GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

Food Labels Decoded, No Antibiotics or Raised Without

11/10/2025

No Antibiotics Administered or Raised without Antibiotics

This one is a true enigma. These terms mean that the animal was NEVER treated with antibiotics or fed antibiotics. This explanation of the terms is accepted by the USDA, and the USDA is responsible for the accuracy of these claims. However the verification process is non existing. The additional term know as “Antibiotic-Free” has been labeled by the USDA as impossible to approve.

The label with the words "NO ANTIBIOTICS" for chickens means that the chickens were raised without being given antibiotics for health maintenance, disease prevention or treatment of a disease. However, in the Agriculture industry, they use antibiotics to help decrease the death rate for the livestock. When this is done, the amount administered is low and is strictly regulated.

Between 2008 to 2012, sales of food products raised without antibiotics increased by 25%. Perhaps this occurred because the overuse of antibiotics in animals raised for food is blamed for the increase in resistant bacteria or superbugs. If or when superbugs are passed on to humans, the illness can be very serious.

Perhaps a good recommendation for the shopper is to just look for the Organic label. All meats with this label are raised without antibiotics and there is an excellent verification process in place.

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

Green Hydrogen

9/12/2025

For decades I have been speaking about Hydrogen Fuel Cells making the world's energy on demand. Today, a new term has become popular: Green Hydrogen

WHAT IS GREEN HYDROGEN?

The answer is the same as what I wrote about over the years, now it is just being said like this:
Green Hydrogen will be the alternative to batteries. Created with an emission-free process, such as one or two solar panels for Free sun light, some Free rain water, and a system that takes the electric energy from the solar panels to use electrolysis that splits the hydrogen from the oxygen molecules in that rain water.

Hydrogen made on demand, is the best application where batteries are not suited to transport heavy loads. Also with Hydrogen we have fast refueling times, greater distance traveled, and zero emissions!

Green Hydrogen will decarbonize the power grid and these applications should start within twenty-five years as cost limitations are removed with more research in water electrolyzer technology. Research and Development, along with innovations, will be key to this time frame. Many component manufacturers recognize these key trends for their products that contribute to the green hydrogen industry. IDTechEx’s report, “Materials for Green Hydrogen Production 2026-2036: Technologies, Players, Forecasts”, covers materials and components for supply chains and key players making electrolyzer systems.

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

Olive Wood Kitchen Utensils

2/27/2025

Olive wood, kitchen utensils, handmade utensils, olive wood utensils, Made in Italy, cooking utensils, going true green, sustainability

X Out Plastic, go with Olive Wood Kitchen Utensils

They are worth the investment for many reasons!

I now have all hand made olive wood kitchen utensils that are sustainably made, and their performance is excellent.

The main reason I spent the extra money for them is to get all plastic out of my kitchen. I do not want any more microscopic plastic particles getting into my body. When cooking, the heat will breakdown the plastic. We all seen these plastic utensils peel along the edges and/or melt. And the same goes for non-stick pans. I even switched to all glass containers with bamboo tops that host a rubber gasket, thus replacing all my plastic containers. The only thing still made with plastic is the coffee maker, and while hand-press coffee is amazing, that takes time.

The second reason is because olive wood is naturally bacteria resistant. As for care and maintenance, I put together the best way to care for your beautiful looking olive wood utensils:

1). Wash them with warm water and soap. For tough stains just use a mixture of lemon juice with some salt. Use a non-abrasive sponge to scrub away stain. Lemon and salt is also a natural neutralizer for any odors. Never soak your olive wood utensils or leave them in water. The wood is porous, and the olive wood will absorb the water; which will eventually cause damage such as cracking and warping.

2) Dry immediately with a soft clean cotton towel - Do not buy towels made with acrylic, which is plastic.

3) Never put them in the Dishwasher.

4) Store or keep in a dry environment, and away from moisture. Also stand them in an upright position to avoid warping. Keep them out of direct sunlight, and away from any strong heat source.

5) Oil the olive wood with olive oil at least three times a year or every few weeks if they are used to cook every day. Again, use a soft 100% cotton towel and let the oil be absorbed overnight, then wipe off any remaining olive oil from the wood the next morning.

This is a great way to live a healthier life !

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

Traditional Olive Wood kitchen utensils are crafted by artisans and would look great gracing anyone's modern, country or rustic kitchen. Ethically produced and we only use wood from very old olive trees that have come to the end of their natural fruiting life. Additionally, they have already been replaced with younger, more productive trees.

A Clean Wood Stove On A Cold Winter's Night?

2/10/2025

The winter of 2024 - 2025 has had some very cold nights and days. Keeping warm in our homes can be expensive and create pollutants. However, there is always another way to do something, and since wood stoves remain popular as a heating appliance in the United States, Europe, Russia, and many other regions, we need some good humankind ingenuity.

For flexibility, as a primary or secondary home heater, how does this sound if the system can use free or low-cost fuel, have functionality during electric outages or when off-grid, and energy efficiency savings by heating just the core of the home? Well, that is the challenge of the project called: The 5th Wood Stove Design.

Brookhaven scientists and a team from Germany using a real-time particulate matter analyzer on a very clean wood stove design that employed gasification and combustion staging to achieve high efficiency and low emissions.

The Energy Information Agency estimates there are 12.5 million homes in the United States that use wood or pellets for space heating. In about 2.5 million homes, wood stoves serve as primary heaters, and in about 9 million, they serve as secondary heaters, according to the US Census. The 5th Wood Stove Design Challenge is funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy with support from the Osprey Foundation, and is managed by Brookhaven Lab, Berkeley Lab, and the Alliance for Green Heat, a Maryland based non-profit organization. End result, we have a new wood stove that is very clean, very efficient, and has very low emissions.

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

We Should STOP Using Plastic Sparkles

12/9/2024

Christmas, cards, enviromental friendly ink, plastic, microscopic plastic particles, going true green, going green

Cards Covered with Plastic Sparkles

We have all seen those bright sparkles on Christmas cards, at birthday parties, on any type of greeting cards, inside envelopes, and used for surprise confetti. The issue is, these sparkles are no longer different bright color paper. They are small plastic pieces and they never go away. They are getting into our water, air, soil, food, and our bodies.

We need to seriously look into stopping the use of Plastic Sparkles for the holidays, and birthdays, and any celebration. There is always another way...

MAKE YOUR OWN GREETING CARDS:
Sending cards to family and friends with a few sharing words is a positive action when done a little at a time. Start early and never try to do this alone in one or two days. Do a little every other day or so, but start on December first every year, and take as long as two weeks to get the task done. Let us be creative this year by making our own cards or send a photograph card printed with Eco-friendly ink.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
- Try to be Greener by buying cards made from Tree FREE Resources, such as hemp.
- If we are making our own cards, use recycled paper or recycled card stock. Reuse old envelopes or again make our own with Tree FREE Resources. Please try to avoid using plastic or plastic sparkles.

I am very concern about all these little pieces of plastic getting into our air and water. They never go away, just keep breaking down to smaller and smaller pieces.

- Also remember having a custom look, always gives a warm and individual feel to our Christmas greetings.
- Let's use environment friendly inks when writing out our cards, printing them, or printing photos.

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

On The List

8/25/2024

All Going True Green's followers know that I have been speaking and writing about Hydrogen Fuel Cells as the world's energy answer for decades. Well...

What we have from NASA's technology is a company in Ohio called Hyperion Motors announcing their methodology for hydrogen fuel cells that can be used at a business, home and of course, in their car. Their XP-1 Hydrogen Sports Car is schedule for limited production by the end of this year.

Due to my GoingTrueGreen blog and being able to help promote this new Hydrogen Fuel Cell sports car, I was allowed to be on the list for possible trial use, or even to purchase. Some of the data is in the videos below. Each video is from and credited to Hyperion Motors' website... Enjoy!

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

Hydrogen Power, The Real Answer

6/24/2024

At Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, on June 11, 2024, scientists successfully demonstrated a new efficient catalyst for separating Hydrogen from oxygen (Water, AKA H2O, is made up of one hydrogen and two oxygen molecules). They call the process the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

This new catalyst to conduct Water-Splitting is four times more efficient and should prove to be far less expensive. However, the chemistry to break water into hydrogen and oxygen is complex. Two separate, and simultaneous electrochemical reactions are require to be the catalysts for breaking bonds.

Hydrogen is the promising fuel for no greenhouse gases, and Free power for the world! There will be no greenhouse gases when the Hydrogen is separated from water with renewable energy, such as a few solar panels to power the system (let us call it a membrane system), and for safety we split water molecules on Demand. The Hydrogen runs the Hydrogen Fuel Cell that makes electricity. Byproduct is condensation.

Hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cells, fuel cells, going true green, Brookhaven National Lab, Hydrogen Power, Clean Energy, Solar, Oxygen, vehicle, rain, rain water, Sun, free electricity

Schematic shows how a catalyst composed of a few layers of iridium oxide (IrOx) over a support made of titanium nitride (TiN) can efficiently produce oxygen (O2), hydrogen ions (H+), and electrons (e-) from water molecules (H2O) in an acidic electrolyte.

The World's Energy Freedom answer would work with a system that collects FREE rain water (a vehicle will have a water tank) and as needed, the membrane system, will separate the hydrogen molecules from the freely collected rain water (not from natural gas or gasoline). This would be done with FREE electric power created from the Sun with a few solar panels. The hydrogen molecules from the freely collected water (H2O) will run the fuel cell that makes FREE electricity to power the house, office and our car.

The problem is - No research money to help improve on a system NASA used on the Space Shuttles since 1981.
The problem is - Nobody can make money off of this!
The problem is - That there will be No More monthly bills.
AND
Then there will probably be no more WARS when everyone can make their own FREE energy.

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

Food Labels Decoded, Grass-fed Chickens & Cows

5/10/2024

Grass-fed Chickens and Cows

Grass-Fed, Grass Fed label, going true green, Food labels decoded, grass fed beef, USDA, Eggs, Cows, Beef, Chickens, GTG Blog

Some of the Grass Fed Labels

Not much to this label, yet the "BUT" at the end of this Decoded Label makes you wonder, Why even have this label?
The USDA says that grass-fed animals, such as chickens and cows, must get the majority of their nutrients from grass throughout their life. Chickens that are grass-fed eat a more natural diet, including digesting insects. Benefits from the chickens eating a grass diet are seen in the chickens' eggs, and meat consumed by humankind.
Many similar benefits come from grass-fed cows when beef is sold.

BUT the food provided to cows and chickens could be supplemented with feed containing pesticides and animal products!

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

Why Do We Tie Up Our Garbage In Plastic Bags?

3/7/2024

Plastic, plastic bags, garbage, garbage bags, recycle, microplastic, going true green, sustainability

Beach Clean Up: Compostable Bags or Plastic?

Easy answer... To facilitate easy transportation from indoors to outdoors, and to keep garbage cans more sanitized.

Now I must ask, what was done in yesteryear? There was no such thing as a plastic bag.

In the "Old Days" garbage was tossed in a small pail with a handle, then carried outside to a large garbage can that was put out to the curb on collection days. Every now and then, those pails were washed out. However, plastic bags changed all that, so to avoid using plastic bags today, we need to look into Compostable Bags and taking some additional action.

Households were not zero waste back in yesteryear, nor is zero waste an easy task to accomplish today. First action is to reduce, recycle, and reuse. I put out one garbage can a week, while most of my neighbors with the same situation as me, put out two garbage cans twice a week. All with their garbage tied up nice and tight in a plastic bag. I am also guilty for using plastic bags, but that is mostly because the municipality and unions, do not want their collection agents picking up garbage cans filled with loose debris, and turning the cans upside down to dump out all that garbage. Spillage, when that occurs is a mess, germs can spread, and town / city employees risk back injuries. So most townships and cities want garbage to be bagged.

Nevertheless, still using plastic bags, will cause long term issues in landfills. One such issue I learned about on my first job out of college. I was working as a Specialist Level 2 environmental scientist at a newly designed garbage recycling plant. There I learned the plastic bags when burned, give off dioxins, and dioxin like compounds. That is the same stuff used in agent orange during the Vietnam war.

So another action I took was to search out Compostable Bags. There are many types available on the market today, and a lot easier to find compared to years ago. Try to buy compostable bags with plant-based content, and this will help keep plastic out of our landfills and microplastic particles out of our environment, and us!

Some compostable bags with good reviews are ProGreen, and UNNI ASTM. Both are available at Walmart.

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

Distilling Water

2/5/2024

water, water distiller, water filters, drinking water, water fountains, carbon filters, distillers, water pollution, going green, going true green, GTG

Counter Top Water Distiller

I have been speaking and writing about using a Water Distiller for decades now. When compared to buying bottled water in plastic, having your own Water Distiller makes complete sense. Saving money, energy, and health are individual benefits. Helping to save our environment is a benefit for the world and our children. For details about distilling your own water and all the savings, just use the SEARCH box at the top of this page or click on WATER in the Category list on the right side of this page.

The number one concern I hear about distilling your own water is the loss of all those healthy nutrients and electrolytes in water. I have a hard time being concerned for several facts and reasons. One reason is the fact that our main supply of nutrients, electrolytes and minerals, come from fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts. The minerals in water are not sufficient to enhance our Recommended Daily Allowance, (RDA). On average, to get our RDA of calcium we would need to drink 600 glasses of water per day. To acquire our RDA of iron, that would cause us to drink 800 glasses of water a day. How about our RDA for magnesium? Only 1,800 glasses of water for that, and for our phosphorus RDA, just 160,000 glasses per day. We Do Not get our daily nutrients from drinking water.

water, water distiller, water filters, drinking water, water fountains, carbon filters, distillers, water pollution, going green, going true green, GTG

So, over the years the best water distiller to buy has changed... No I am not writing about this because I am getting a kick-back or have stock in the company. I am just sharing information and research that I have done over all the years.

The counter top Vevor water distiller, as of today, is the best deal.

Better Features:
Lighter Copper outside
Two switches on and off
Double line marker inside locating maximum water fill
Electric cords have extra length
Stainless steel nozzle to hold carbon filter
Stainless steel shield over steam intake hole inside top section to prevent particulates from drafting up into cooling coil
Easy lift handle for the top section
Extra high drip guard for the 1 gallon glass jug
Stainless steel, not plastic top cover for the glass jug
Silicone padded wrap to protect the bottom of the glass jug
A citric concentrate to clean the distiller - Done by putting 4 teaspoons in hot water that is filled up above the dirt line in the distiller. Then plug-in without the top section cover, and bring to a boil. After 15 minutes shut off with OFF button and wash out.
The grip handle for the glass jug, better design
Vent spacing in top section is larger, so easier to clean any dust or lint buildup
Cooling fan blades are made of aluminum, not plastic, so there is far less dirt build up on blades
Faster and quieter: Far less noise, One hour faster in making the gallon of water!
Best price is around $111.00
Electrical operating cost to make one gallon is around 42 cents for the highest electrical rates in the United States. The Vevor unit costs about 9 cents more than other models that use around 70 watts less, but are on 1 hour longer to make a gallon of water. Either way, compared to buying bottled water - no contest. You get a gallon of purified water for 42 cents compared to one 16 ounce plastic bottle of water that will range from $1.50 to $3.75 depending on your buying location.

Drawbacks:
I am very disappointed that this is made in China, thus shipping halfway around the world wipes out some of the environmental savings we obtain.

The charcoal filters are very dense and after a dozen rinses they still leached a heavy black charcoal film. I suggest the carbon filters from Nutriteam. You can buy 12 packs for a good price at Nutriteam.com. They are slightly smaller in size and fit better in the Drip Nozzle. Bottom line, you can rinse them in a bowl of distilled water about three times to get out the excess carbon.

General Rules:
In regard to changing the carbon filter and cleaning out the inside of the distiller, my rule has been determined from distilling water for over 35 years. I clean out the distiller with organic white vinegar by pouring in one gallon and letting the vinegar sit overnight. The citric concentrate, Vevor provides with their distillers, does work better when following their directions. How often I change and clean is based on this rule: Every 100 gallons made or three months, whichever comes first.

As for the dust build up in the vent spacing on the top section and the cooling coil, I use Q-Tips to clean out the dust and lint at least once a year.

THE SOLUTION IS NOT BOTTLED WATER… THE SOLUTION IS US AND THE KNOWLEDGE WE SHARE!
CONSIDER TAKING GTG's WATER WORKSHOP, IF NOT FOR OURSELF OR THE WORLD,
AT LEAST FOR OUR GREAT GRAND KIDS.

Visit our Lifetime GTG Membership program for details, online class about water is available to all members.
Please use the GTG Membership Link above. Thank you.

You will not be tested by me, but life may test our grandchildren.
Can you teach them what they need to know?

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