end of the North fork of Long Island, Sharon and David Sailor operate their restaurant, Front Street Station, in the town of Greenport, New York. Located at 212 Front Street, this daughter and father team have an old style bar in an old train car that opens to an atrium for full service dining. Located by the very last stop on the Long Island Railroad that was built for those traveling from New York to Boston in the late 1800s, the restaurant displays photos and railroad history in several ways. At this last stop in Greenport, travelers would disembark the train and then take a boat for the rest of their journey to Boston. While I was enjoying dinner and lunch with David and Sharon, I took in all the history and become acutely aware of their energy and environmental saving actions that many other corporate owned restaurants have not done. 

Front Street Station restaurant, greenport, southold, north fork, long island, LIRR, David Sailor, Sharon Sailor, saving energy, sustainability, saving money, saving earth, going green, going true green, waterless urinal, kohler, infrared motion switch, greenport  new york
A family owned restaurant taking the initiative to accomplish these actions are especially difficult in a quaint town dependent on summer tourism and now dealing with inflation locked in tandem with a recession after two years of COVID. Nevertheless, Sharon and David should be very proud of their restaurant, community outreach and sustainable accomplishments.

The first item I noticed was the Kohler waterless urinal in the men’s room. Just this one item saves 14 thousand gallons of water per year and cut their water bill in half. This low maintenance unit involves buying a gallon of Kohler’s liquid sealant that is used once a month and lasts for years. Total cost was $300.00 for the waterless urinal, $300.00 professionally installed, $100.00 for the liquid sealant. Payback less than 6 months!

Front Street Station restaurant, greenport, southold, north fork, long island, LIRR, David Sailor, Sharon Sailor, saving energy, sustainability, saving money, saving earth, going green, going true green, waterless urinal, kohler, infrared motion switch, greenport  new york
Next were the automatic infrared motion light switches. Very helpful for the time we were misinformed about COVID spreading via surfaces. Yet, since the Flu spreads with surface contact, these switches are very sanitary.

Of course LED light bulbs were being used throughout the restaurant and the payback for that change over is also months.

The bathrooms also utilized Dyson Airblade hand dryers thus saving on the cost to buy rolls of paper towels and then paying for their disposal. FYI: Cost of disposal includes an employee’s time, plastic waste bags, garbage pickup, along with soap and water to wash hands. Then the environment cost comes into play with the process used by the sanitation department.
Front Street Station restaurant, greenport, southold, north fork, long island, LIRR, David Sailor, Sharon Sailor, saving energy, sustainability, saving money, saving earth, going green, going true green, waterless urinal, kohler, infrared motion switch, greenport  new york, Dyson, hand dryer
Hand Dryer
Front Street Station restaurant, greenport, southold, north fork, long island, LIRR, David Sailor, Sharon Sailor, saving energy, sustainability, saving money, saving earth, going green, going true green, waterless urinal, kohler, infrared motion switch, greenport  new york, atrium
Atrium Facing NE with Evergreens
I was also impressed that the glass enclosed atrium for the dinning area was facing northeast and shaded by Evergreen bushes. These Evergreens offer natural protection from cold winter winds and they are tall enough to provide shade on hot sunny days.
Front Street Station restaurant, greenport, southold, north fork, long island, LIRR, David Sailor, Sharon Sailor, saving energy, sustainability, saving money, saving earth, going green, going true green, waterless urinal, kohler, infrared motion switch, greenport  new yorkDavid and Sharon Sailor from Front Street Station, Greenport
These actions stated above were just the ones I noticed while dinning there. I am sure there are other sustainable elements that they did and perhaps additional actions that can still be done. I did not do an energy and sustainability study for the operation and structure of Front Street Station. So I had no influence on Sharon and David at all. As individual business owners they have taken action on their own.

Sadly, our Planet will be in real trouble if individuals keep doing nothing, because they believe that a politician, corporation, political party, government, organization, celebrity or the UN will save us all. Gratefully, we have many Sharon and David Sailor being real superheroes helping to save our world.

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

BBV Publishing, untold stories, Telomere, Upper Room, L. J. Williams
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Hallmark's "Christmas In July"

7/16/2022

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Hallmark is running Christmas movies in July because many people enjoy a Christmas movie in the middle of the summer. So I decided to do a GoingTrueGreen Christmas blog in July. After all, having a head start on this information will prove useful for many. Especially compared to me posting this blog sometime in December and perhaps a day late for many who already made a decision that can hurt or help our environment.

​I have been asked many times by many people, "What kind of Christmas tree should I buy?"
My answer is always the same, "I prefer a Douglas Fir, however a Fraser Fir is just as nice."
Their reply is always, "Oh no, I mean between a fake tree or a real tree. Which is best for the environment?"

Well, the answer is always a real tree will be better for the environment. Here are the reasons and facts as to why:
Christmas, Hallmark, Christmas in July, Christmas trees, fake Christmas trees, sustainability, goingtruegreen, going green, chirstmas tree association, Hallmark movies, NASA, recycling, composting, carbon emissions, trees, hot chocolate, candy canes, saint Nick, forests, douglas fir, fraser firA Christmas Tree Farm
NASA has published findings that state we can take positive action for our environment by restoring our forests. Some other reported data shows that if all the Christmas tree farms in the United States of America are managed properly that would cut into carbon emissions up to 30 percent. I am not sure if that percentage is across the total amount of emissions nation wide or toward a specific discharge of carbon emissions. My research source did not elaborate, so I point this out because we must always be wary of any process of omission to create a narrative. Nevertheless, the truth will always triumph over one sided narratives.

Additionally, real trees purchased from a local Christmas Tree farm or a Garden Center such as the Powers' Country Gardens, does not produce the extreme carbon emissions that occur in the manufacturing of a plastic Christmas Tree and shipping 85% of said product from China seven thousands miles away. This is not counting the miles shipped across our country to stores.

I have read stats showing that we have here in the United States thousands of tree farms, many are growing Christmas trees. Up to 35 million real Christmas trees are sold each year as farmers plant up to 3 seedlings for every Christmas tree harvested according to the National Christmas Tree Association. I believe between the United States and Canada, approximately 350 million Christmas trees are growing every year.

Now the cost for buying a real Christmas tree every year can average out to $75.00. Well, actually the cost will be more and that is because at least half a day should be devoted to buying a Christmas Tree with family and friends. That means car pooling, getting a bite to eat together and don't forget the hot chocolate or candy canes! Perhaps a snowball volley will be possible due to the weather. How about a visit to see one of Saint Nicholas' helper or even Saint Nick himself for the kids! Also some ice skating or attending church services
can all be done before visiting the local Garden Center or a Christmas Tree farm where you actually get to pick and cut down your own Christmas Tree! Sharing Christmas cheer with the farm workers and the family operating the farm or garden center is far better than pulling a plastic tree out of the attic or basement that lacks the fresh pine scent from a real tree. The reality of all this is that any day like the above with family and friends is priceless.

We must also include in our decision the facts that real trees are renewable, biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable into useful wood. At last count, there are over 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs nation wide.

Comparing real trees to the annual 10 million artificial trees sold each year that have non-biodegradable plastic, possible other toxins such as lead, and cannot be recycled after an average 7 year life span, real trees are far more sustainable and better for the environment.

After all, what would you enjoy more? Spending a day like the one described above making real memories or being inside a store to buy a fake tree invented by the toilet bowl brush company called Addis Brushes. Yes, a fake tree isn't anything more than a giant green plastic upside down toilet bowl brush! Besides, who has memories of the time buying a fake tree?

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

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Electric Bill Free

5/17/2022

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Elon Musk, PSEG, Tesla, Solar, solar panels, GoingTrueGreen, saving energy, sustainable living, efficient houses, going green
For the next three or four months I will have no electric bill at all. I just received a credit at the end of April for the extra electricity I produced with my Tesla Photovoltaic Solar Panels during my year's billing cycle. Just like the past 7 years since I had my Tesla solar system installed I have made more electricity than I consume.

Prior to this winter, I had almost 2,000 Kilowatt hours in excess and with our winter sun low in the sky I have been using that supply to make up the difference on my electric bills. By the time winter ended, I had about 840 Kilowatt hours still left over. At the end of my billing year, I am issued a credit for the remaining kW I did not use. So the ten to fourteen dollars that I pay each month on my utility bill for taxes and fees will now be wiped out by my 840 kW credit over the next few months.

I also had a fast Three year and Eight month Return on my investment and that was possible by making an energy efficient house. The actions I have taken to live a more sustainable life and have a very energy efficient house took about 12 years prior to the implementation of the solar system. Nevertheless, these energy efficient actions taken are NOT rocket science. Throughout my GTG blog posts you can read about these actions.

The second reason for the fast payback is due to my research and evaluation of many Solar companies. (Several of the companies that I did not go with are now out of business or their suppliers have bowed out.) Product performance was also key: knowing where the products were manufactured, who installed what components and comparing the costs between Lease programs or buying.

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

2/22/2022

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Hemp, organic cotton, underwear, sustainable clothes, going true green, going green, fashion, textile, greenwashing
I was contacted by the WAMA company to ask if GoingTrueGreen.com would be interested in trying some of their clothing products made with hemp. WAMA is proud of the sustainable actions they are taking to produce items like underwear. I agreed to evaluate their product and write up our findings in a GoingTrueGreen blog post. In return, WAMA forwarded us three pairs of underwear at no charge and with no stipulations. Here are our findings:

​The underwear's composition is 53% hemp, 44% organic cotton and 3% spandex. Throughout our daily testing for a total of three weeks, we found every wear comfortable and breathable. There was no compromise of the waistband's integrity, nor any fading colors. Reported back to me was an observation about the woman's underwear on day one, concerning the sizing. I was told that perhaps the size was running a little big in comparison to various charts and data. Nevertheless, the product was worn comfortably throughout.

Additionally, please note that the different underwear we received was washed each day. The low impact dye used to color the products is one that consumes less water in manufacturing and doesn't have toxic chemicals that are usually used to fix dyes to fabric. Therefore, we found the lack of color transfer very satisfying. The fabric's strength and insignificant shrinkage was impressive. We saw no loss of shape as the products remained durable.

Over the years I have consulted with various people in the textile business. Sadly, many marketing campaigns conduct a "greenwashing" to present a responsible environmental image by leaving out many details. After reviewing the WAMA company and products made by them, I found that they are open with all the efforts they make to be sustainable.

​When considering buying more sustainable underwear, having hemp along with organic cotton is a plus, especially to keep microscopic plastic fibers out of our wash water. Price will always come into play and that will always be affected by the supply chain size. Distance between manufacturing and store shelf is considered sustainable by many when within 200 to 250 miles. I myself always ask if the carbon emissions created by shipping across half the planet outweigh the carbon emissions saved in manufacturing. WAMA presents the level of quality Hemp Textiles for reasons to back their production location. Nevertheless, when consumer choices have to be made in the realm of sustainability, all factors must be evaluated.


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

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

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