GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

Uneducated Elitist Set To Harm Environment; part two

8/27/2023

Sadly the governments screaming the loudest to help our environment are currently the ones doing the most harm to our planet. In the United States, the current leaders are looking to create more laws to help save the planet from CO2 emissions. The most recent thought process is about ordering ceiling fan manufacturers to produce more energy efficient motors. This possible action being considered proves that they have no knowledge about how ceiling fans save energy.

So the infamous minds of many politicians across our nation continue to do more harm than good to our environment. Multiple moves toward destroying our environment are being set up by our uneducated elitist leaders. Let us just look at a more complete evaluation of ceiling fans... This is Part two of a Four Part Series (part one)

Making Current Ceiling Fans illegal

Facts Being Omitted:

Current leadership has no idea how Electric ceiling fans save energy.
Ceiling fans, or any fan, uses far less electricity than an air conditioning (AC) unit.
Most times when a ceiling fan is in use, that means AC units are not, thus saving much more energy.
For every hour a ceiling fan offsets the use of an AC unit, that is a greater benefit than a more efficient motor.
More efficient motors will cause costs to rise and less people will buy.
More people need to be encouraged to use ceiling fans more often to delay or offset the use of AC units.
Steps should be taken to make ceiling fans more readily available with installation.
Savings on the electric bill with ceiling fans offsetting initial use of AC units should be taught to the public.

Questions:

Why doesn't the government offer tax credits for everyone who installs a ceiling fan?
Would not smaller manufacturers go out of business with a mandate for more efficient motors with a few years time?
Wouldn't the savings from a more efficient ceiling fan motor only be a few dollars per year at best, but a couple hundred dollars more to buy?
Shouldn't the government's task be to encourage more people to buy more ceiling fans, not to discouraged them with having to buy new more expensive models?
How can anyone justify the cost to buy when the savings do not even offer a payback on the extra cost?
Is the payback in helping the environment? - Answer: NO, because more help is from offsetting AC use with more ceiling fans, not more expensive motors.
Where is American ingenuity with the REAL SOLUTION - Hydrogen Fuel Cells running off of water to make clean energy on demand, such as the Fuel Cells used on our Space Shuttles since 1981?
Therefore, every home would make their own electricity from rain water, with our own fuel cell and have no monthly bills, no pollution... but the problem with a government program like that, means no monthly utility bills and no positional power, right?

A MUST READ: Process Of Energy Progression

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

0 Comments

Glyphosate Study: Killing Both Weeds And Us

8/7/2023

2 Comments

Going True Green, Seneff, Glyphosate, chemical, Dr. Seneff, MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, glyphosate, agriculture, autism, diabetes, cancer, allergies.

How Do You Kill Weeds?

I had read about research done on Glyphosate at MIT by Dr. Stephanie Seneff. Glyphosate is in herbicides that many people use throughout the world as a weed killer.

The data Dr. Seneff presents on Glyphosate is very concerning and she believes that this chemical is a slow kill for humans and other lifeforms. Seneff, a senior researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, believes that the constant use of glyphosate throughout the world in agriculture since 1974, is the reason behind the dramatic increase in autism, diabetes, cancer, and allergies.

One of the earliest glyphosate studies by Dr. Gilles-Éric Séralini, a French molecular biologist, showed that low exposure over a lifetime leads to shorter lifespans and organ damage in rats. Other laboratory studies on human cells show that glyphosate caused a major factor in cancer by DNA breakage in the cells.

For years we have known that farmers have a higher risk of developing NHL (Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma) and a 2002 Swedish study showed the link with glyphosate to a three-fold increase in NHL. Seneff’s study presents that NHL may be due to glyphosate’s effect on micronutrients, particularly from deficiencies in manganese. Glyphosate can bond to metals such as manganese and magnesium.

Dr. Seneff said she is encouraged by the recent Supreme Court cases where manufacturers lost an appeal for their glyphosate use and that the EPA was ordered by SCOTUS to re-evaluate certain products as carcinogenic. Additional recommendations from Dr. Seneff include staying away from highways where there’s a high exposure to car exhaust. Studies in Brazil have shown that the glyphosate in the air around highways and agricultural areas using herbicides is not much different.

Another factor with glyphosate used to kill weeds, many plants such as corn, soy, canola, sugar beets, cotton and alfalfa are genetically modified so that they would not be harmed by glyphosate! This has significantly increased glyphosate content in plants especially when farmers also spraying the plants as opposed to just the weeds.

As for solutions to reduce our intake of glyphosate, eat organic food and drink distilled water. Use a home made weed killer and pull weeds out with tools, such as the one made by Fiskar.

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

2 Comments

GREED

7/7/2023

1 Comment

Greed, environment, corruption, sustainability

Following up on the last GTG blog post I wish to point out another problem facing our environment. No, not Carbon omissions, it is Greed.

With the United States of America being a republic democracy and not a democratic democracy, we have checks and balances in place against people greedy for power, cash, and fame. However, when corruption and greed enters any republic democracy or another government, we have a cascading effect that starts to shut down all working aspects of society's prosperous operation. Greed will always lead to corruption and corruption will always lead to tearing apart everything and everyone.

Greed starts with individuals and is in all walks of government and life. With freedom comes people that relish greed. However, only a republic democracy offers the ability to keep all the greed minded governments and individuals that are infected, at bay. Being a republic democracy allows our free system the means to halt those who do not care about others or our environment, because they only want to use others and our environment to make money. Do not assume that I only mean one side of our political spectrum.

On the Phil Donahue show in 1979, Milton Friedman who was an American economist and statistician and received the 1976 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his research on consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and the complexity of stabilization policy said:

"Is there some society that doesn't run on greed? The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. So the record of history is absolutely crystal clear. There is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system."

The only other items I know about Milton Friedman is that he was born in Brooklyn and was married 68 years. Sounds like a man who understood stability well.

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

1 Comment

FREEDOMS LOST

6/26/2023

2 Comments

Freedom, USA, America, Let Freedom Ring, taxes, taxed, elitists, authoritarians, tax dollars, saving money, water, saving water

How FREE are you?

Independence Day, aka 4th of July, is almost here. Time to celebrate our Freedoms! Actually, we give up our freedoms each time we don’t want to do something anymore by ourselves. And the more freedom we give up, the more we harm our environment. Yes, there are improvements in many new systems of operation, but most improvements could have been implemented as we kept our freedoms.

About now, some may ask, “What on God's green Earth is he talking about?”

Pre-Industrial times, how many families in a house had garbage pails outside? None. There were no taxes to pay for such a service and the reason was because the service was done by the family in the house themselves. “Waste Not, Want Not!”

They didn’t throw away anything. Food scraps went into the outside compost. Broken items that could not be fixed were sold as scrap or as spare parts. If they had torn clothing, they repaired the damage by resewing. Clothing unable to wear anymore? Saved to use as patches or to combine with other material to make a new garment. A broken clock on the mantel? Fixed on the next trip into town. Containers, boxes, paper? All reused over and over again. Water pressure low? We fixed the valve or backyard well ourselves. An extra piece of wood? Saved to be used on some future project or repair. Someone in the city was buying a different color linoleum floor, they sold their old floor as "used" to someone else in need that didn’t have the money to buy new. Snowed-in? We dug ourselves out and then went to help dig out our elderly neighbor. No pollution creating snow blowers or plow trucks, just shovels and muscle power with the whole family helping.

There were no town taxes to plow the snow or pick up garbage. People repaired, reused or recycled everything. They knew how to fix everything. They knew how to invent games, entertain others by playing a musical instrument. They drew, painted, and read books! Sadly, this knowledge and ability faded. People became complacent to pay taxes so someone else will do things for them. We became lazy. Shovel snow for neighbors? No thanks, wait, how much will you pay me? Oh, but still no... I have to save the world with my friends on a video game.

A good friend of mine lives in a high rise apartment building and claimed to me that he doesn’t pay taxes for having things done or repaired in his apartment. I pointed out that his maintenance fee was the tax. If he fixed his own leaky faucet, changed the light bulb, replaced the old toilet bowl himself, why should he pay that much in maintenance fees? An amount that is over one thousand dollars a month. All in addition to the other payments being made for the rent and utilities that also cover the owner's taxes.

When people are in power, who are elitists and / or authoritarians, the next step after taxing us is to start exploiting us. Let us say that we want to fix up our own bathroom in our apartment, but now we are not allowed to do so. We must use the landlord’s contractor that will cost three times more than doing the job ourselves. Safety a concern? That is understandable, so we will pay for a third party to inspect our work. Sadly, that isn’t acceptable either. Freedoms are lost, kickbacks are done with payments under the table and we fail to wake up to what we gave away.

Want to save water by collecting rainwater off your roof and into a barrel. The water is used for the garden, flower beds, lawn, and washing cars. Our tax rate and the cost for the water should be lowered since we are using less. Loop-hole time! The government must now protect us and this is the case in various states where collecting rainwater is illegal. Why? Because they claim we are not smart enough to realize that this collected water is not drinkable. This is how the governments of some states protect their incoming tax dollars by passing laws to prevent us from saving money, water and our environment.

Time for the people to wake up, think this through and run for office grass roots style, door to door and make the changes to help save everyone.

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

2 Comments

Salty Plastic

5/15/2023

0 Comments

GoingTrueGreen, Microscopic plastics, plastics, seawater, salt, glacier salt, Himalayan salt, cooking, food additives, nanometer, oceans, pollution, ocean pollution, going green, CO2, environmental issues

Micro-Plastic: Photo from Science Codex

Plain and simple, the largest concern we should all have for our environment, is not a carbon issue, but a plastic issue. Cite

Do you consume salt? There is microscopic plastic particles in sea salt. Salt is in a great deal of foods that we consume, even in an ice cream sandwich. Most salt comes from our oceans and our oceans are polluted with plastic.

Microscopic plastics are from plastic litter that is exposed to weathering and physicochemical or biological degradation processes that breaks down the plastic into smaller and smaller and smaller size pieces. We are even seeing nanometer plastic in our oceans from the tons of plastic waste. Plastic is not biodegradable. The potential harmful effects on ecosystems and humankind is only a guessing game now.

A study was published in Environmental Science & Technology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, about 39 various globally salt brands evaluated. Only three of the salt brands studied did not contain any microplastic particles. Sea salt, which is still gathered by the ancient technique of evaporating seawater, was highest, followed by lake salt, then rock salt.

The two safest salts just might be Glacier salt and Himalayan salt. Glacier salt, aka namakier, which is a flow of salt created when a rising diapir in a salt dome breaches the surface of the Earth. These diapirs are rare and are a type of igneous intrusion.

Himalayan salt is rock salt mined from the Punjab region of Pakistan. This salt often has a pinkish color and is primarily used as a food additive to replace refined table salt. Additionally Himalayan salt is used for cooking and food presentation.

We have to realize that we have to learn the true issues ourselves. We have to protect our own health by not buying sea salt anymore and supporting any of the numerous projects that clean plastics out of our oceans. Don't lie to yourself that some government, politician, celebrity, non-profit, corporation or some make-believe super hero is going to save us. We are not told these truths because these truths don't make anyone money and the people with the microphones don't read scientific peer reviewed studies. They make up there own stories to entertain and cause more damage to our environment and humankind.

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

0 Comments

GTG Influencer: UPDATE

2/11/2023

0 Comments

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.

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
Contribute your comments!

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

0 Comments

Clear the Air with House Plants

1/30/2023

0 Comments

air, air quality, indoor air pollution, indoor air, air filters, plants, boston ferns, hepa filters, NASA, air contamination, formaldehyde, oxygen, trichloroethylene, toxins, fertilizer, toluene, xylene, sunlight, green leaves, benzene, peat moss, goingtruegreen, going green, sustainable living

Electrical Air Filter

VS

Boston Fern

I have purchased many different types of air filters since the 1980s. I stopped buying them just after the turn into this century. Perhaps I was just buying a "bill of goods" just like Bottled Water is today, but some of the HEPA filters did help with my Hay-fever days. Then there was the cost to operate them... the electric bill, batteries, replacement filters. When winter enters the equation, we have the heat on and air circulation is cut dramatically due to closed doors and windows. Unlike AC units in the summertime that have filters, heating systems raise dust and do not filter. Yet, there is always another way, a better way.

About twenty plus years ago, at least three investigators with NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America found that specific house plants were very good at expunging elements expelled by items such as: new rugs, building materials, furnishings, cleaning agents, paints, varnishes, cigarettes, fabrics, preserved foods and other airborne pollutants.

Everyday items found in every home and office contribute to indoor air contamination. So to improve air quality and add oxygen into your living and working spaces, adding certain types of plants will make a difference for the better.

We already know that plants take in carbon dioxide and substances from the surrounding air through openings in each leaf. These elements are pollutants to us, but are broken down by plants to become food through translocation to the roots of the plant. Below is a list of plants that work the best for cleaning indoor air. They are in alphabetical order:

Aloe Vera
Known For:    Treatment for cuts, scraps and minor burns
Accomplish:   Removes benzene and formaldehyde
Care: Sun, well drainage and don’t over water

Areca Palm:
Known For:    Seven foot height, grow 7 inches per year
Accomplish:   Absorbs formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene
Care: Indirect Sunlight, water and fertilizer

Bamboo Palm:
Known For:    Loves the tropical amount of sunlight
Accomplish:   Removes trichloroethylene toxins
Care: Water only when the soil is dry and never overwater
Boston Ferns:
Known For:    Needs space to spread and grow its fronds
Accomplish:   Removes formaldehyde and improves oxygen levels
Care: Water frequently, mist twice per week and add peat moss

Gerber Daisies:
Known For:    A variety of bright colors and broad green leaves
Accomplish:   Absorbs benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene
Care: Direct sunlight and moist soil

Peace Lilies:
Known For:    Inability to tolerate cold, love warm and humid climates
Accomplish:   Absorbs benzene and trichloroethylene
Care: Direct sunlight and moist soil that drains well

Snake Plant
Known For:    Available in yellow, dark and light greens
Accomplish:   Removes formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, and trichloroethylene
Care: Indirect sunlight and keep the soil dry

There are a few more plants that can help, nevertheless, using house plants in your home or office saves money while being Eco-friendly with cleaning out indoor air toxins.

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

0 Comments

Harvest 2022

12/5/2022

0 Comments

This previous weekend, I joined the Three Village Historical Society, to take a candle light tour of historical homes near the area of the original small hamlet called Setauket on Long Island. This area is well known for operations conducted by George Washington’s spies, also know as the Secret Six.

One of the homes on the tour focussed on their barn, garden and a room built for home canning of fruits and veggies grown. What caught my eye was the chart published by Macy’s department store on growing a Victory Garden at home in order to help with World War One's food supplies.

R.H. Macys, World War One, Victory Gardens, Macy's, gardens, planting, growing food, veggies, fruit, harvest, going true green, going green, sustainable living, sustainability, beets, carrots, artichokes, figs, sweet potatoes, romaine lettuce, peppers, peas, pea pods, cabbage, squash, eggplant, cucumbers, spinach, cherry tomatoes, tomatoes

Enlage Image to Read Interesting Details

My garden doesn’t come close to any property that could support what is presented on the chart, I only have about 10 feet by 25 feet of space to grow food. Nevertheless, I do what I am capable of within my own budget of time, money and knowledge. This available space that I use is almost half my back yard property. I am thankful for that amount of ground and I have chosen to grow food because of the following reasons:

I can eat fresh amazing tasting food
I can share the same with family and friends
I can appreciate what is "needed" for a happy life, not what is “wanted"
I can enjoy the wonder shown on the faces of those who taste a carrot just harvested from the earth for the first time
I can watch the smile grow on a child after they enjoy the grape jam just made or the astonished look on my father when he says: "This is the most delicious tomato I ever had, and I have eaten many tomatoes over my 90 years of life!”
And the last reason is to be more humus, the Latin humus definition

I am sharing all this because I am not only thankful to God for what I harvest, but I want to also offer support to everyone else with a yard, windowsill, rooftop or empty field to do the same. Just imagine if we all used the space available to us to grow food how that would change the world. More organic food means less chemicals, more food for those in need and delicious amazing fresh meals made for those that come over to share a table and give thanks with us.

In total, for 2022, I harvested the following with the help of my small greenhouse and my own compost material that I used for nutrients:

I also had blueberries, grapes, and the following herbs growing in cedar wood pots:
Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano and Mint.

Start small like I did so many years ago and slowly "grow" into the most you can grow. Each year is a new experience and the learning curve improves year after year. Changing the world as an individual with God's guidance is the only way our environment, our happiness and our future will be secured.

As for Christmas Trees, peruse my previous GoingTrueGreen blog to learn what is best, real trees or plastic fake trees.

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

BBV Publishing, L J Williams, Upper Room, Telomere

0 Comments

Best Western Plus in Intercourse, PA Provides EV Stations

11/4/2022

0 Comments

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
Contribute your comments!

0 Comments

Earth Breeze Product Review

10/21/2022

1 Comment

Earth, earth breeze, laundry, detergent, eco, clean, fragrance, biodegradable, he, detergent sheets, sustainability, sustainable living, energy savings, water savings

My cousin Emily told me about Earth Breeze's laundry detergent sheets. These solidified soapy sheets Immediately provide benefits to eliminate large plastic containers from our environment. This offers savings on the issues with raw materials, manufacturing and disposal of the large plastic laundry detergent containers.

After using and testing this new product for three months, I am happy to report that my clothes are just as clean. I no longer have to clean up liquid laundry detergent from the occasional spill. They work fine in my energy and water efficient front load washing machine and you can enlarge the above images to read more about the details.

However, these solidified soapy sheets are made in China. We must consider components like price that will always be affected by the supply chain size. Distance between manufacturing and consumer is considered sustainable by most scientists when within 200 to 250 miles. I myself always ask if the carbon emissions created by shipping across half the planet outweigh the carbon emissions saved. Therefore, when consumer choices must be made in the realm of sustainability, all factors must be evaluated. I will be seeking out another manufacturer who makes the same product but with a far shorter Supply Chain, because everything will be made here in the United States of America.

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