GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

Holding More Heat in Clothes Dryers

9/26/2025

clothes dryer, dryers, drying clothes, going true green, saving energy, lower energy bills, gtg blog, going true green blog, goingtruegreen blog

Non-Insulated Dryer Door

So the "Catch" on my Clothes Dryer door broke... I decided to repair or replace the Catch myself.

First thing to do: Remove the door off of the clothes dryer.
Second thing to do: Remove screws holding the two halves of the door together and take the halves apart.
Third thing to do: Do not start swearing!

...because the door is NOT insulated to help hold more heat in the dryer to help clothes dry faster.

I saw that the Catch was not repairable. The half inch long metal, acting as a spring, broke in half between the two plastic clips. So how much can it be to order about fifty cents of metal and about dollar or two of plastic clips... The manufacturer did not have the part, major websites the size of rivers, did not have the part. Finally, a small parts company website had the exact make and model... for only twenty-nine dollars!

clothes dryer, dryers, drying clothes, going true green, saving energy, lower energy bills, gtg blog, going true green blog, goingtruegreen blog

Insulation I Added Between Door Halves

While waiting for the part to come by snail mail to save about ten dollars in shipping, I purchased a small amount of insulation. After replacing the Catch, I installed the insulation between the two door halves. Something that should have been done by the manufacturer in the first place. Something that all clothes dryer manufactures should be doing! Put in some insulated foam between the door halves so we all can save money, energy, and time drying clothes.

Also, get rid of the clothes dryer models with plastic windows! Am I going to do make popcorn and pull up a chair so I can watch my clothes tumble around and around until they dry? What is the definition to insanity? Someone should add plastic windows on clothes dryers.

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

What Constitutes a Heatwave?

7/7/2025

Heatwave, Brooklyn, Yo-Yos, Stoop Ball, Punch Ball, Stick Ball, Corks, Tag, Tops, Hide and Seek, Hide and Hunt, Medic, ww2, morphine, temperatures, AC, cooling

Brooklyn, N.Y. - 1940

When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn New York, I remember the hot days of summer because no matter what the temperature was, we were outside playing on the slate and cement sidewalk or the blacktop of a playground. We played Yo-Yos, Stoop Ball, Punch Ball, Stick Ball, Corks, Tag, and we spun Tops. Also since Hide and Seek was for little kids, (I was around nine years old) I made up the game Hide and Hunt. The difference allowed each person hiding from the Hunter to keep changing hiding spots or stay on the move to avoid being found. Now if you need me to explain what the game Corks, Yo-Yos, or Stoop Ball is all about, then you are too young or just not a city kid. Also when we became bored, which was rare, we played, "What Do You Want To Do? I Don't Know, What Do You Want To Do?" This was basically a game where you asked the question over and over again as you pushed the person you asked. That was it.

Heatwave, Brooklyn, Yo-Yos, Stoop Ball, Punch Ball, Stick Ball, Corks, Tag, Tops, Hide and Seek, Hide and Hunt, Medic, ww2, morphine, temperatures, AC, cooling

Medic's Bag used in Pacific Theater, WW2

We all drank water from my Great Uncle's garden hose, after running the water until it became cold. My Great Uncle was a Medic during World War Two in the Pacific. Actually, he was a pharmacist who just graduated from St. John's University before being called by the Uncle Sam to be a Medic. He was the one that taught us to wait until the water was cold, because warm water would have bacteria and make us sick. He was always on the "look out" for us kids on the block. As a Medic in the war he shared few stories, and those that he did tell, were only heard when he spoke of them when he was very old. He didn't want to lose any kid on our block, and we were a completely diversified bunch of kids. Yet, the fear of germs in warm water, drugs, gangs, or street traffic, kept him as our lookout. Yet one friend, a little girl, was hit by a car when she ran into the street after her ball. He suffered greatly from not be able to save people and things. He was haunted by the fact that he could not save most of the wounded soldiers in the war. He said late in life, "...all I did was pick up body parts. Morphine powder and bandages were of no use." At the end of the war, all my great uncle received was a pat on the back, there was no psychological support back then.

Heat wave, Martha and the Vandellas, Having a Heatwave, National Weather Heat warning, wind speeds, phoenix, Arizona

One hot summer, a new song came out called, We Are Having A Heatwave by an America Motown group called Martha and the Vandellas, in 1963. I was only five years old when the song came out, but remember singing it with friends on the front stoop on hot afternoons many summers afterwards. We were kids and had no idea the song was about a relationship between a couple.

So by now I have digressed with somewhat related stories to this Going True Green blog post... What Constitutes a Heatwave? But have yet to speak about what makes up a Heatwave. So let us get to it...

According to many Electrical Utilities, a heatwave is declared after three (3) days in a row with the temperature at 88 degrees Fahrenheit or above. However, there is no single rule to determine when a heatwave is occurring. Factors such as the duration of hot weather, high temperatures, and humidity levels come into play, especially for the National Weather Service (NWS) for issuing Excessive Heat Warnings. These warnings may not be linked to a heatwave, because the warning could be for only 12 hours since the evening temperatures would drop significantly to cool down the weather. Keep in mind that humidity exacerbates how hot us humans feel, and comes into play when calculating a heat index. Additional factors are stagnant air, cloud cover, and wind speeds.

Therefore, when you hear some Meteorologists, public Health official, or Reporter, stating we are in a heatwave based on a definition stating at least two days of heat in a row to mandate the heatwave, many other definitions will say three days. Additionally, what may be conducive of a heatwave for the northeast, can easily be laughable by naturally hotter climates, such as in Phoenix, Arizona.

For the most part, many now consider temperatures reaching or exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit for three consecutive days as a heatwave. So take your pick, but use the SEARCH box above to find and read all my GTG blogs from over the decades teaching how to save money and energy with AC units, and other actions to feel cool and make a difference.

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

What Food Are You Growing ?

6/25/2025

I teach Survival Training, and the first item to know is the "Rules of Three" so you can set priorities.

What do we need in 3 minutes, where if we didn't have any, we would die? If we are not underwater, and we have plenty of oxygen, then the first rule is secured.
What do we need in 3 hours, where if we didn't have any, we would die? If we have a roof over our heads for shelter and we can stay warm to prevent hyperthermia, then the second rule is secured.
What do we need in 3 days, where if we didn't have any, we would die? If we have clean drinkable water, then the third rule is secured.

The next rule will ask the question, What do we need in 3 weeks, where if we didn't have any, we would die? That is why I am asking what food are you growing this summer?

Being able to grow our own food in a garden, rooftop, of windowsills, offers all of us a powerful gift where we can grow some food for ourselves!

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Cherry Tomatoes and Eggplant

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Fresh Picked Blueberries

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Crunchy Carrots just out of the Ground

Benefits and Reasons:
Save Money
No Pesticides
No Growth Hormones
No Chemicals or Fertilizers
No Genetically Modified Food
Cooking Fresh 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

Even a business or corporations that have lawns or rooftop space, which cost them money to maintain, could be making money by having the space or 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 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.

The only other thing we all need to survive, is love and support. Everything else is a... Want.

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

L. J. Williams, Upper Room, Bill Lauto, Shroud, Shroud of Turin, Sudarium, Oviedo, Climate, Climate 2,000 years ago, climate facts, Easter, Jesus the Son of God

We Are All Drinking Micro-Plastic!

5/5/2025

Nanoplastic, water bottles, milk containers, plastic, plastic particles, microplastic, going true green, going green, healthy living, Bobby Kennedy, MAHA, bottled water, BPAs, PNAS, dementia, alzheimer's, NATURE, sustainability

Not Just Water Bottles! Got Milk?

Years ago we all became concerned when the media finally wrote about BPAs in plastic. Action to remove the chemical from Baby Bottles took precedent, plastic used by adults had a much slower implementation. Next came coverage about how plastic bottles are not being recycled as successfully as we all believed.

Now today, the media has finally caught up with microscopic plastic particles only because of a study recently done by Rutgers University. The study was published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, (PNAS).

Researchers used a new technique incorporating lasers that are able to detect plastic particles down to the size of 100 nanometers. The study analyzed the plastic water bottles and screw caps of three popular brands. The results found that bottled water "can" contain a much higher number of microscopic plastics than previously thought. An amount ranging from 110,000 to 370,000 particles per liter and 90% was nanoplastic particles.

What Does This Mean?
Each time you open and unscrew the plastic cap of a water bottle, nano pieces of plastic are breaking off and going into the water. As we drink the water, we are consuming these nanoplastics!

What Is The Concern?
Another study just published in NATURE found alarmingly high levels of microplastics in the brains of individuals who had died with dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Researchers also found that brain tissue samples from 2024 had significantly higher concentrations of microplastics compared to samples from 2016. The amounts of micro plastic particles found in the brains of dementia patients were 10 times higher than healthy individuals.

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A Plastic Hand Grenade?

Not Just Water Bottles!
Back in December on 2017, 8 years ago, I wrote a GTG blog about this concern. We have a full onslaught of these nanoplastic particles getting into our bodies from just about everything. Does any family member or friend drink milk? Do they unscrew that center plastic cap and then pull the pin? That Hand Grenade plastic pin?

How many nanoplastic particles are going into our milk?!

What was wrong with the old way we opened our milk cartons?
STOP using the center plastic cap with the hand grenade plug!
STOP buying the clear plastic milk containers! Plastic cap is still an issue and the clear container allows LIGHT to break-down the vitamin D in the Milk.

Nanoplastic, water bottles, milk containers, plastic, plastic particles, microplastic, going true green, going green, healthy living, Bobby Kennedy, MAHA, bottled water, BPAs, PNAS, dementia, alzheimer's, NATURE, sustainability

Peel Back and Pour !

Solution:
Peel back the corners of the cardboard carton and pour the way we always did years ago!

STOP using plastic pill containers. Get small glass jars with metal screw-on covers.
STOP using plastic cups, get steel containers or glass with protective silicone wrap on the bottle.
STOP using plastic lunch boxes, get cloth insulated bags or compartment packs.

I think the above examples set the idea of what we have to do for ourselves, loved ones, friends, and strangers, because we do not know all of the longterm issues with nano plastics.

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

This Easter, read the facts and the truth behind Jesus' burial Shroud known as The Shroud of Turin !

Olive Wood Kitchen Utensils

2/27/2025

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X Out Plastic, go with Olive Wood Kitchen Utensils

They are worth the investment for many reasons!

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

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

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

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

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

3) Never put them in the Dishwasher.

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

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

This is a great way to live a healthier life !

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

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

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

2/10/2025

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

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

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

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

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

New Year, Same Deal

1/29/2025

old deal

Gambling with the same old deal

We must realize "Going True Green" is not accomplished by just purchasing a few LED light bulbs nor is this achieved by someone yelling we must all change yesterday because the world is doomed. That is someone just trying to get 15 minutes of fame based on speculations and predictions that may or may not occur. No one can say what will exactly happen and when. However, facts do show that we have serious issues and no company or person should RISK our future.

Saving a great deal of money, living healthier and all without sacrificing the life you know is accomplished by each one of us when we have all the data. For example:
The previous owner of my house use over 1,000 gallons of oil a year and I reduced consumption to 250 gallons! This is possible when you have the trade secrets and privilege information, that makes the difference. Today, I no longer use oil and I am close to getting off the grid without sacrificing a single thing. Due to actions like this that are done by individuals around our country, EPA reports Greenhouse gases have decreased by 2.3% between 2014 and 2015. Also reported was a total of 11.5% since 2005. We the People are making a difference.

As a responsible individual we are the solution to a better tomorrow. By living a more "sustainable life" we will save Money, Health, Energy, and Earth without making any sacrifices! But we MUST work as a Team toward good Environmental Stewardship! I have no electric bill, and what I have done is not rocket science. We hear the millionaire talking heads on cable channels, but what do the scientific peer reviewed studies really tell us? Humankind's biggest environmental concern is not CO, but microscopic plastic particles that never decay. They only breakdown smaller and smaller, thus getting into our environment and our bodies. Facts, trade secrets, and encouraging support, is what the world needs.
The Blame game must end. We must stop looking for a solution from a politician, corporation, political party, organization or celebrity and make the difference ourselves!

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

Stopping Old Man Winter's Wind - Naturally

12/28/2024

Wind Breaks, north winds, old man winter, saving energy, going true green, going green, installation, heating, trees, evergreens, garden

Natural Wind Break on North Side of House

About twenty years ago, I first wrote about this topic, and I believe the time has come to repeat some of the energy saving facts:

Saving energy with Nature is easy by just using closely branched trees that grow in pyramidical or columnar form. They give height and body without excessive width. Planting would most likely be best on the north side of your house to block the cold winter winds. All in all, Evergreens would be best and you should contact a certified arborist to confirm what is best for your house.

Basically any building will benefit from the wind chill factor being reduced by a Windbreak. Well designed windbreaks reduce energy costs up to 40 percent. The type of structure your house is made of and the overall efficiency of your heating system are just a few factors that determine the total savings.

However, please realize that even if a savings of up to 40 percent is realized, that savings is NOT a 40 percent reduction in the total heating bill. The savings is 40 percent off the total amount of heat being lost by the house due to not having a Windbreak.

For example: If heating is costing 7% more a year to keep the house warm because there is no Windbreak, then a 40% savings of that 7% heat lost will be saved after a Windbreak is installed. Also we must allow for the time all the trees take to grow.

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

We Should STOP Using Plastic Sparkles

12/9/2024

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

Cards Covered with Plastic Sparkles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Garden Time

7/28/2024

Not just Summer, but Spring, and Fall gardens too!

Over the years I have posted several Going True Green blogs about the food gardens I grow. Hoping to encourage more people to grow food in their backyards, rooftops, and windowsills, this year is not any different.

Planting crops in the small space I have is a challenge, but then again, I always love a good challenge. This year I am more acutely aware of the seasons, and planting times, so that I can increase my harvest, save more money, and enjoy fresh picked organic food!

Below is my breakdown for 2024, and I hope this is useful for many readers of GoingTrueGreen blogs. Note how some items can be planted twice in one year, while others are growing once for all three seasons:

SPRING PLANTING

Spinach
Lettuce
Onions
Artichokes
Peppers
Carrots
Eggplant
Green Beans
Sweet Peas
Cauliflower

SUMMER PLANTING

Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Lettuce

FALL PLANTING

Spinach
Onions
Broccoli
Cauliflower

ALL THREE SEASONS

Herbs / Green Squash / Yellow Squash / Blueberries / Grapes / Tomatoes / Cucumbers / Strawberries / Beets

Also as part of the GoingTrueGreen membership, you can email us specific questions on gardening anytime.
Happy planting !

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