GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

This Sustainable Living Is Killing Me!

8/10/2018

GoingTrueGreen.com

I have done national and international energy saving and sustainability consulting for many individuals, couples, businesses, corporations, organizations and nonprofits over the years. Recently I received some positive feedback from a client at a dinner party. This client had implemented the majority of my recommendations to live a more sustainable life. The feedback I was given is the title of this blog, however the comment was positive!

The statement was made in jest as my client realized that one ingredient was still missing for preparing dinner. The conversation went as follows:

My client and host, who was preparing for a dinner party, expelled with half a smile, “Oooh, now I have to get parsley. I picked and washed the carrots, string beans, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, eggplant and blueberries, but I still need to get parsley for the main course. This sustainable living is killing me.”

“But don’t you have some in your herb garden?” queried another guest.

“Yes, but I have to go out and pick it.” Replied our host and then added, “Yet, much easier, and faster than getting into a car and driving to the food store to buy.”

We all laughed because my client has accomplished many money saving and environmental actions such as:

No electrical costs.
Only $500 per year in Natural Gas to heat the house and make domestic hot water.
Water costs have been drastically reduced with dual flushed toilets and rain barrels.
Discounts and tax credits have been received for energy saving actions taken.
Living healthier with fresh picked organically grown food in the backyard.
Savings realized with no need to buy fertilizer or mulch by making their own compost.
More efficient recycling actions has also created income and waste reduction.

The details to accomplish each of the above is based on each individual need and lifestyle, nevertheless, all can be achieved without any sacrifice to how one lives. Each action has many variables and sub-steps that I identify when consulting, each action has to be implemented based on savings and payback working in tandem with one’s own budget of time and money.

The end results are enormous and we get to enjoy sharing what we do to obtain a more sustainable life. From mouths hanging open because of no more electric bill and to comments like these:

“This is the most delicious tomato I have ever eaten. I have eaten many tomatoes in my life. I am 90 years old! What is your secret to growing these amazing tomatoes?”

"Oh, what are your electric costs?" Someone would ask me at a party.
“I don’t have any electric costs,” would be my reply.

How is this done?… The answers are at GoingTrueGreen.com

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

Save Money, Energy, Water, Earth and Health while living happier without any sacrifices!

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Benefits To Growing Our Own Food

7/16/2018

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blueberries, blueberry jam, preserves, Composting, compost, gardens, top soil, fertilizer, going green, sustainable living, sustainability

Fresh Picked Blueberries

I believe I can safely say that everyone who is reading my Going True Green Blog at this time is blessed to have shelter, an apartment or house of some type. That fact offers all of us a powerful gift where we can grow some food for ourselves!

Perhaps we have a window ledge inside our apartment windows or access to the building’s flat roof that has been approved as a “green roof” by an architectural and engineer firm. Is there a balcony or some space for clay pots? (Try to avoid plastic pots because only glass, porcelain and wax paper do not leach carcinogens into our food or drink) Maybe we are fortunate to have a small back yard, plot of land or blessed to have a half acre or more of property.

No matter what the situation we have, we should be growing food for ourselves and perhaps some to share! The reasons and benefits to do so are numerous and the “How To” is much easier than we think.

Benefits and Reasons:
Save Money
No Pesticides
No Growth Hormones
No Chemicals or Fertilizers
No Genetically Modified Food
Cooking and Eating Healthier
Make Money Selling Surplus Crops
Self Satisfaction when Sharing with Others
Enjoying the Amazing Taste of Fresh Picked Food
Enjoying Time Together to Can or make Preserves
Abounding Compliments when Sharing with Others
Peace Within Ourselves when Giving to others at Church’s Food Kitchen
Less Trips to the Food Store, just Harvest Our Own Freshly Grown Food
Having Homemade Gifts for others at Christmas, such as Blueberry Preserves or Grape Jam

How To:
The first step to growing our own food is to start making our own Top Soil and Fertilizer, AKA - Composting.

Composting, compost, gardens, top soil, fertilizer, going green, sustainable living, sustainability

Compost Strainer in Sink

Placing an open curved stainless steel strainer in the corner of your sink starts us off. When preparing a meal, deposit all food scrapes into the strainer, but NO meat or dairy. Never compost Meat, Fish, Bones, Cheese, Oil, Fats, Diseased Plants, Coal, Cat Litter, Plastics and Paper with Ink or print.

When the strainer is full, place contents into the compost bin. Let it be a small one for under the sink in apartments or a larger bin for outside. Compost bins come in all sizes and designs. Building one is also feasible, just make sure there is enough air flow to assist in decomposition. If there are animals about the outdoor area, make sure the compost bin locks tight to keep out all woodland neighbors.

Outdoor Compost Bin

Never have any one element in the compost bin build up to more than 2 inches high. A good blend of food scrapes, leaves, small twigs, dried out weeds, is the best way to go. Grass clippings should be used like salt. Just sprinkle on a little ever now and then, but grass is not necessary. Egg shells and coffee grinds are great and about 10 weeks later the finished product will be nutrient rich top soil that will nourish plants and keep weeds from growing.

Currently GTG is looking into finding a company to Sponsor an OnLine Class/Workshop at GoingTrueGreen.com about methods and benefits to composting. This OnLine Class/Workshop will operate like our FIRST money and earth saving Inter-Active On-Line Workshop on WATER. For more Info please visit our webpage at:
GTG's WATER Workshop and view our Trailer below.

The end results would be amazing if everyone, who could, started to grow some food. Even businesses and corporations that have big lawns, which cost them money, could be making money by having the land yield a crop such as organic corn. For most parts of America there are two crops of corn per year based on the weather. Every time I see a half acre or more of land that is not used for sports but has grass, grass and more grass, I see a waste compared to what God's Green Earth can yield for us in food. If everyone did what they could, we would have no need for Genetically Modified Food to feed the masses, because the masses will be feeding themselves. Thus we could delete hunger in our country, in our world.

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

Video Trailer Above is for Going True Green's OnLine WATER Workshop. For More Info CLICK HERE
Our GTG OnLine WATER Workshop is sponsored by BBV Publishing - Telling the Untold Stories

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Sustainable Payback With Solar

6/12/2018

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Above Data is tracked, recorded and presented by Tesla Incorporated

Three Years, Eight Months ago... I went with Photovoltaic Solar Panels for producing electricity at my house. This month I saved the complete amount of my cost to install the panels. The reasons for my fast Three year and Eight month Return on my investment starts with having an energy efficient house. The actions I have taken to live a more sustainable life and have a very energy efficient house took about 12 years prior to implement. Nevertheless, these energy efficient actions taken are NOT rocket science. The estimated "reach" of 1.7 million people who can access my Going True Green blog posts know that obtaining optimum energy efficiency isn't difficult when you have all the facts and done within your own budget of time and money. With my energy efficient house and solar panels, I have not had an electric bill above the 9 to 13 dollars per month service fees from my Electric Utility.

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

The third reason is because I was confident enough with my knowledge of Solar to be one of the first to take the leap ahead. The timing was perfect because the best offers were being made as well as the best tax credits. I did a Lease Program that offered a 33% discount on the total cost if I pre-paid the twenty years of lease payments up front. I then received a tax credit from the Federal Government and the State that was equal to half of my up front cost.

So when I reached a savings of $6,000.00 this month, I had a full Return on my investment. In fact, I have been producing more electricity than I consume, thus suppling power back onto the Grid. Yes, I have AC cooling the house and the lights (LEDs) are on at night. As I took action to live a more sustainable life, I have saved money, energy, our environment and all without making any sacrifices. I am living healthier and happier as I try to present the educational facts through my GoingTrueGreen.com and EnergyHotwire.com websites that provide assistance to everyone who visits.

One additional note... Since installing Solar on my house, several neighbors followed and the value of my house has increased.

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

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Paint vs Trees

5/31/2018

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Image by BSS Los Angeles

After a pilot program in the neighborhood of Canoga Park in San Fernando Valley, California thinks they have an answer to the Urban Heat Island Effect. This is when miles and miles of asphalt, aka blacktop, heats up in the hot sun light. As the surface temperatures of the blacktop road increase, so does the ambient heat that radiates throughout the surrounding air. This can cause an average air temperature increase of 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

So they tested painting the blacktop roads white. The pilot program was declared a success... A success for wet skid tests, durability and lower surface temperatures. Now we all know a lighter color and the color white will reflect heat as darker colors will absorb heat, thus an average 10 to 15 degree decrease was noted with this CoolSeal white paint that is applied twice.

End result, many are saying this is a half baked idea because several concerns are not answered. The first thing I thought about was the paint, with only a 7 year life expectancy, wearing off and washing down the sewers. This in turn will go into our waterways. Was this part of the testing? I found no answer. Next thing I thought about was a solution as easy as planting trees. The solution is planting trees and will cost far less than the $40,000.00 per mile to paint. Additionally, trees last far longer than 7 years, while not putting any paint into our waterways and drinking water tables.

For clarification, when I speak of planting trees, I don't mean Palm trees that cast less shade. Now with extreme heat areas, the water supply for some trees that cast more shade may be crucial. This can be solved by allowing Homeowners on the block to collect rain water off the roof in any number of ways. The extra water supply can be used for their flowers and the trees by the curb. Also looking into building codes to see if lighter color roof material is standard or should become the new code. Light color roof material lowers air cooling costs for Homeowners and when matched with a minimum of R30 insulation on the attic floor, along with a Solar Powered Attic fan, money is saved big time. One more thing, make sure Homeowners have the right amount of open vent space for their attics. Details on all of this can be perused under my Insulation Category found on the right side of this page.

UPDATE: While researching for this topic, I found that the state of Arizona also had the idea of painting roads white presented to them. They have decided to take the side of complete logic by looking into increasing the canopy and foliage along their roads. Smart.

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

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Caught Looking! Strike Three!

5/16/2018

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The WSJ printed an article on May 13, 2018 with the title:
Recycling, Once Embraced by Businesses and Environmentalists Now Under Siege

Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Journal, Bob Tita, Recycle, single stream recycling, multi-layer recycling, going green, sustainability, Bill Lauto, Recycling, environment

Back on February 17, 2016 I posted on my Going True Green Blog: Is Recycling Striking Out? So just over two years later, we have a serious situation for township's recycling programs. A situation that was rapidly developing when I posted my blog and asked if America's Recycling programs would be caught "Looking" at Home plate for strike three. With the Wall Street Journal's article, I believe we just heard the umpire yell, "You're Out!"

America continued recycling the same easy and cheap way only to now find ourselves sending unwanted recyclable items to Landfills again. I strongly suggest for everyone to read my 2016 Going True Green blog post again, the Link is above in Green, and then look up the WSJ article by Bob Tita. As individual's we need to notify our Town's Recycling Departments that we need to go back to the multi-layer sorting system and that we are not allergic to work. We are all capable of spending a few extra minutes to sort our paper from plastic and glass from cardboard, before putting it to the curb. The bottom line is the fact that, "Three strikes you're out" does not just apply to America's past time called Baseball.

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

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Solving The Individual

4/22/2018

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Solving The Individual
(What Earth Day Should Be About)

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Accountability for each of us as an individual has become the casualty of the current Environmental Movement from both sides of the spectrum. When I was young, we were learning about doing something as an individual to help with the environmental movement. Today we have many names, Global Warming, Climate Change, and Sustainability. Unfortunately with the changing names, so did accountability change. We as individuals no longer accept blame, we no longer take the time to learn how to make a significant change to help our world. We blame the other side, we accuse the other to be the enemy or we expect a government to save the day with mandates. We as an individual have become faultless and we as individuals have become the problem.

When I was young I had a lasting impression made on me by a television commercial. I will never forget the tear coming down the face of the actor who represented Native Americans after viewing the ways people littered upon the water and land from his canoe. The elements were multi-leveled and yet the message was very simple: We as an individual can make the difference.

I know this to be true because my own actions over the past thirty years are slowly, but surely, directing me to Going True Green someday. I spent the time learning, presenting and implementing solutions. Everyday solutions for individuals that range from Basement to Attic, from Appliances to Water Use, from Composting to Recycling, from Photovoltaic Solar Cells to Geothermal, from foregoing what is in vogue to taking the right actions as individuals. The end result saves us all Money, Energy, Water, Air, our Health, and our world's environment. All while living happier and without any sacrifices.

When as an individual we make a difference in our own home, we can then take those solutions to our workplace and eventually set the examples for governments to follow. Sadly this is no longer taking place to any great extent. Some of us may focus on one objective such as installing solar panels or changing incandescent light bulbs to LEDs. While this is productive, one or two elements is not the complete topic. We may have challenged ourselves to accomplish one project so we may feel less guilty, but we fail to understand the complete picture. Today we have the two extreme sides guilty of the same fault. A well known business person may take steps to protect money being made by claiming there isn’t anything to worry about because Climate Change isn’t real. While on the other side we see well known individuals making money with various media presentations by claiming the sky is falling. Both sides are being irresponsible because they have one thing in common: Greed.

This leaves us without all the facts and we easily deviate from the truth. Either extreme only instills fear; and fear cripples all critical cognitive thinking, responsibility, progress and solutions. We as an individual will make the difference when we become accountable and learn all the solutions we can do for each topic element, instead of focusing on just one issue or one type of argument. Pope Francis described the results of these acts in one sentence, “The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast.”

So this Earth Day, ask yourself what have YOU done to save MONEY by reducing consumption of: Electricity, Oil, Gas, Water, Air, Plastic, Fertilizers, Weed Killers, Paper, Trees and our world's environment? What have you done to understand all the elements involved with the furniture, appliances and clothes in your possession? What kind of soap do you use and how many chemicals are under your sink when vinegar or lemon juice accomplishes the same objective? How much Garbage do you put to the curb and how much do you really Recycle? Every aspect of our lives, every decision is yours and only yours. All this sustainable living is accomplished while being happier, healthier and without making any sacrifices. We are all one team as an individual, period.

Earth Day is a teaching moment and should be about solutions for us as individuals. Nevertheless, if we don’t solve ourselves first, then humankind will never solve anything.

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

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Read a Historical Novel that presents data based probabilities proving the truth.

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Recycled Bad News Coverage Targets LEDs

2/17/2018

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LEDs, Fake News, Recycle, Compact Fluorescent bulbs, energy saving bulbs,

12 LED Bulbs

Here we go again! Same old, one sided exaggerate theme to create fearful entertainment under the label of News. The subject is again energy saving light bulbs.

Many years ago the "so called news" was about Compact Fluorescent bulbs and how dangerous they can be to our lives. However we were only told one side of the facts. Today, this story line is being recycled and used to create fear toward LED lights.

Television news and science magazines ran story titles like: Are LED Bulbs Dangerous To Our Health?
Clever verbiage was used to mimic the newest movie version of Star Wars out in the theater:
Learn the Dark Side of LEDs.

Compact Fluorescent light bulbs have substances such as Mercury inside, but when you provide details and cite sources, the complete story is a teaching moment. The media needs to realize that these types of stories are an opportunity for teaching and if they can write or speak well, the news they present will not be boring. I believe an example of this complete news reporting can be viewed at my Blog post from April 2014 called, Evacuate The House!

So what is the story today with LED light bulbs? They do have microscopic amounts of elements such as lead, Arsenic and Nickel inside. If someone breaks dozens of Compact Fluorescent bulbs and started inhaling them, he/she could get sick. With LEDs one would need to break open hundreds and start inhaling to cause harm. So my answer for LEDs is the same from my Blog post in 2014 with Compact Fluorescent bulbs. If any LEDs break in your house, clean them up safely, with rubber gloves and a damp sponge. Then place the broken bulbs into a Zip-Lock plastic bag and bring that bag to Home Depot or Lowe's for free recycling.

Sadly most news stories don't tell all the facts. These media companies are really just entertainment companies in disguise with one goal, which is to make money. They have no interest in being Reporters presenting News with logical answers because that makes the story BORING! Unfortunately the real reason for the boredom is because they don't know how to make a teaching moment interesting.

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

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Lecturing In Rome

2/5/2018

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Athenaeum Pontificio Regina Apostolorum, Institute of Science and Faith. Rome, Italy.

I am humbled and honored to share information about being invited to speak at a week long lecture series in Rome on biotechnology and bioethical questions. I will be speaking on the issue of embracing the environmental questions and the approach of sustainability to graduate students at two amazing Seminaries.

The event is occurring at the Athenaeum Pontificio Regina Apostolorum, Institute of Science and Faith for the Masters Diploma program in Rome, Italy. My lecture will also be recorded and have a real time internet feed for distance learning, which the Masters Diploma students at Veritatis Splendor Institute in Bologna Italy will be using.

My lecture will address sustainability as a moral responsibility and how everything is interconnected. Multiple solutions will be presented for each of us to implement as an individuals and to maintain a better stewardship toward Earth, which is a gift from God.

Interconnecting elements has Humankind facing several environmental issues, not just Climate Change. Pope Francis' Encyclical Laudato si' has complete significances toward the matter of Climate Change because the entire situation is presented. Not just some fragments like those presented by individuals who wish to create controversy, make money or protect money. Please review my Blog post of Pope Francis' Encyclical letter on June 2015.

I will cite the essence of Pope Francis' letter that shows where fault can truly be found for all environmental issues. I will address what are the implications facing Humankind not just from Climate Change, but other Environmental concerns which in turn, may prove to be more damaging. We will see how both sides of the issue are bias to their approach on Climate Change and how we the people must obviate the fragmented information causing us to blame others. The real issue is not about what we have, but how we go about using our possessions. Pope Francis' stated this fact so well, "The external deserts in the world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so vast."

I hope to share any insights and collaborative discussions with you in future blogs. The way this connection, consideration of my work and event invitation came about, was through God and I am grateful.

For more information on the Lecture please visit my Speaking Engagements page. Thank you.

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

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Light Bulbs Out In The Cold

1/25/2018

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LED, LEDs, Compact Fluorescent bulbs, CFL, Cold Temperatures and LEDs, Energy Savings, Going Green, Saving Money

Underperforming Fluorescent Bulb

Many parts of the United States are experiencing some serious cold winter weather this season and I received a few emails asking about outside lights. Many Going True Green readers and members have compact fluorescent bulbs in outside fixtures. Depending on where we live, most compact fluorescent bulbs have not caused any issues until this season's long cold snap and a bomb cyclone winter storm that hit the Northeast. Below are some of the questions and my answers:

- How come my outdoor Compact Fluorescent Bulbs are so dim over my front door?
- Why are my fluorescent light bulbs outside only half as bright as normal?
- My energy saving fluorescent bulbs outside are hardly coming on since our 7 degree temperatures?
- Will LEDs do better in cold temperatures?
- Should I switch back to regular light bulbs for outside?

Most Compact Fluorescent bulbs have a lower lumen (light level) output below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Then light levels drop off "Big Time" below 20 something degrees Fahrenheit as shown in the image. Any temp lower than that, most of these bulbs don't even come on! They may just glow a little, but no significant light level is provided. Additionally, these lights will still cost us the full wattage of the bulb in electricity even though we are not receiving the proper light level. In other words, that outdoor 20 watt compact fluorescent bulb (able to give off a light level equal to 75 watts) is still costing 20 watts in electric power, but only giving off about 3 watts of light when outside temperatures are severely cold. Another negative factor is the bulb's life will be cut short as the components struggle repeatedly to work properly in temperatures dropping toward zero degrees.

Don't even think about switching back to regular incandescent bulbs for outside. They too will burn out faster because of the heat they produce vs the cold outside air. Did you know that with the energy used by a regular light bulb, 90% produces heat and only 10% omits light? Also switching will just run up your electric bill, because now you will have a 75 watt bulb in place of the 20 watt compact fluorescent.

As for LED light bulbs, they will get brighter in colder temps! Additionally you will be only using a 14 watt LED (current technology, LEDs are getting more efficient) to give off 75 watts of light. So to make the long dark winter nights a little brighter, start to change over to new LED bulbs. We will all save a little more on the electric bill, some energy for tomorrow, and have a brighter front doorway.

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

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Airborne MicroPlastic

1/13/2018

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Slurry on Farmland?

A very important question came from a reader on my last blog of 2017 titled: Plastic, Water, Air and Food, posted on December 27 of that year. I have written several blogs over the years on plastic and how we are creating a plastic monster in our world. However, we now have data supporting the fact that we have created a serious issue.

The question posted from one of Going True Green’s reader was for more data on an unanswered question that I had posed in my blog post: By what means are these microplastic fibers getting into the air?

My reply was:

As of now scientists are speculating how plastic gets into the air. One possible source comes from Professor Kelly who I spoke about in my previous blog and believes that any microplastics caught in sewage treatment plants could be finding their way into the air. He also reportedly stated:

“When farmers spread slurry on fields, it dries out. You end up having microplastics lying on the surface of the field. There’s a real possibility that some of those microparticles will be entrained into the air and they will be carried around and we will end up breathing them.”

Professor Kelly said the study they were carrying out was a “horizon-scanning issue”. Horizon-scanning studies cover several global issues and is now concluding the eight year of work. I trust, more detail conclusions should be coming forthwith.

As for any questions on my Going True Green blog post, do not hesitate to reply on the Blog page or email me from the GTG’s website.

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