GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

GTG Influencer: UPDATE

2/11/2023

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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.

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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
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After 5 Months of Use, Same Defect on Both Pairs of Underwear.

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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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.

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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
Contribute your comments!

INVISIBLE PLASTIC

11/20/2022

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A Cast Iron Pot

A good friend and buddy from college was over for dinner one evening several years ago. While cooking some chicken he asked, “How do you keep the chicken from sticking to the pan? I go through three to four non-stick pans a year and you are not even using a non-stick pan!”

I responded with “Do you want the long answer or the quick one?”

He replied, “I can do without the long ‘put me to sleep’ Bill Lauto answer, so the quick one please.”

“Have you heard of PAM?”

“No, who is she?”

I just looked at him and after he saw my face, he then relented, “Okay, give me the long answer.”

So sharing cooking information to keep food from sticking ranged from the type of cooking surface being used and type of oil applied to the surface.

Today I wish to provide an update to my friend and everyone because a new study done by Australian researchers has reported that just scratching or cracking the surface of a Teflon coated non-stick pan could release over 9,000 plastic particles.

By using Raman imaging and algorithmic models they also reported that non-stick pots could release millions of plastic particles when used to cook or even when washing. A micro-plastic piece will measure less than five millimeters and nano-plastic particles measure less than one micrometer. In other words, invisible.

These synthetic chemically composed plastic particles of carbon and fluorine atoms have a low level of friction. They are also known as the Forever Chemicals because they only get smaller and smaller. They are not Biodegradable.

Additionally, like all plastic in the PFA family, they can also persist for unknown amounts of time in our bodies. Long term health issues are a concern and outcomes are mostly unknown to us. For more information please peruse my Going True Green blog dated 12-27-2017.

Flinders University research Professor Youhong Tang, basically said that the study tells people to be careful about what cooking ware they use along with what utensils are used. A metal stirring spoon will do more damage to the surface of a pot than a wooden spoon. Also since “Teflon is a family member of PFAS” more research is recommended.

So what alternatives and solutions do we have? Remember that only 3 things do not put carcinogens into our food and drink:

Glass
Porcelain
Wax paper

As for preventing foods from sticking to cooking surfaces, use olive oil, sunflower oil or canola oil. Sprays such as PAM have no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors added. The same is true with most olive oil sprays.

Bake in porcelain, roast veggies and potatoes on parchment paper and use an iron skillet when feasible. Do not forget to care for any iron cookware by reading care instructions that explain how important maintenance is by rubbing oil on the cookware after washing.

Realize that cooking outdoors on slate, just like Native Americans did and still do, is very healthy. The same is true for the stones on the base of a pizza oven which are great for baking bread and of course cooking pizza.

Information like this is not necessarily reported in the media or shared by politicians. Realize that the media is in the business to entertain, not educate. They create controversies and lie through the process of omission to increase profit margins. Celebrities promote a product that pays them the most and Politicians who gain a Net income greater than the salary we pay them are corrupt. I do not know about you, but I am tired of being lied to.

We have invisible plastic because we have invisible facts and the United States is gaining invisible intelligence. High levels of education does not equate to having intelligence.

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

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The Complete Truth About Sinking Cities

9/12/2022

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What is the real cause for some sinking cities?

Allow me to start by sharing a lesson from the 1920s and 1930s that developed on the end of eastern Long Island, in a town call Montauk, New York. This town is named after Montauk Sachem, who was the tribe leader around 1665 that ruled from the eastern end to the western end of Long Island for decades. However, to share this lesson we must first head south to Miami during the 1920s. Miami had become the popular spot to stay in the winter months for prosperous people living in the northern states. Yet, when the hot summer months came in Miami, they abandon Miami to head back north for cooler temperatures.

From this, Carl Fisher who developed Miami Beach in the 1920s, wanted to make Montauk the "Miami of the North" for the summer months. Therefore, all those that can afford the travel, would be able enjoy beach weather all year long without the extreme heat. Miami beaches would be enjoyed in the winter months and Montauk beaches in the summertime. Plans were drawn up to construct hotels, restaurants and clubs to accommodate the potential crowds visiting Montauk in the summer.

For Mr. Fisher, alas, his dream did not come true for one main reason. This reason is the lesson never learned and now a major contributing factor as to why so many cities are sinking, and sinking fast...

Major coastal cities around the world today are sinking and facing flooding caused by the all encompassing battle cry prediction under climate change. Cities such as Miami are losing land to the rising water levels, but is that the complete truth?

The journal Geophysical Research Letters published a study of 99 cities with the end result showing some of the major cities around the world are sinking more than the rising sea around them. How can that be? This is by far a threat more urgent than previously predicted under climate change. Yet, climate change (I prefer, a changing climate) does not have anything to do with this phenomenon. This is what the study reported:

Over 33 cities are sinking more than one centimeter per year. At that rate we find based on data from the PNAS, (National Academy of Sciences) a peer reviewed journal that offered recent estimates of global sea-level rise, we have a sinking rate that is five times faster than the rising seawater levels.

The fastest sinking cities are located in Southeast Asia. Indonesia's capital has a city with 10.5 million people. This city, Jakarta, is sinking fast. So while these cities are not sinking fast because of climate change, they are sinking fast because of other humankind actions.

From InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar), a technique for mapping ground deformation using radar images of the Earth's surface, we have collected data from orbiting satellites that show the following:

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Montauk never became the "Miami of the North" because there wasn't enough clean drinkable water under the narrow land strip of eastern Long Island. Pumping water up from the ground would allow salty seawater to encroach and within a few years, there would be no clean domestic water left to use in all the hotels, restaurants and clubs. If this lesson was remembered and expanded upon, humankind would not have pumped up water from below our cities and our cities would not be sinking faster than the rising sea. The humankind issue with the fastest sinking cities isn't called climate change, the name is subsidence.

Subsidence is when land settles or is compacted due to a drastic change well underground. Subsidence is the cause for many of our cities sinking at a faster rate. All of humankind's actions to pump groundwater up and out, causes buildings to sink more and more. If the "Miami of the North" became a reality like Miami in Florida, we would now be comparing the problems of a sinking Miami to a sinking Montauk.

We must now rethink our developments and paving over our land with blacktop and cement. All of this prevents rain from recharging the water tables below. A process that takes centuries when not disrupted. Additional, alternatives must be found so massive extraction of groundwater is reduced or stopped. One advantage New York City has is that their drinking water reservoirs are upstate and not a contributing factor to reducing the water tables below the city. Around the start of this century, the Indonesian government has been regulating the extraction of groundwater. The city of Jakarta was sinking on average 20 centimeters a year for the past three decades. Recently, after new citywide actions, the city only sank 3 centimeters in the past seven years.

So because the media is only pushing a narrative that makes advertisement dollars, they fail to present the complete truth to the public. After all, the media deems facts and truth boring. End result, a delay in knowing the complete story and bringing forth real solutions.

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Al Borland and Rounded Curves

8/29/2022

Richard Karn who played the character Al Borland in the TV show Home Improvement saw and Liked our GoingTrueGreen blog called, MORE POWER. These two words happened to also be a widely used saying in the TV show, thus obtaining the attention of Mr. Karn.

The information was put out by our parent company, BBV Publishing and the image below captures the details, as well as our more power created by my solar system on my energy efficient house. No electric bill what so ever for over 7 years now. In fact, the utility pays me for the excess power I create. AND all done without any sacrifices, yes the AC is running all summer long. Note the smooth rounded curve in the image!

We are thankful and greatly appreciative to Mr. Karn for finding our blog noteworthy.

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Cherry tomato on left for size comparison

In other news from GoingTrueGreen that has Rounded Curves, I want to share this image of my own homegrown bumpy tomatoes! They don't have smooth rounded curves because this is what tomatoes really looked like originally!

The smooth rounded supermarket tomatoes are from the work done by Alexander Livingston in the 1860s where his hybrid tomato offered a more uniformly rounded fruit with more red color. Compared to the odd shape and bumpy original tomato, the groundbreaking work increased sales as the commodity was more pleasing to the eye.

However tomatoes were misunderstood many times:
- Fruit or Veggie? Tomatoes are fruit.
- They were believed to be poisonous in eighteenth century Europe because aristocracy ate off of pewter plates which had lead in them. The tomatoes acidity caused some of the lead toxin to leach out and some people died from lead poisoning.
- In the early 1900s, bigotry increased against Italian immigrants in New York City selling tomatoes on street carts, but the bill to label tomatoes poisonous and make them illegal to sell never came to be.

Nevertheless, along with the first pizza being created in Naples Italy, the rest is history or herstory. Either way, his story or her story, the fruit is delicious. Especially when grown in your own garden, with your own compost and picked fresh to eat that very same day.

Mangia! Mangia!

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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What Is A Triple 'C' Person?

7/31/2022

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Don't Be A Triple 'C' Person

We all know someone who is a Triple 'C' person in our lives. They are not part of our diversified team, they do not evaluate all the facts or the complete picture. They act out because they are being used by others, truly scared, misinformed, have a need to put others down in order to feel better about themselves, or just oblivious to the truth. These people are used by the media that sensationalizes to make more advertisement dollars. That is exactly what a Triple 'C' person does not need. They need support, love and the truth.

Several climate activist make claims that we have no time to waste with saving our environment. They state that we wasted decades of time not doing anything significant to make a difference. That statement I take as a personal insult to me and all my colleagues who are unpretentious scientists like myself. We have helped make a difference for 40 years and we do not look for or demand 15 minutes of fame. These climate activist easily fall into being a Triple 'C' person.

They Constantly Complain and Criticize others while doing little or nothing themselves to help. They are not part of the solution, they are part of the problem. In fact, instead of helping with any one issue, they are doing damage to positive team building and teamwork that is moving forward to solve an issue. Those who scream that we have not done anything, but only wasted energy and time, are in fact the ones causing road blocks against long term solutions. Several are telling lies to foster profits and power. Decades ago real scientific work started in earnest to protect our environment and save energy. We have major success stories from the Ozone layer to renewable energy production. Our planet is healthier despite those who led dishonestly and failed to recognize that a true leader must only serve, never gain.

Negative Triple 'C' influence is especially true when we are looking at the young adults and children of today. Whenever I am speaking to a group of students about our environment, I see in many faces that they were told little about solutions and everything about being doomed. Each survey I do with students of all ages, I have 30% of them raising their hands to state that they are truly scared about the future. Yet, none can cite a study or report to justify that fear, only the screams of a Triple 'C' person on TV or a misinformed climate activist in front of the classroom. As far as I am concerned, this is child abuse. No scientific study has stated that the world is doomed. We have challenges, but we are prevailing. None of the horrifying predictions of the past about the environment have come true. We are past due on all the doom sayers time tables as far back as 50 years ago. Human intelligence is prevailing and we will continue to do so if we work together!

One additional point, I know climate activists who do dangerous actions such as blocking traffic on a three lane highway, claim they must do those disruptions because this is comparable to pulling the fire alarm at 2 AM in a building that is burning to the ground. That is the right thing to do in order to save lives in a building about to be consumed. However, you do not pull a fire alarm in a building just because someone made money predicting the building may catch on fire someday.
That action is illegal.
That action can cost lives.
That action will do damage to positive team building.
That action will destroy the teamwork moving toward solutions.
That action proves you have been lied to and are being used to make some Triple 'C' person more money.

Work with us and do all the solutions you can do in your own house, place of work, place of worship and neighborhood. Then, the future will no longer be feared by anyone. We Got This!

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

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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:

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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
Contribute your comments!

MORE POWER!

6/30/2022

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Nice Batwing Batman!

Well, not exactly. The image shown has a graphic that is like a Batwing chart represents the pattern of light being given off by a light producing fixture. However, this image on the right is my energy production for the day from my solar panels. Nice smooth increase from early morning and a steady decline as the sun sets behind trees, other houses and the horizon.

So far this summer, I have no electric bill due to the excess kWs I have in the bank. Not only covering my electric cost, but taxes and fees included. Additionally, still producing excess power beyond what I used for the day and placed those kWs in the bank for the winter months and next year.

If you are interested in going with solar, become a GTG member and email us all your concerns and questions. We will be happy to provide additional basic info. Also for specific steps to reduce your own electric consumption without sacrifice is another benefit to being a GTG member.

Even if you already have a solar system and want to save more, membership can offer you additional access to specific energy saving actions to save big. Let us help make your current solar system shine brighter for you!

Bill Lauto , GTG
Environmental Scientist
 International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 
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Many Contractors Do What They Want, Not What You Need

6/17/2022

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Another Contractor's Job Done Wrong

With warmer weather, we tend to do more work outside around our home. Maintaining and fixing up around the house is an endless mission. Obviously, when financially feasible, one may hire a contractor to do some work or repairs. After all, some things we can't do because we know our limitations and perhaps we just want more time to do some other things, like visiting with family and friends or dare I say, just to have some time at peace praying?

Now when repairs or improvements are done in tandem with energy bills, we really don't want mistakes. However, hiring a contractor does NOT guarantee that mistakes will not happen. I can say with almost every improvement I made on my house when using an outside contractor, I found errors that would cost me more money on my energy bills.

Errors and lies were made almost all the time. Half truths were told to me just to sell me something I did not need. If the contractor took some time to realize what I was about as an Environmental Scientist and Energy Consultant, they wouldn't have been so surprised, when I questioned them about their half truths, flat out lies and errors! I must confess, seeing their mouths drop open when I hit them with facts that proved them wrong, was rewarding. Especially when they made the changes to do the job correctly.

The photo shows an old house being repaired. The outside wall was damaged and the old inefficient "bat" insulation was pulled out and replaced with new fiberglass insulation. This would be fine, but the new insulation was installed backwards and stuffed in between the wooden joists, thus compromising the integrity of the insulation. In the photo you can see the brown paper vapor barrier facing outward. This is completely wrong. The vapor barrier ALWAYS faces in toward the warmer side. Also the insulation was made for placement between joists 16 inches apart on center. These joists are 12 inches apart on center. So stuffing the insulation in with the vapor barrier facing the wrong way will cause mold and mildew build up, heat lost and condensation build up inside the wall.

These facts are the basics for insulation jobs and yet these contractors had no idea what they were doing. What makes this worse are our so called political leaders yelling for more weather stripping around doors and windows to save our Earth. Well, here is a News Flash - We have been doing those actions since the late 1970s!

How about testing contractors to be licensed? Make the tests easy by breaking the exams down for each trade or topic. For example, doing insulation jobs, then test for just that work. No need to know how to install a multi-set back thermostat or replacement windows. We test accountants, doctors, but if the world is doomed why are contractors unlicensed and free to do anything... especially when their labor produces energy inefficiency?!

I had to take classes to be certified and everyone who works on my team is certified or licensed in their field. They are experts. Therefore, all contractors need to be tested on their craft, not just the managers. I say this because after catching employees installing the wrong insulation in my attic, they called their manager and over the phone that manager tried to sell me the mistake his employees made. I knew the facts, but the average American does not! The manager that spoke to me didn't stand a chance and had no choice but to order the costly change so the job was done correctly. My house ended up being done correctly because I knew the facts as an energy consultant, but my house is only one of the many dwellings in our country. Sadly, the majority of Americans are unaware of these details and as such, across our nation, this creates an abundance of wasted energy due to uneducated, careless or corrupt contractors.

Most political leaders would do us all a world of good by stopping to pretend they are experts in everything. Most of the time they do not know what they are talking about, especially when it comes to energy and our environment.

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