GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

My Presentation Video

9/21/2023

Bill Lauto, Going True Green, GoingTrueGreen, 5th Edition of Euro Global Conference, Food Science And Technology, Valencia, Spain, FAT conference, World's Food Supply, Food Predictions, Food Production, Effects on Poor.

My presentation, World's Food Supply: Predictions vs Production Solutions with Probable Effects on the Poor, went very well. This was the 5th Euro Global Conference on Food Science And Technology. For 2023 the 3 day conference was held in Valencia, Spain, and scientists came together from around the world. I established new contacts with scholars from countries in Africa, South and North America, Asia, an Europe. I attended several presentations over the 3 day conference and was able to communicate with many people working hard to make a difference.

After receiving emails asking for copies of my presentation, I decided to post the recorded video on this blog in its entirety for a month. Afterwards, a summary video will be posted and the full version will be available in Going True Green's Members section.

INTRODUCTION, Part One of Four

PART TWO

PART THREE

CONCLUSION, Part Four

With any questions, please do not hesitate to email me. Thank you.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Speaking at Global Conference in Spain

9/10/2023

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The 5th Edition of Euro Global Conference on Food Science And Technology (FAT) for 2023 is being held in Valencia, Spain.

On September 12, the second of three days for the conference, I will be speaking about the World's Food Supply: Predictions vs Production Solutions with Probable Effects on the Poor. For more details or to attend online, please use the Link above to the conference's website.

Soon after the conference is completed I will make my lecture available to all Going True Green Members.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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An Event for Evening Attire set Environmental Queries and Conundrums Upon Me

2/22/2023

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Many, many years ago, I attended an event that hosted a conference and award dinner for a Doctor of Sociology who conducted work associated between society and our concerns with our environment and energy needs. The specifics of any environmental issue was not discussed, the focus remained on the connections and challenges society faced toward each issue facing our environment and energy sources.

During the conference, conversation veered to referencing waste management and I contributed the following statement: “Our technology has advanced us so much that we have become very efficient in producing waste.”

I didn’t realize that my statement enticed the good Doctor to seek me out toward the end of the ceremonies. Everyone who contributed to the conversation earlier had to do a brief introduction about ourselves, so the Doctor knew who I was and my field of study.

He located me standing by my table, drink in one hand and the evening’s itinerary table card in my other hand.

The first question he hit me with was loaded and he was testing me. Would I lose my orientation in the depth of a question that had a conglomerate of issues behind the query? That was his test and my mind scrambled. I thank God for helping me with an answer that summarized every issue behind the question. The private conversation went this way:

Attire, Environmental, Queries, Conundrums,, sustainability, goingtruegreen, waste management, energy sources, power plants, ceremonies, sociology, technology, biofuels, hunger, food, fuel, society

“So what does America have to do to be energy independent?”

I smiled, paused and then said, “Use our available current technology correctly.” I placed emphasis on the word, ‘correctly’.

His eyebrow raised and then with a smile he asked the test question on the opposite end of the spectrum. “What do you think of Biofuels?”

Without hesitating I answered, “I have a serious issue with using food for fuel as long as one child goes hungry in this world… because, there is always another way.”

Before I knew, twenty minutes went by as a crowd of people encircled us to listen in on our conversation. We at least touched upon the full gamut of our environmental, energy and sociological issues. We both agreed that the British philosopher William Godwin and the French mathematician, Marquis de Condorcet were correct with their theories and Thomas Robert Malthus, which was being touted by the media and the famous, has been proven wrong many times.

We ended our conversation with me congratulating him on his award and we wished each other the very best with our future work. That was a very good evening over-all.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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RAC Mechanical, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, heating, ventilation, engineers, saving energy

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New York, The Big Onion

1/13/2023

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The Big Apple

I received several types of feed back and questions about a story that broke in New York near the end of last year. The newly elected Governor had vetoed a bill that would have helped consumer advocates fight utility hikes. Below is a copy of my comment and answer to the GoingTrueGreen followers that questioned me about this:

Please realize that I am not involved or have first hand information on this topic other than what everyone else knows through the media that loves sensationalizing stories. Nevertheless, there are so many layers to this onion...

I heard some things about this veto, but I thought it was the other way around! I thought the bill was to prevent fighting utility hikes and her veto was to allow actions against higher rates requested by utility companies.

I guess just wishful thinking on my part. So her veto turned out to be in support of utility companies requesting hikes.
From my experience when I worked at a Power Utility, many times they put in rate increases for cost hikes that didn't even happen yet. These requests were mostly blocked or reduced to only meet the real cost increases.

Utilities love wording cost increases to sound dire, but most are for future predictions of increases and problems that may or may not even happen! We should have the right to question and examine those requested increases. This puts pressure on the reviewing board, such as the Public Service Commission (PSC), that approves or discounts the utilities increase request. Having a bill to create an easier path for the public to request the reviewing board for a complete scrutinization of all the data is not anything that should be troublesome or vetoed.

Here are two reported pieces of data:
1) The state Legislature from all parties, overwhelmingly passed the bill last year, but the governor vetoed it Dec. 23.
2) The bill received fierce opposition from utility interests, who lobbied the new Governor and state lawmakers on the bill. Supposedly State records show this. With the recent election cycle, the law firms for utilities, raised funds for the New York Governor's gubernatorial bid.

I guess the story behind the veto of this bill, which is just a check and balance law, needs some real true investigative journalists. Sadly, they do not exist anymore and the onion stinks.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Are We Getting Energy & Enviro Solutions?

12/27/2022

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Fusion, fusion power, Jedi, energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, NASA, goingtruegreen, hydrogen, hydrogen fuel cells, sustainable, William Godwin, Marquis de Condorcet, Thomas Robert Malthus

Lawrence Livermore Lab

The United States of America celebrated at the end of 2022 a major breakthrough with nuclear fusion at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Early December, 2022, a team of Scientists, for the first time in the history of the world, had a safe and controlled fusion reaction that produced more energy than consumed.

Toyota's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Pickup

In Japan, Toyota is reaching for a clean future with Hydrogen fuel as an alternative to battery power. Zero emissions is the goal. The other goal they have is to sell us the hydrogen at retrofitted gasoline stations. No making hydrogen ON DEMAND with our onboard Membrane System to separate the Hydrogen from water... See below for more on this being a good thing or us being milked like with so many other products we buy.

Goingtruegreen, notpla, not plastic, imperial college, royal college, no plastics, paslier, gonzalez, seaweed, sustainable, William Godwin, Marquis de Condorcet, Thomas Robert Malthus

Notpla Products From Seaweed

Also co-founders Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez and Pierre Paslier, who met while studying Innovation Design Engineering at Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art, started a company called NOTPLA (Not Plastic). The all-natural packaging solutions made from seaweed and plants are naturally biodegradable and home-compostable. Everything they make is an answer to a specific plastic issue. Such as: electronics, fashion, cosmetics, food, paper and toilet paper.

Impressive, but are we Jedis yet?

A closer look at all the facts for a complete picture with nuclear fusion we have a potentially source of endless non-polluting energy. Can this be the solution to all our energy needs?

In a word, no, because you cannot pour fusion energy into a fuel tank. Unless we can have safe and small enough fusion reactions on every vehicle, then we still have issues. Additionally, the breakthrough we had in December 2022, is said to be one or two decades away from commercial use. How many times have we heard ten years away and twenty years later we still are hearing, "Ten years away." I don't want to be cynical, but only a few major programs in the world were successful in less than ten years. Our American Apollo space program was one of them. The reason is because the Apollo program was never done for making MONEY. Bring in commercial use and profits, then greed will sink its ugly teeth in very deep. That is why we still don't have Hydrogen Fuel Cells on our cars making hydrogen ON DEMAND to operate our vehicles carbon free. Once you buy your own system, everything else you need is FREE.

Free electricity from the sun with a solar panel to separate the two hydrogen molecules from the oxygen (H2O) aka, water in our onboard Membrane system. That hydrogen then runs the fuel cell for free to make electricity to run the car for free. All made on demand, no storage or delivery of hydrogen. We are not beholden to some conglomerate company selling us Hydrogen fuel at old retrofitted gasoline stations! All on-board a vehicle or in-house for power production. NASA has used this type of system on the space shuttles since 1981, but no research dollars are available to commercialize something that is only purchased once and maintained. This self operating and owned system, without monthly fuel bills, will set us free.

So keep in mind that even if all goes well with nuclear fusion over the next ten years with commercial development, we are still beholden to pay a monthly fee to whatever conglomerate is supplying the nuclear fusion energy.

Compare that to collecting FREE rain water off your roof, FREE electricity from a solar panel to operate the Membrane system separating the hydrogen from oxygen and the fuel cell making Free electrical power to run your car, your home, (heat, lights, and cooling) with electricity you made.

Now you will hear that nuclear fusion is needed to make clean electricity to separate hydrogen from oxygen for hydrogen fuel cells. What is wrong with solar panels making that electricity? Along with some backup batteries that the Fuel Cell's freely made electricity is always recharging we are good to go. Alas, an affordable and compact working system isn't available yet... Because there are no research dollars due to making an energy producing system that doesn't have a monthly bill attached to it!

You shall also hear that nuclear fusion will make clean energy to charge the batteries that run cars, trucks, homes, etc. Well, the complete picture shows much damage being done to our environment to dig up all the natural resources necessary to make batteries, then calculate the manufacturing damage to our environment and we realize we do not have enough natural resources to meet a world wide complete demand for batteries.

Yes, we can use safe and carbon free nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion will power the street lights and all the entities that use our tax dollars to pay the energy bill. However, we the people still want our own hydrogen fuel cells so we can be our own energy supplier! In the meantime all the people around the world need ALL the current fuels to give us the ability to transition into a better tomorrow. Realize: If we are lost in the woods, we will need to make a fire to cook whatever food we obtain, so tomorrow we can have the strength and ability to find our way home. If someone throws a bucket of sand onto that fire and we starve to death, there will be no tomorrow.

So yes, Happy New Year! Don't worry, the earth and humankind, with intelligence, will prevail. We will get there with endless energy for all. We will eliminate all issues with plastic with new products like the ones Notpla makes from seaweed.

However, we first need peace in the world. We need pretentious scientists to realize that William Godwin and Marquis de Condorcet are correct and Thomas Robert Malthus has been proven wrong again. All this will happen when we all have the courage to learn the truth with all the facts, through free speech for all. God Bless us all.

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

11/4/2022

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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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GoingTrueGreen Helps CORA's Emergency Preparedness Project in Haiti

3/23/2022

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Anse-a-Veau Bay

I have used the following line many times to inspire students and adults at domestic and international events where I teach or lecture…

If not now, then when? If not you, then who?

When I was informed about a Haiti project Marie Fouche was working on as an administrative volunteer for CORA, I changed the “you” in the above line to “I” and volunteered my services.

After a few weeks of presenting my credentials, conversations, and discussions for the project, I was honored to be welcomed. The time table and finances for us all are tight and several deadlines have to be met by me and the organizing team here in New York. Nevertheless, please allow me to summarize the project’s mission and needs:

THE WHO:
CORA is a Coalition pour le relevement de l’Anse-a-Veau. The translation “a coalition for the raising of Anse-a-Veau” is from French, one of the three languages spoken. This not-for-profit [501(c)3] organization was created to rally and motivate individuals that are born in Haiti and have a desire to make a difference. Currently the president of CORA is Mr. Labissiere and he works with the Salesians Sisters, who teach in Haiti and Msgr. Louis Merosne at the Catholic Church in Haiti.

THE WHAT:
To train a core group of high school seniors at a summer program in July on Emergency Management Preparedness. They will prepare for and how to respond to major types and phases of disasters. Preparedness, response, relief, recovery, mitigation, and pre-implementation of "sustainable" projects to prevent unwelcome issues. This initiative will enable the town’s youth to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills needed to immediately respond on the ground when an emergency occurs. With their commitment and continuing drill schedule, they will be the first line of defense to go into action to assist in evacuations, organizing volunteers, provide needed assistance to survivors, assessing damages or seeking proper help from other sources.

THE WHERE:
Anse-a-Veau is a remote bay community in Haiti. Located on the northern edge of the southern outstretch of land. When the earthquake hit in 2010, the community was swollen by refugees from heavily afflicted areas. Some initial aid to the community was airdropped, but they did not receive significant help until six weeks after the quake hit.

THE WHY:
The area is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. The population is not equipped to address these emergencies and have to wait extended periods of time for outside assistance. Waiting weeks or months for help creates additional safety concerns, such as sanitation, health, clean water, and food. The basic needs for living are not consistent. We all need Air, Shelter, Water, Food and Support. For the people in this remote part of Haiti a strong shelter, clean water, plentiful food, and emergency support is scarce. Even air that is clean outside, is polluted when inside, because most of the community burns charcoal for cooking and for heat. Additional, toxic kerosine would be used at night for light. Compounding the lack of electricity and means to communicate (no cell phone towers or internet) over long distances, even a small emergency situation can become a deadly one.

THE HOW:
The curriculum I am writing up has been added to the four week syllabus. However the lessons need to be translated into the Creole language and Marie Fouche, a volunteer administrator for CORA, will be completing that major task next month. With the development of these classes, I will use my backgrounds as an Environmental Scientist, Naturalist and an Instructor of Team Building, Survival Classes, Communication Skills, along with certification for citizen preparedness and emergency services by United States Homeland security. Thus, the following three sections for the program are established:

Communication and Team Building Skills
Readiness, Emergency Preparedness and Survival Skills
Solutions and Truth for a Sustainable and Resilient Tomorrow

Additionally, we will explore immediate solutions to current needs of everyday and survival modes Before, During and After an emergency. Several lessons will teach what some of my previous GoingTrueGreen.com blogs have covered: Educational data such as LED lights that run like Cuckoo clocks with gravity. No electricity needed! How to make a Bow Drill to make camp fires. How to make a Water Still for clean drinkable water. How to build a temporary shelter to stay warm and dry. Mixed in with these lessons will be field trips, hands-on work and collaborating with the surrounding communities.

CORA Members and Friends, Queens, N.Y.

THE NEED:
Perhaps you may wish to help with a small donation to this project.

Mr. Labissiere, president of CORA, is making arrangements with the Diocese of Nippes in Haiti to receive a shipping container filled with supplies not only for this program, but also for everyday needs. Msgr. Louis Merosne in Haiti will hopefully be able to work with Mr. Labissiere again and have the container clear customs and brought to Anse-a-Veau from Port-au-Prince.

Naimoly Freight in Ozone Park has been used in the past, but the costs have increased. CORA is looking to raise rental fees for the container, U-Haul truck rental, workers to load and unload the truck, container loading fee, and tips. The total for the New York end will be approximately 8 to 9 thousand dollars.

The cost at Haiti will be for Seaboard Marine of Haiti, Veconinter, Port Lafito, Broker Fee, Transport Port-Au-Prince to Anse-a-Veau, Unloading and tips. The total cost in Haiti will be approximately 4 thousand dollars.

To help out or make a donation, please visit CORA directly for contact data at:
https://anseaveau.wordpress.com/contact-us/

Thank you for reading and always looking at the complete picture with GoingTrueGreen.com.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Green Living Blog Ranking

12/8/2021

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Going True Green's blog was submitted to Ranked Blogs under the Green Living category earlier this year. We received the code, to display on our website, the Green Living Blog icon logo. Which we are happy to do so and add this Icon to our other Going True Green blog accolades.

While we are happy to join the ranks of blogs listed in the Green Living category, we have not received information on our ranking position as of yet. As always, we are greatly appreciative of all the support we receive from our members, followers and readers.

Thank you and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas, happy holiday and a blessed New Year.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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ANNIVERSARY OF OIL COMPANY’S REPRISAL

6/29/2021

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Bosch, heating, oil, oil heat, sustainable living, sustainable actions, going green, going true green, sustainable steps, saving on heating bills, net zero house, oil companies, SSE, green house, global warming, co2, political leaders, paybacks, new windows, saving energy, helping the environment

OIL DROP

Twenty years ago I was using oil as the fuel to heat my house. This year is the Twentieth Anniversary of when I was shocked by an incontrovertible reprisal from my oil company. That is correct, steps were taken against me for the actions I took to save energy and our environment. There were no congratulations or rewards offered. I was scolded and punished for being successful. This wasn’t that much different from when I was scolded by my previous employer, a utility company. I was the manager leading their energy saving auditing department and we went well over our pre-set quota for teaching homeowners and companies how to save energy. That wasn’t acceptable according to the VP, but that is another story for another time.

Here is my story with the facts about my house and the oil delivery company…

The previous owners of the house had informed me that they were consuming a minimum of 1,200 gallons of oil per year. I knew that amount could be lower.

The “Heating System” for the house produced heat for the winter months and domestic hot water all year round for Faucets, Showers and the Clothes Washer. I did not have a Dish Washer appliance, but used hot water when washing dishes by hand.

The “Heating System” had 3 parts:

1st - Oil was the fuel
2nd - The boiler that created the heat
3rd - Hot water baseboards delivery the created heat throughout the house

So after moving in, I immediately changed the 1970 thermostats to new Multi-Set back programable clock thermostats. When the oil company’s manager, who my family knew and bought oil from for 40 years, saw my new thermostats - he lied to my face via the process of omission! After all, he probably was thinking, how much can this young kid know?

He proceeded to tell me that turning down the heat at night with these new thermostats would cost me more money, because I would be burning more oil in the morning to get the house warm again. I wasted my money buying them and I should return them, was his final proclamation.

Yet, the facts remained. My house wasn’t that old and the pervious owners added insulation and a new 81% efficient Retention Head boiler that replaced the old Steam heat unit from the 1940s. They also installed throughout the house a new Baseboard delivery of the heat to replace the steam radiators. The oil company’s manager omitted those facts from our conversation to secure his narrative.

My savings with the new thermostats was good, but not tremendous. Perhaps I decided to go “tremendous” because of being told calculated lies created through the omission of certain facts. At least that was the catalyst for me working in earnest to really save, save big and save fast.

Over the next two years I addressed all three parts of the Heating System and lowered the consumption of oil from 1,200 gallons of oil per year to ONLY 290, then 250 gallons per year!

What I did was not Rocket Science. I implemented logic, current technology and trade secrets. Below is a list of what I did after changing the thermostats:
*I did an SSE test on the boiler. SSE is a Steady State Efficiency test and ALL Oil Heating systems need this test EVERY year. If you don't have an Access hole on your boiler's stack, the SSE test was never done! See image below. Details about this are available through previous Going True Green blog posts and in our GTG Membership.

*I put in a separate Hot Water Heater that used Natural Gas as the fuel, not oil.

Wrapped Hot Water Pipes

*The next action was wrapping all the Hot Water pipes with insulated foam.
See image on left.
*The Biggest action, which immediately saved 1/3 the oil I was using, was the addition of a Cold Start Control Panel. See box mounted on right side of my heating unit in first image below. This cost $400.00 and I saved that within the first winter! Details about this are available through previous Going True Green blog posts and will be available in our GTG Membership.
Just type in “Cold Start Boiler” in the Search box at the very top of this page.

Cold Start Control Panel

clock thermostat, thermostats, Bosch, heating, oil, oil heat, sustainable living, sustainable actions, going green, going true green, sustainable steps, saving on heating bills, net zero house, oil companies, SSE, green house, global warming, co2, political leaders, paybacks, new windows, saving energy, helping the environment

Multi-Set Back Thermostat

Access Hole for SSE Test

*Then I added additional insulation giving me a higher R value. Details about this are available through previous Going True Green blog posts and will be available in our GTG Membership. You can also use the Search box for Insulation.
*I changed shower heads and faucets to low flow efficient ones.
*I caulked each 1942 window in the house and put new weather stripping around the doors since I did not have the money to change all my windows and doors to new ones. Additionally, the payback with changing windows is found in comfort and connivence, not dollar savings. For more info about this fact, please see my previous 6/15/21 GTG blog called: The Big Picture Review

So after two years of energy saving actions, I was using as little as 250 gallons of home heating oil per year. This was such an apparent astonishment for my oil company that they responded not by offering me any congratulatory comments, but by demanding I buy 800 gallons minimum per year. When I stated that wasn’t possible, because I was only consuming 250 gallons held in a tank that only holds 250 gallons, they retaliated by refusing to sell oil to me. They dropped me as a customer, because I didn’t buy enough oil from them. Perhaps they thought I was buying oil from another company between their oil deliveries. Of course this was a completely false presumption.

I asked if what they were doing was legal and apparently, yes. They could sell or not sell, to anyone they want. Wow, a heating fuel that is a necessity to keep warm, to keep alive through the cold winter months and they could just drop me on the spot. This isn’t like buying some other product that we could still live without. Utility companies can’t just shut off your electricity due to a few unpaid bills, they have to wait months and investigate the complete story behind the belated payments. Yet, an oil heating company can just drop us like a rock. Thank you political leaders NOT really looking out for us or our environment.

NEW 95% EFFICIENT HEATING UNIT

Over the years I purchased oil directly from other oil companies who offered the lowest price until I was able to upgrade to a 95% efficient instant hot water heating system.

So the moral of this story is to do your homework and then implement. Don’t wait for some government or politician or celebrity or company or organization to save the day for you. They haven't and they won't.
You are the super hero !

Today I have a Net Zero house for electricity and still working toward True Green within my own budget of time and money. One more thing, I am doing this without sacrificing anything in order to save, because there is always another way for accomplishing.

Yes, this is a Happy Anniversary.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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The Big Picture Review

6/15/2021

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Percy vs Goliath, GMO, going true green, going green, sustainable living, sustainability, artistic license, supreme court, big picture, landmark cases, agricultural, farmers, farming, GMO seeds

American-Canadian-Indian biographical film

I recently watched the movie Percy vs Goliath and while this Going True Green blog post is not a movie review, I am using this as a segue way to present a glimpse of the Big Picture, that is our environment.

First, here is some historical background on the movie Percy vs Goliath. The film is based on a true story and did not deviate much or exaggerate much in the name of “artistic license” or to create action scenes. Percy was a small Canadian farmer who defended himself in a landmark case all the way to the Supreme Court against a giant agricultural corporation who claimed that Percy was stealing their patented GMO seeds. Seeds that were resistant against that same company’s weed killing product. Everyone should know about this story and court case.

Additionally, this story allows us to realize that the complete picture must always be examined. Just like a murder mystery the detective must learn about everything from motives to the complacent actions such as “rounding up the usual suspects.” Other elements may be injected by the sensationalists in the media or forced by some higher political authority.

Let us just review some examples that echo these points in the realm of our environment:

The United States had a situation where a new candidate was thrust into the primary race for president. He was presented as the one that was going to be the best person for our environmental issues. Specific details on why, were not offered by the media.

I have stated many times that I do not look toward any politician, celebrity, corporation, organization, government or make believe super hero to save our environment. Only us, the individuals are making the difference. Nevertheless, this politician said in a previous speech that people needed more grey matter to work in the technology field. To keep the words spoken in context, this was a comparison being made between the “agrarian society” and “industrial society.” So to prove his point he stated, “I can teach anybody, even people in this room, so no offense intended, to be a farmer. It’s a process. You dig a hole, you put a seed in, you put dirt on top, you add water, up comes corn.” This man didn’t even have a clue about what is involved with farming. From seed collection to weeds, from weather to insects, from micronutrients to disease, from time management to family responsibilities, from farm equipment to bank loans, from supply and demand to supermarket shelves!

Another example is how misleading advertisements were used for years to sell new energy saving windows.

“Save 15% On Your Energy Bills!”

windows, going true green, going green, sustainable living, sustainability, big picture

New Windows Save???

The truth was a 15% savings on your heating bills and that 15% saved was only on the amount of heat lost through the old windows. So if the old windows were losing 7% of the heat to the outside, you would save 15% of the 7% lost. To know pay back times on the costs for new windows, a heat-lost study was required. After overseeing thousands of these studies, the average payback on putting in new windows was 28 to 30 years. Reasons to change windows are: Comfort with less drafts and outside noise reduction, ease of cleaning, better locks for security and then saving some money on the heating bill.

So where were our political environmental super stars to end that misleading campaign taken up by some window selling companies? For years those commercials were broadcasted. They were lies through the process of omission and they should have been stopped immediately. Yet, they were not, care to speculate why?

Again the individual was left to find out all the facts on this issue and they ranged from greed to environmentally unfriendly manufacturing.

Last point of this blog, but not the least, is how all those on both extreme sides create fear, confusion and hate for each other. Thus, destroying hope for us working as one team to implement solutions that garner success, income, better health and a better environment.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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