GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

Going True Green Blog:

Please use our SEARCH BOX above to find a specific subject. Also use our 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 Earth Day 2013. Also see our "blog" style postings dating back to 1995 from our original two websites, as well as articles written and published since 1982 at our link Yesteryear Articles & Blogs.

See the Back Story - Blog Preface

Victory Gardens Are Needed Again

10/2/2019

Victory Garden, Victory Gardens, World War One, World War Two, World War II, fresh food, food, organic food, growing food, compost, composting, Home Front, Going Green, Sustainable Living, Sustainability, Going True Green

I am sadden how the stories of our past, let them be His-Story or Her-Story, are forgotten or completely changed for a false narrative. I know just a few people reading this Going True Green Blog Post will know what a Victory Garden was so many years ago. Nevertheless, Victory Gardens are needed again.

Victory Gardens were planted by individuals on the Home Front as a patriot sign to make a difference as World War I and World War II were being fought. The premise was simple and the difference made was tremendous. These Victory Gardens were planted in yards, window pots, apartment rooftops and empty plots of land around the neighborhoods. They helped in the battle against food shortages as two world changing wars raged on for years. The food that was produced, was used and shared with those in need.

Today, a Victory Garden would be a major part of the multitude of solutions we can do as an individual. Having a Victory Garden will allow us to eat healthier with fresh organic food and be a positive contributing factor for our changing world. For more facts and information see my Going True Green Blog posts under the Category called: Composting.

If we truly want to be part of the solutions, we all need to have or take part in a Victory Garden. This Fall is the perfect time to start planning your very own Victory Garden for next Spring!

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Posting Additional Look Backs

7/31/2019

Before I started GoingTrueGreen.com, I wrote code for websites on the World Wide Web in 1992. By 1995/96 I had the LightBulbHotLine website up and running to help people learn about the many new compact fluorescent light bulbs that were being sold since 1982. Eventually the LightBulb HotLine website became EnergyHotWire.com and then I launched GoingTrueGreen.com so they could work in tandem with each other.

Light Bulbs, light bulb hotline, energy saving lightbulbs, Energy Saving Light Bulbs, Saving Energy, Saving Money, Sustainability, Climate Change, Sustainable Living, Going Green, Going True Green, Blogs, Articles, Bill Lauto

First Website, 1995, Light Bulb Hotline

Christopher Lauto, Going True Green, GTG Blog, EnergyHotwire, electric bill, energy comics, energy saving comics

Comic Relief On GTG Blog In 2007

Energy Hotwire, Energy Saving Light Bulbs, Saving Energy, Saving Money, Sustainability, Climate Change, Sustainable Living, Going Green, Going True Green, Blogs, Articles, Bill Lauto

Energy Saving Light Bulbs, Saving Energy, Saving Money, Sustainability, Climate Change, Sustainable Living, Going Green, Going True Green, Blogs, Articles, Bill Lauto

Kiplinger's, Kiplinger's Finance Magazine, Saving Money, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, Energy Saving Light Bulbs, Sustainable Living, Going Green, Going True Green, Blogs, Articles, Bill Lauto

Kiplinger's April 1992

Over the years, before Blogs came about, I wrote articles or provided data for publications doing a section or column on energy savings. One such publication was in Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine, April 1992. The first day Kiplinger's magazine hit the newsstands, I received 95 phone calls from around the country. The section was titled: Lights That Lighten Your Electric Bill.

I have always been writing and teaching facts about Energy Saving Light Bulbs, as well as many other energy saving and environmental topics over the decades. I started loading up my articles to EnergyHotwire.com before the Blogging format took off.

This summer I am posting several more of those "Yesteryear" articles from Newspapers, Magazines, my LightBulb Hotline website and EnergyHotwire.com to my GoingTrueGreen Blog. You can take a trip down memory lane by accessing these postings under the Category called: Yesteryear Articles & Blogs, found in the right hand column of this page. For the Kiplinger story, you may click on the date: April 1992 under Archives, also found in the right hand column. To see how I was doing with my energy bills in my first apartment for the year 1988, click on the date May 1989. You can even use the Archives to click on the date November 1972 to peruse my very first paper I wrote on our environment back in middle school. My first article for newspapers on the new energy saving fluorescent light bulbs will be the next Archived date of November 2, 1987.

I also finally added the Category: COMIC RELIEF which brings you back to early 2007 when I published 3 different comic strips on EnergyHotwire.com.
Use this LINK to start off your visit back in time with a laugh or two or three - Comic Relief.

Enjoy the "Look Back" - Thank you.

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

Roof Tops

5/9/2019

Bill Lauto, roofs, roof repairs, solar, NASA, rain water, collecting rain water, rain barrels, toilets, astronauts, Florida, going green, saving water, saving money, cleaning solar panels, Tesla, gardens, watering flowers, sustainable living, sustainability

Altering Perspective

I have been on a several roof tops recently. A person's perspective is always altered when viewing their surroundings from a different angle, especially from above. I had the good fortune to meet with an American Space Shuttle Astronaut when visiting NASA in Florida one year. His view when in space was an extreme perspective of our Earth. Many astronauts described that view as an altering perspective.

Much closer to the ground, on my rooftop, I just did some air vent repairs and wiped down my solar panels for optimum performance. I also cleaned out the rain gutters to prepare for my next project. Collecting rainwater to flush my toilet!

Bill Lauto, roofs, roof repairs, solar, NASA, rain water, collecting rain water, rain barrels, toilets, astronauts, Florida, going green, saving water, saving money, cleaning solar panels, Tesla, gardens, watering flowers, sustainable living, sustainability

Tuscany Rain Barrel

I can no longer subscribe to paying money for clean drinkable water to flush away waste. Rainwater is Free and after a filter system to catch roof gravel, I am planning to implement my system for at least one toilet ASAP. I already collect rain water off my roof for my garden and lawn. From Tuscany style rain barrels to a giant rock design holding 80 gallons.

One's perspective must always include all angles to truly see all their surroundings and one's impact on God's green earth.

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

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!