GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

Best Western Plus in Intercourse, PA Provides EV Stations

11/4/2022

Peaceful 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.

Kurt 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
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Earth Breeze Product Review

10/21/2022

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

Sneezing Outside The Box

10/7/2022

Sneezing, Think outside the box, paper, cardboard, plastic, refill, tissues, improvise, sustainability, going true green, Fire departments, recycle, waste pail, wooden boxes, paper bags

Homemade 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!

SMALL TOWN RESTAURANT PROVES HOW INDIVIDUALS HELP SAVE ENERGY AND EARTH

9/26/2022

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

Front 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 york

David 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

Hallmark's "Christmas In July"

7/16/2022

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 fir

A 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
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Electric Bill Free

5/17/2022

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!

ECO Friendly WAMA Underwear

2/22/2022

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!

Sustainable Living Art by Saving Fabric

12/18/2021

Bonnie Barbera, Scrooge, fabric, fabric stash, quilts, art quilts, quilter, quilters, sustainable, saving fabric scraps, cotton, denim, silk, going true green, muslin

Quilt work section in progress by Bonnie Barbera

We all have a talent, gift and/or kind soul. Sad and true that some people never realize this fact and perhaps stay as a Ebeneezer Scrooge for life. Additionally, we all cannot do everything to help save the world. Whatever our forte may be, that is what we can concentrate on to make a difference.

Allow me to share with you an extraordinary attainment by a very modest woman named Bonnie B. Barbera who is a quilter. She makes bed quilts and everyday items from leftover pieces of material. These same leftover tiny pieces of fabric also become her palette for the creation of her Art Quilts. From “scraps” of material, that you and I would throw away, Bonnie creates art masterpieces.

These beautiful art quilts start with saving and maintaining a fabric stash. I saw multiple colors stored in bins, all from scraps of material. I was impressed. When I asked Bonnie about the task to collect and sort, Bonnie’s answer was a modest one.

“A fabric ‘stash’ is a practice that is certainly common for many, many, quilters. Patchwork quilts have been made for hundreds of years out of saved scraps. As you can see, I store each color range in separate bins.”

Sustainable Living circled in my head as I viewed this amazing artist’s studio where she worked. I then asked Bonnie about the art quilts she was currently working on and she explained by saying, “The art quilts that I’ve done incorporate fabric collage, raw edge appliqué and free-motion quilting. I use bits and scraps of cotton, denim, silk and other fabric blends that I have saved from all of my more utilitarian quilt projects over the last 9 years. I try very hard not to purchase any new fabrics (with the exception of small amounts of white muslin when I absolutely need pure white). I always try very hard to make what I have on hand work. If I can't find the color I need in my stash, I'll take two or more scraps that once combined, will produce the color effect that I seek.”

The following three images show the process of making an art quilt and Bonnie describes the process as follows:

“A quilt has thee layers - Top, Batting and Bottom. The part that is shown pinned together is the top layer. After I pin the image, I sew down all of the tiny pieces on the sewing machine to secure them. That is not the only time I sew the image. I then ‘sandwich’ the top with two layers of batting beneath that, and a backing layer of cotton for the bottom layer. Once that sandwich is pinned securely, I then machine-quilt through all of the layers in a way that enhances the depth of the piece and provides texture where I want it. Finally the quilt edges are bound.”

Bonnie is making quilts, art work and a difference with her talent that holds a sustainable element. Would it not be wonderful, if Christmas morning, we all found our sustainable talent under the tree?

For more of Bonnie’s work, she can be reached at her Instagram Link:
https://www.Instagram.com/bonnie.b.Barbera/
Merry Christmas everyone!

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

Houses Built 3D Printing Style!

9/27/2021

3D printing, Extruder, shelter, homeless, sustainable, housing, affordable housing, energy efficiency, going green, going true green, climate, affordable homes, high density insulation, Community First! Village

3D Printed House

American ingenuity has solutions once again for our environment, energy, affordable homes and houses for the homeless.

Who needs shelter? Everyone... and please make the house fast, affordable, strong, with less waste, energy efficient, climate resilient, sustainable, spacious and adaptable to unique design changes.

While that sounds like an impossible order, in reality this dream has become possible. Many developers are getting involved with this new technology; and one named ICON in Austin, Texas has already increased affordable housing and built 400 square foot houses for the homeless. The basic model has high ceilings, some skylights and large windows, all making the house very spacious in appearance. Building a home like this can take a little as 24 hours!

Additionally, larger buildings can also be made with modifications to the giant printers. ICON built their first houses with the nonprofit Mobile Loaves and Fishes in Austin. The name of the site is Community First! Village and the new home owners love them. Several companies are now using this technology around the world. Many are now saying that this new technology will end the homeless and affordability crisis.

3D printing, Extruder, shelter, homeless, sustainable, housing, affordable housing, energy efficiency, going green, going true green, climate, affordable homes, high density insulation, Community First! Village

Extruder Making Second Wall

The 3D process is truly amazing. A quick drying concrete is used in most situations and the computer program runs the extruder as the building is precisely built up from the foundation. Construction waste is reduced by at least 65 percent, construction costs are about 40 percent less, the structure is energy efficient and much more resilient to natural disasters such as fire and hurricanes.

The second image shows the double wall of the house. After electrical wires are in place, the space between the two walls will have a high density insulating foam injected to increase energy efficiency. Inside and outside walls can also be finished with other decorative material such as stucco or panelling. However, those steps are optional and not necessary.

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

Bamboo & Mac Butter

9/16/2021

Bamboo, sustainable, sustainable products, milkadamia butter, non-toxic, toothbrushes, going green, going true green, helping the environment, environmentally friendly, natural, BPA free

Bamboo for Toilet Paper?

I recently tried some new products that hopefully are more helpful toward our environment than harmful. I trust this info that I am providing will be of some help.

The First new product I tried is called Milkadamia Buttery Spread.

Wow, made with Macadamia nut oil, this dairy free butter is impressive. Non GMO and NO palm oil, thus helping to protect tropical forests! The best part about this product is the taste! Please give this a try.

The Second new product was a Bamboo Toothbrush.

Made from Moso bamboo with a biodegradable handle and BPA-free. I had no issues with using this tooth brush at all. I will be doing more research into the manufacturing methods and procedures established for this product.

The Last new product I tried is called Babo, a roll of toliet paper made from Bamboo.

This unbleached Bamboo Tissue roll is stated to be Tree-free, septic safe, durable, non-toxic, sustainable and
ECO-friendly. The natural color of bamboo presented the most significant issue... Visual conformation of a clean and completed wiping job is a little harder due to the light brown natural color of bamboo. Also the dissolving rate is not the fastest in a side by side test that I conducted. The individual sheets are also a little more difficult to tear off.

Just a few more actions we can all look into doing for our everyday living that moves a little more toward true green.

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