GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

Going True Green Blog:

Please use our Free Membership link in the right column below to receive a quarterly email, at most, on new Blog Postings or Workshops. This GTG Blog started on EarthDay 2013. However see our original "blog" style postings dating back from 1995 when on our website EnergyHotwire.com, as well as articles written and published since 1987 in newspapers and magazines at our link Yesteryear Articles & Blogs.

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Batteries Included

1/1/2019

Apollo 11, Tesla, Lithium-air batteries, Lithium-ion batteries, power wall, nuclear, solar, fuel cells, hydrogen, electric cars, non-renewables, sustainability, going true green, going green, bill lauto

Tesla's Current Power Wall Battery

This New Year will bring us the 50th anniversary of America's Apollo 11 Moon mission. This American accomplishment, against all odds, proves what Team Work will always give us... Success.

Currently a Team effort for better batteries is underway at the University of Cambridge. Scientists from Cambridge have recently pointed out that in less than the necessary time it takes to build a Nuclear Power Plant, lithium-air batteries could be contributing to making oil, coal and nuclear obsolete. Lithium-Air batteries are five times cheaper and lighter than today's lithium batteries.

These new developments place the technology of battery storage comparable to non-renewable fuels. Lithium-air batteries have a density that is ten times more than a lithium-ion battery. That is over 90% efficient through the discharge and recharge cycle. Also these batteries can be recharged well over 2,000 times before a need to replace them. This can drive down the cost for an electric car with batteries to a fifth of current costs. Additionally, these newer lithium-air batteries will weight a fifth of current batteries, thus allowing a car drive of over 400 miles possible on one charge.

Now technically the energy density is still lower than energy produced from oil. However, much of that oil producing energy is wasted by today's trucks and cars. The oil fuel is not utilized efficiently and as much as three-quarters of the oil fuel energy is lost in heat. Nevertheless, researchers at the University of Cambridge have shown how the development of a lithium-air battery looks very promising.

A New Year is upon us and time will tell. Meanwhile, Fuel Cells that make electricity by running off of free Hydrogen obtained from free rain water with power from free sun light working a photovoltaic panel are also moving closer to the launch pad, where we will all hear those heart stopping words, "Mission Control, we are GO for launch!"

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

International Friendships

11/23/2018

IVBEC, Father Flanagan, Bill Lauto, St. John's University, Climate Change, Business and Ethics Conference, sustainability, sustainable living,

IVBEC, New York City

By the conclusion of the 2018 International Vincentian Business and Ethics Conference (IVBEC), I had the good fortune to meet, befriend and network with professionals from around the world. This was an amazing 3 day event where I now have colleagues from Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Australia, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, India, Spain and several American Universities, including St. John's University, the Host of this 25th IVBEC event in New York City.

We all came together as one team to help God's Green earth. Sustainable living saves money, energy and our environment without any sacrifices being made. All while living happier and healthier. At meals over the three days, conversations abounded about sharing realistic sustainable solutions on multiple levels. Solutions not only for our own families, friends, and workplaces, but also for the world's environment.

My lecture and discussions on the paper I presented covered facts about Climate Change that shows how the two opposite sides have taken various approaches to issues while being guilty of the same fault. At the same time, systematic failure to evaluate the entire scope of our changing climate in several areas of our planet, has caused many to just focus on one issue, forgetting that everything is connected. Thus, I was compelled to present a personal theory in my paper showing a link between two separate studies where I saw the potential for another serious contributing catalyst to our changing climate and potential health issues. Currently I am in contact with various journals to submit my paper for publication. Upon obtaining more details, I will confirm protocol about writing a blog on my theory and speaking at a few Universities that extended me an invitation at the IVBEC's three day event.

I extend a gracious thank you to all those who make the IVBEC, that is extremely effective and important, possible year after year. My inclusion for this 25th anniversary conference is an experience I will always cherish.

Below are a few images from when I attended and presented at the 25th IVBEC in New York City:

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

2018 Golden Leaf Award

10/29/2018

GOLDEN LEAF AWARD, GTG, Going True Green, LawnStarter, Bill Lauto, sustainable living, sustainability, going green, eco-friendly, earth, saving energy, saving earth, environmental issues, growing your own food

I am very appreciative of being awarded the 2018 GOLDEN LEAF AWARD for my Going True Green Blog from LawnStarter's editorial team.

The Golden Leaf Award celebrates the best eco-friendly blogs that produced consistently good content throughout the year. The editorial team selected my blog post entitled: "Benefits To Growing Our Own Food" as their favorite piece for this year.

In part, the email we received from LawnStarter's editorial team stated:

Hello,

First of all, we’re huge fans of Going True Green, which the LawnStarter’s editorial team has chosen to receive our 2018 Golden Leaf Award. Congratulations!

The Golden Leaf Award celebrates the best eco-friendly blogs that produced consistently good content throughout the year.

Throughout this year, we monitored for blogs that achieved these criteria:

- Quality and Consistency of Writing
- Demonstration of Environmental Knowledge
- Resourcefulness with Waste and Money
- Social Media Outreach

We chose your "Benefits To Growing Our Own Food" as our favorite piece for this year.

The writeup afforded to GoingTrueGreen.com and my blog on the LawnStarter's website is:

"Going True Green is an indispensable resource on environmental science and green living. This is because Bill Lauto, a well-respected sustainability consultant and expert, runs this blog. Going True Green shows the full picture of our damage on Earth, while providing info on how we as individuals can reduce our impact."

I must recognize that a major contributing factor to receiving this acknowledgement is because of our followers and readers. I am happy to be able to provide useful details toward saving money, energy, and our environment, when living a more sustainable life without sacrifice. I graciously extend my sincere thanks to all of you and the LawnStarter's editorial team.

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

Climate Change and Environmental Quicksand

10/13/2018

IVBEC, Bill Lauto, International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference, UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, Climate Change, Sustainable Living, Climate Change and Environmental Quicksand

2018 IVBEC in New York City

I am happy to share information about a paper submission I made earlier this year that was accepted for presentation at the 25th Anniversary of the International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference (IVBEC). With submissions hailing from around the world, I am humbled and honored to be selected as one of the speakers for this event that will be occurring at the end of this October in New York City, USA.

The IVBEC is acutely aware of the 2030 deadline to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The IVBEC focused this conference's theme on how progress and prosperity in business are achieved in the context of a sustainable future for the planet and all who inhabit it. With research, practice, and educators attending to the responsible management of business, the conference will feature work that highlights the progress made in achieving global development goals and the challenges that remain in institutionalizing them.

My work presents facts that drive positive change in ethical business practices, individual lifestyles and sustainable living approaches that can lead to achievable goals, while addressing serious concerns in the “climate change narrative” being put out by the media as well as the scientific and environmental community. Climate Change and Environmental Quicksand addresses how recent approaches in this narrative contributes to continued greed within the political institutions that often drive the business community, or visa versa. I will post additional blogs about this conference and the new theory I present in my work that may show a key contributing element to changes in our climate that has been ignored do to over zealous money making approaches from both sides of the coin.

The evidence available, mandates each of us as individuals to be responsible and hold a strong stewardship toward God’s Green Earth. No individual, no matter the circumstance, should live a life that puts our future at risk. There are a conglomerate of solutions available on these topics. Living a more Sustainable life does the opposite of what most people think. We save money, energy, environment, by living a more sustainable life. Sustainable living has reasonable and amazing paybacks on investments when implemented correctly. Money is saved and so is our environment. In addition, we are happier and healthier, while making no sacrifices to the lifestyle we know.

For more information about my presentation at the IVBEC, please visit my Speaking Engagements page and scroll down. Thank you.

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

Car Washing Saves Money

9/26/2018

Car Wash, hand car washing, going green, rain water, save money, Wax on wax off, Karate Kid

Michelle is one of Going True Green's followers and she emailed us some follow-up questions on a previous Going True Green Blog / Article. Below are the questions which I believe prove useful for everyone to share:

Michelle Wrote:
Thanks! I've been thinking about this article and wondering something specific. Is there any research to show improved mpg by washing the car, and if so, how does it compare to the carbon footprint of getting the car washed? Would be interesting to know.

We emailed our answers back to Michelle and below we have the data from those answers along with updated information:

GoingTrueGreen:
Thank you so much for contributing those questions. As far as we know, various research is from wind tests done on a car's aerodynamics. Dirt build up does interrupt the flow of air over the surface and will not be as smooth.

If you ever saw these wind tunnel tests, they have white smoke blowing over the car with the wind, so we can see the disturbances. The difference in MPGs, I do not know. Too many variables involved... the amount of dirt, design of the car, how fast you are going, and how far you travelled. However, some tests showed that due to the increased friction created by the dirt the "average" gas mileage would be around 24 miles per gallon. A clean car would obtain a higher average of 26 miles per gallon. Also a TV science show did an episode on this very topic and their conclusion was a 10% decrease in gas mileage with a dirty car.

Nevertheless, in my article I described a "hand washing" of one's car and with collected rain water. Therefore, to come out ahead with a far smaller carbon footprint, we would have to forgo the car wash using electricity and clean drinkable water.

When I was young and helping my Dad hand wash and wax his car, I complained by asking, "Why can't we go to that new automatic car wash?"
My Dad replied, "I didn't have a Car Wash when I was your age and besides, don't you want to get stronger by exercising more?"
This conversation occurred fourteen years prior to the famous "Wax on, wax off" movie quote from Karate Kid.

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

NUTS

9/13/2018

Two colleagues and members of the Going True Green team created a video when in Boston last month. They saw an opportunity to send me a zinger and they were intrigued to see my reaction. Below is the video:

My return text to them was one word, NUTS. The same answer used by Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe's in World War Two's Battle of the Bulge. When I saw them a few weeks later, they were laughing as I slowly shook my head. We then laughed and shared how they made the short video.

Nevertheless, the point made is well known and with that understanding, the improvement and development of energy storage advances each year.

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

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!

Sustainable Summertime Supper

7/23/2018

Supper, Food, Sustainable, Sustainable Food, Going Green, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Distilled water, fresh picked, carrots, string beans, cherry tomatoes, salmon, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, save money, money, energy, save energy, saving our environment

A Sustainable Summertime Supper

The flavors I enjoy with my sustainable summertime suppers are non-existent in supermarket bought food and to relish these types of meals as often as I can make possible, is worth the labor. For I am saving Money, Energy and Earth while living happier and healthier by growing some of my own food in my small backyard.

The dish above shows my Homegrown Organic Fresh Picked carrots and string beans briefly sautéed in olive and flaxseed oil. The flavor from the carrots was amazing and the string beans was incomparable. Both were picked just twenty minutes before preparing the meal.

My salad was also just picked from my garden. Fresh Picked Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes were outstanding with a little homemade dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top.

The main entree was Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon that adhered to Alaska's Department of Fish and Game laws as well as Alaska's acclaimed salmon science based management programs, research, and sustainable salmon policies. Slowly BBQ over Apple flavored hardwood pellets, which is a renewable source of fuel, after being marinated in Flaxseed oil with a few seasonings from my herb garden growing in clay pots. A dash of basil, garlic and dill contributed to the exclusive taste.

My drink was pure clean distilled water, made in my water distiller that costs .33 cents per gallon in electricity. However, I am producing more Solar Electric power than I consume, so this was FREE for me since I just had a full Return on my Solar Investment last month. The water was served nice and cold in a glass, made of glass that contributes no carcinogens into my food or drink. The energy efficient refrigerator that made the water cold also operates off of the same Solar Electric system.

My ceramic dish, cloth napkin, (left side of image) homemade burlap table runner (not shown) and cloth placemat on a solid oak table (top edge of photo) designed and handmade with non-electric tools by the Amish, rounds-off the connecting factors for me to save money, energy and our environment while enjoying a supper with unbelievable flavors!

Yet, I have one more tantalizing ingredient to add... Dessert! A large piece of Blueberry pie.
Fresh picked Blueberries with condensed milk and a graham cracker crust. That was delicious.

However, the most delicious part of this blog is that everyone can also do some or all of the above. Peruse my previous Going True Green blog post called: Benefits to Growing Our Own Food and the other Links above.

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

Fruit of the Vine

6/27/2018

wine, grapes, going green, going true green, grape vines, grape jam, eating grapes, amish, peaceful valley, pergola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, LED, LEDs, red grapes, patio, Peaceful Valley Furniture

Grapes abound on my Pergola made by the Amish

Five years ago, within my budget of little time and money, I began working on building a patio with a grape vine overhead. My entire backyard project is ten years in the making and I am still working toward completion.

Nevertheless, this year I should enjoy the fruits of my labor on the patio section and I believe my Grandfather would be proud. I planted two grape vines 5 years ago, one is Swen Red grapes for eating and the other, Bluebell for making jam.

I selected these two vines for their ability to flourish in my zone of weather patterns and to have organic grapes that have several medicinal values. The parts to my wooden Pergola kit were custom made to size by the Amish. The ordering and coordination was done through the Peaceful Valley Furniture store in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The customer service and workmanship was impeccable.

wine, grapes, going green, going true green, grape vines, grape jam, eating grapes, amish, peaceful valley, pergola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, LED, LEDs, red grapes, patio, Peaceful Valley Furniture

Peaceful Valley's Pergola

So while my grape vines where growing along my new fence, the Pergola was delivered at the end of August and pouring the cement footings was paramount before the weather turned cold at night. I didn't have the time to complete the top of the Pergola until November and the sand for the patio stones sat all winter long in a pile.

I installed Bistro style lights across the Pergola's top and each light bulb you see in the image to the right uses only 1 watt of electricity. They are LED bulbs and they are operating off of Solar electric power. The entire set of lights consumes a total of 15 watts of electricity, but is providing a light level equivalent to 375 watts of old style Edison incandescent bulbs.

wine, grapes, going green, going true green, grape vines, grape jam, eating grapes, amish, peaceful valley, pergola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, LED, LEDs, red grapes, patio, Peaceful Valley Furniture

First crop of Bluebell grapes

At the end of last year's growing season I had a small crop of grapes, however the night before harvest, the birds, squirrels and cats had a war. Despite my Owl facsimile, the next morning I found all the red eating grapes gone. Not one was left. The squirrels must have torn open my netting, the birds ate the grapes and cats ate some birds. The patio floor told the tale of a brutal scene. Smashed red grapes with squirrel and cat foot prints stained the stone, bird feathers were everywhere and a torn off bird's leg was left behind. For some reason, most of the Bluebell grapes survived and I was able to make a few jars of jam.

This year after the arrival of the patio table and benches, all made from 100% recycled plastic, many friends and family have expressed their enjoyment of the ambience created under the grape vines. Almost everyone has asked me why not grow grapes for making wine? My Grandfather made wine with his grapes and I remember all the work involved. So I am leaving the wine making to the professionals. The only thing left for me to do is buy a stronger netting before this year's harvest.

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

Sustainable Payback With Solar

6/12/2018

Tesla, Solar, Solar panels, solar energy, photovoltaic, saving electricity, bill lauto, going true green, going green, sustainable, sustainability, saving energy, energy efficiency

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!