GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

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!

This Summer Accomplish Something Big

7/7/2024

This summer accomplish saving money, saving energy, saving health, and saving Earth.

You can enjoy the fact that you make a difference by doing any or all of the solutions below, and didn't add to the problems.

First start with your own home, next, bring these solutions to work with you. Then volunteer. Here are a few solutions and actions presented over the years by Going True Green:

STOP BUYING WATER IN PLASTIC BOTTLES

KEEP A LARGE DEFAULT TOWEL IN YOUR CLOTHES DRYER

REDUCE WASTE PRODUCTION

WIPE OUR MOUTHS WITH CLOTH

REAL CHRISTMAS TREE VS PLASTIC TREE

CHANGE ALL YOUR LIGHT BULBS

Look into volunteering with family and friends at communities, clubs, organizations, and townships.

Volunteer to pick up litter by joining a team scheduled to clean up a town park or beach. Just 100 volunteers will collect over 400 pounds of trash in a few hours.

Townships along seashores should have programs to seed their harbors with native sea life, such as oysters and clams. These programs that place approximately 12 million claim and oyster seedlings bolster the local economy and improve water quality.

Actions like the above, actually accomplish real solutions. Those who truly make a difference, don't throw paint on anything. We "use" intelligence to solve, and we are not "used" by the elitists that make money and power from creating fear by not presenting all the facts. A. K. A.: Lying through the process of omission.

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

Home Garbage Reduction

4/23/2024

GoingTrueGreen.com recently received an email from a GTG member asking for more information about how I reduced the amount of garbage that I put out for collection. For the overall majority of the year, I put out 1 garbage can per week, while comparable neighbors put our two garbage cans, twice a week. This GTG blog will try to break down how I accomplish reducing the amount of garbage on a weekly basis.

Garbage, pails, garbage pails, recycle, waste, waste management, household garbage, going true green, goingtruegreen, garbage collection

One Garbage Pail, Once A Week

 VS

Garbage, pails, garbage pails, recycle, waste, waste management, household garbage, going true green, goingtruegreen, garbage collection, garbage reduction

Two Garbage Pails, Twice A Week

I estimate about a 40% reduction from being more acutely aware of Recyclables:

Recycle all cardboard by flatten and tie up boxes ranging from deliveries to tissue boxes.
Recycle those cardboard paper towel tubes, cardboard backings to paper pads, and even your cardboard toilet paper rolls.
Recycle Milk and OJ containers along with the juice packs.
Buy eggs in the cardboard cartons, not in plastic containers that may or may not be recyclable.
Then use the cardboard egg cartons to plant seeds in the springtime so you can start growing your own food on that window shelf, backyard, or rooftop.
Recycle all electronics with E-Waste collection days, including lights bulbs.
Recycle paint cans, and unused medicines, with Hazard Waste collection days.

Fresh Made Compost !

I estimate about a 20% reduction by Composting the following:

Scraps and remains of fruits.
Scraps and remains of vegetables.
Add trimmed plant life, but NO diseased plants or flowering weeds.
Add grass clippings like the way you use salt and pepper, use very little, yet grass is not necessary.
Add leaves every now and then, but avoid twigs from tree branches.
Coffee grinds and paper coffee filters are great to add into the mix each day.
Never compost Meat, Dairy, Fish, Bones, Cheese, Oil, Fats, Diseased Plants, Coal, Cat Litter, Plastics, Ash and Paper with Ink or print.
Have a grass lawn, try mulching with a mulching lawn mower! Thus, no yard waste to put out and no plastic bags.

Homemade Hat Rack From Reused Items

I estimate another 15% reduction in garbage by Reducing and Reusing:

Reduce garbage by using cloth napkins and reusable towels instead of paper.
Reduce by using Soap Sheets for washing clothing instead of liquid soap in a large plastic jug.
Buy olives, tuna, and juice in recyclable glass jars, and bottles. Glass does not put contaminates into food or drink.
Do Not buy a "bill of goods" aka, Water in plastic bottles or jugs. Buy a counter top Water Distiller.
Sweep floors and put the dirt collected back outside in the dirt where it came from.
Avoid using plastic and plastic bags as much as possible.
Take an extra netted bag or cloth bag to the supermarket for your fruit and veggies. Don't use the plastic bags and stop buying products in plastic containers. Most of which are not recyclable.

Reuse brown paper lunch bags or buy reusable lunch boxes / bags.
Donate old clothes, and furniture, to your church or an organization.
Sell items no longer needed online.
Use glasses for drinking at home and steel containers for your Distilled water going out with you.
Use dishes that you wash, avoid plastic dishes of all types.
Do not buy paper or plastic dishes and cups. If you have a party and need to - do not buy plastic, buy paper dishes and cups.
Reuse hangers, and old shoes in creative ways, such as garden planters, and making hat racks.
Old eye glasses, sunglasses, and eyeglass cases, drop in collection box at Pearl Vision Centers for those in need.

I hope and trust this information is helpful, and at least a good start to cutting back on the amount of garbage produced. Thank you.

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

Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ, Shroud, Shroud of Turin, Sindone, burial cloth of Jesus, The Way, Upper Room, L. J. Williams, Upper Room The Way, BBV Publishing, Son of God, historical novels, apostles, Mary mother of God

Easter 2024, the Historical Novel, Upper Room, The Way: 33 AD to 57 AD will be available in Hardcover, paperback, and digital. This new edition has all the scientific data, history, and most probable events for Jesus' burial cloth, known as the Shroud of Turin. The fascinating adventure starts with clicking the image Link above to walk with the apostles in the streets of Jerusalem, cry for their pain, and rejoice with them.

Why Do We Tie Up Our Garbage In Plastic Bags?

3/7/2024

Plastic, plastic bags, garbage, garbage bags, recycle, microplastic, going true green, sustainability

Beach Clean Up: Compostable Bags or Plastic?

Easy answer... To facilitate easy transportation from indoors to outdoors, and to keep garbage cans more sanitized.

Now I must ask, what was done in yesteryear? There was no such thing as a plastic bag.

In the "Old Days" garbage was tossed in a small pail with a handle, then carried outside to a large garbage can that was put out to the curb on collection days. Every now and then, those pails were washed out. However, plastic bags changed all that, so to avoid using plastic bags today, we need to look into Compostable Bags and taking some additional action.

Households were not zero waste back in yesteryear, nor is zero waste an easy task to accomplish today. First action is to reduce, recycle, and reuse. I put out one garbage can a week, while most of my neighbors with the same situation as me, put out two garbage cans twice a week. All with their garbage tied up nice and tight in a plastic bag. I am also guilty for using plastic bags, but that is mostly because the municipality and unions, do not want their collection agents picking up garbage cans filled with loose debris, and turning the cans upside down to dump out all that garbage. Spillage, when that occurs is a mess, germs can spread, and town / city employees risk back injuries. So most townships and cities want garbage to be bagged.

Nevertheless, still using plastic bags, will cause long term issues in landfills. One such issue I learned about on my first job out of college. I was working as a Specialist Level 2 environmental scientist at a newly designed garbage recycling plant. There I learned the plastic bags when burned, give off dioxins, and dioxin like compounds. That is the same stuff used in agent orange during the Vietnam war.

So another action I took was to search out Compostable Bags. There are many types available on the market today, and a lot easier to find compared to years ago. Try to buy compostable bags with plant-based content, and this will help keep plastic out of our landfills and microplastic particles out of our environment, and us!

Some compostable bags with good reviews are ProGreen, and UNNI ASTM. Both are available at Walmart.

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

Distilling Water

2/5/2024

water, water distiller, water filters, drinking water, water fountains, carbon filters, distillers, water pollution, going green, going true green, GTG

Counter Top Water Distiller

I have been speaking and writing about using a Water Distiller for decades now. When compared to buying bottled water in plastic, having your own Water Distiller makes complete sense. Saving money, energy, and health are individual benefits. Helping to save our environment is a benefit for the world and our children. For details about distilling your own water and all the savings, just use the SEARCH box at the top of this page or click on WATER in the Category list on the right side of this page.

The number one concern I hear about distilling your own water is the loss of all those healthy nutrients and electrolytes in water. I have a hard time being concerned for several facts and reasons. One reason is the fact that our main supply of nutrients, electrolytes and minerals, come from fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts. The minerals in water are not sufficient to enhance our Recommended Daily Allowance, (RDA). On average, to get our RDA of calcium we would need to drink 600 glasses of water per day. To acquire our RDA of iron, that would cause us to drink 800 glasses of water a day. How about our RDA for magnesium? Only 1,800 glasses of water for that, and for our phosphorus RDA, just 160,000 glasses per day. We Do Not get our daily nutrients from drinking water.

water, water distiller, water filters, drinking water, water fountains, carbon filters, distillers, water pollution, going green, going true green, GTG

So, over the years the best water distiller to buy has changed... No I am not writing about this because I am getting a kick-back or have stock in the company. I am just sharing information and research that I have done over all the years.

The counter top Vevor water distiller, as of today, is the best deal.

Better Features:
Lighter Copper outside
Two switches on and off
Double line marker inside locating maximum water fill
Electric cords have extra length
Stainless steel nozzle to hold carbon filter
Stainless steel shield over steam intake hole inside top section to prevent particulates from drafting up into cooling coil
Easy lift handle for the top section
Extra high drip guard for the 1 gallon glass jug
Stainless steel, not plastic top cover for the glass jug
Silicone padded wrap to protect the bottom of the glass jug
A citric concentrate to clean the distiller - Done by putting 4 teaspoons in hot water that is filled up above the dirt line in the distiller. Then plug-in without the top section cover, and bring to a boil. After 15 minutes shut off with OFF button and wash out.
The grip handle for the glass jug, better design
Vent spacing in top section is larger, so easier to clean any dust or lint buildup
Cooling fan blades are made of aluminum, not plastic, so there is far less dirt build up on blades
Faster and quieter: Far less noise, One hour faster in making the gallon of water!
Best price is around $111.00
Electrical operating cost to make one gallon is around 42 cents for the highest electrical rates in the United States. The Vevor unit costs about 9 cents more than other models that use around 70 watts less, but are on 1 hour longer to make a gallon of water. Either way, compared to buying bottled water - no contest. You get a gallon of purified water for 42 cents compared to one 16 ounce plastic bottle of water that will range from $1.50 to $3.75 depending on your buying location.

Drawbacks:
I am very disappointed that this is made in China, thus shipping halfway around the world wipes out some of the environmental savings we obtain.

The charcoal filters are very dense and after a dozen rinses they still leached a heavy black charcoal film. I suggest the carbon filters from Nutriteam. You can buy 12 packs for a good price at Nutriteam.com. They are slightly smaller in size and fit better in the Drip Nozzle. Bottom line, you can rinse them in a bowl of distilled water about three times to get out the excess carbon.

General Rules:
In regard to changing the carbon filter and cleaning out the inside of the distiller, my rule has been determined from distilling water for over 35 years. I clean out the distiller with organic white vinegar by pouring in one gallon and letting the vinegar sit overnight. The citric concentrate, Vevor provides with their distillers, does work better when following their directions. How often I change and clean is based on this rule: Every 100 gallons made or three months, whichever comes first.

As for the dust build up in the vent spacing on the top section and the cooling coil, I use Q-Tips to clean out the dust and lint at least once a year.

THE SOLUTION IS NOT BOTTLED WATER… THE SOLUTION IS US AND THE KNOWLEDGE WE SHARE!
CONSIDER TAKING GTG's WATER WORKSHOP, IF NOT FOR OURSELF OR THE WORLD,
AT LEAST FOR OUR GREAT GRAND KIDS.

Visit our Lifetime GTG Membership program for details, online class about water is available to all members.
Please use the GTG Membership Link above. Thank you.

You will not be tested by me, but life may test our grandchildren.
Can you teach them what they need to know?

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

Energy Saving Report Card

1/26/2024

This is not rocket science, this is using real facts, and technology that we already have. Knowledge that seems to be unknown or avoided by our leaders, media, celebrities, and conglomerates that run on greed. Yet, all the actions I have accomplished save money, energy, our environment, our health, and our children's future. Just in the area of heating my home and making hot water you can see below is one piece of proof showing my success. Success that is 48% BETTER than Efficient homes equivalent to mine in size and features:

efficient homes, saving energy, energy savings, going true green, oil heat, gas heat, environmental studies, saving money, health savings, children's future

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! 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. 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!
How? By reading, and I will be honored if you start with my Going True Green blogs.
Use the SEARCH BOX at the top of this page to lookup any specific topic or Categories and Archives on the right side of this page. Thank you.

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

Invasion Of Nanoplastics (New Research Results)

1/13/2024

Nanoplastics, Microplastic, particles, goingtruegreen,, water, bottled water, filtered water, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Plastic Microfiber being ingested by an Amoeba, which fish eat, we eat fish. Image by Dr. Kirby

Nanoplastics or Microplastic particles are among us and have been for decades. I have posted several Going True Green blogs - www.goingtruegreen.com/apps/search?q=plastic - on the subject with actions we can all take over the years. Sadly, new research now shows that the invasion of microscopic plastic particles is a full scale personal assault on each one of us. First, let us review what are nanoplastics.

Plastic is made from oil, plastic does not decay or biodegrade like an apple core (which you can actual eat) or leaf. Plastic breaks apart into a smaller piece, and then another smaller piece, and smaller, and smaller. How small is small?

One strand of human hair is around 80 microns wide. A micron is a unit of length in the International System of Units, which is one millionth of a meter. Nano is equivalent to one thousandth of a micrometer, one millionth of a millimeter or one billionth of a meter.

Researchers from Rutgers and Columbia Universities provided results from tests done with lasers called Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy. Some 240,000 plastic particles were detected in a liter bottle of water. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

After I spoke with doctors in the medical field, I was told about the chemical makeup of different plastic and the known toxins within, that have shown to be related to cancer. Nanoplastic particles, when inside the human body, can be considered more dangerous than microplastics. According to Dr. Wei Min, a professor of chemistry at Columbia and co-author of the study said, “the smaller it goes, the easier for it to be misidentified as the natural component of the cell.”

With the detected plastic in a bottle of water, 90 percent was nanoplastic, and 10 percent was micro, we can in theory say that some of this plastic is coming from the manufacturing of the plastic bottle and also the plastic parts on water filters that are used. Reverse Osmosis systems also have plastic parts, even Water Distillers which I have recommended for over 30 years had plastic parts. The water distiller I used today has the plastic nozzle (the only plastic part in contact with the water I make) lined with glass. Remember from my previous Going True Green blogs – Only 3 things Do Not put carcinogens into our food and drink: Glass, Porcelain, and Waxpaper.

Now while I still recommend a Water Distiller and reusable protected glass or steel containers, some early testing shows less nanoplastic in tap water, than bottled. Obviously, many different pros and cons have to be evaluated.

The last important factor to acknowledge is that while the media screams about predictions on warming, the plastic pollution in our oceans has shown that this is a Real Issue manifesting damage to our Ocean's Prochlorococcus organisms. Prochlorococcus make up our invisible green forest in our oceans. These microscopic marine cyanobacteria are probably the most abundant organism on Earth. For millions of years they have made our oxygen. Plastic is killing them and they are our main source of oxygen.

Everything is connected.

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