GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings - Going True Green

GTG's Blog Receives Best Sustainable Living Honor

3/3/2021

Blog honor, Going True Green's Blog, featured sustainable blogs, ShamansMarket, Shaman, 30 Best Sustainable Living Blogs

This was an unexpected honor to receive notification that Going True Green's Blog is being featured by the ShamansMarket company as one of the 30 Best Sustainable Living Blogs for 2021.

Many thanks to the Shaman Market for their consideration of my Going True Green blog and placing us on their list of Best 30 Sustainable Living Blogs for 2021.

In part, the email we received from Natalie Green, Community Relations Manager stated:

Hi Bill,

Just wanted to give you a heads up that GoingTrueGreen.com has been featured in our recently published post: 30 Best Sustainable Living Blogs.

We found Going True Green to be a great resource on sustainability and wanted to thank you for sharing your expertise.
Congratulations and keep up the awesome work!

Best,
Natalie Green
Community Relations Manager

Everyone at Going True Green greatly appreciates the honor to be part of the 2021 list for the 30 Best Sustainable Living Blogs. We also 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, health, and our environment, when living a more sustainable life without sacrifice. I graciously extend my sincere thanks to everyone at Shamans Market and our readers. Below is Shamans Market's write up on us. Click on image to enlarge. Thank you

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

Blog honor, Going True Green's Blog, featured sustainable blogs, ShamansMarket, Shaman, 30 Best Sustainable Living Blogs

Top 100 Environmental Blogs

1/15/2020

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With the start of 2020, I am honored to share the news we just received about Going True Green's Blog being listed as one of the
TOP 100 ENVIRONMENTAL BLOGS by Feedspot.

In part, one of the two emails we received from Feedspot stated:

Hi Bill,

My name is Anuj Agarwal, I'm the Founder of Feedspot. I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog
Going True Green has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 100 Environment Blogs on the web.

I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 100 Environment Blogs on the internet and I'm honored to have you as part of this!

I am greatly honored and appreciative of being awarded placement on this list of Top 100 Environmental Blogs. I extend my sincere gratitude to Anuj and the Feedspot panelists for the time they afforded us. Thank you for the consideration of my Going True Green blog and placing us on your list of Top 100 Environmental Blogs.

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

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 (EHW) and then I launched GoingTrueGreen.com (GTG) so they could work in tandem. Today, GTG is leading the way!

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 EHW 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!

A Sample From 1990s

9/10/2016

Bill Lauto, compact fluorescent bulbs, lights, light bulbs, consumer reports, dimmer switches, energy savings, light bulb hotline, going true green, going green, sustainability, environmental science, energy consulting

Consumer Reports Mag

Before Blogs, there were articles, columns, or a writer's corner, published in various types of media. This pre-Blog era was also prior to the start of any Energy Star or LEED certification program established by the government. Information was collected in person, eye to eye, and after being the Energy Advisor to the Earth Day Committee for New York City in 1990, I was contacted several times by various entities.

For example an EPA representative consulted with me as they researched starting up future energy saving programs. In 1992, I was interviewed by Consumer Report Magazine and provided them with data on energy saving light bulbs for their October issue on Efficient Light Bulbs and Dimmer Switches. The Associated Press picked up some of my articles on energy saving light bulbs and so did Newspapers such as the San Francisco Examiner to the Asheville Citizen Times.

Visiting the past always helps to make a better future. Here is a small sample of my work from the early 1990s.
The full write up, with additional images, is under this LINK.

Bill Lauto , GTG
Environmental Scientist
 International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 
Contribute your comments!

Going True Green Blog: Earth Day 1990

4/26/2013

Part two of two

Earth Day Press Conference, New York's City Hall, going Green, Going True Green

New York's City Hall

I arrived very early for the Press Conference. After being cleared by security I immediately set up the comparison light bulb display by the podium in the Blue Room of New York's City Hall. I had all my charts and numbers ready to answer any question from the Press. The room quickly filled up with reporters from around the country and the world.

Introductions were being done among the guests before the Mayor arrived, so I had my back toward the front when meeting various invited guests, such as myself. Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon and Mel Gibson were the celebs for the event. Mr. Reeve was formal and Ms. Sarandon was pleasant. I didn't get to meet Mr. Gibson because he was joking around with others up to the start of the Press Conference.

Now politics had already shut off the main goal for announcing saving energy at this Press Conference. The Earth Day committee presented the bulb changing project so City Hall could change the 60 watt inefficient incandescent candelabra bulbs to new 13 watt candelabra bulbs in each chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the Blue room. Unfortunately we were told every excuse as to why just changing some light bulbs couldn't be done. This bulb project wasn't in the budget, work orders would need to be filed or not enough time. Not enough time to change light bulbs? It was March, not the day before the conference! Contracts were involved, so I guess these old inefficient bulbs had a very good agent working for them. I am sure if Mayor Dinkins had been in-the-loop, the bulbs would have been changed and presented proudly.

energy saving light bulbs, going green, candelabra, efficient candelabra bulbs, chandelier

13 watt to replace 60 watt candelabra bulbs

candelabra, chandelier, City Hall, energy saving bulb, Earth Day Press Conference

Chandelier

Nevertheless, that was water under the bridge and I wanted to focus on presenting short and to the point information about these new bulbs that very few knew about. When I turned around to go back up front at the start of the conference, I saw the light bulb display was moved to the side wall and I was now informed there wasn't enough room for me to stand with the Mayor, celebrities and other dignitaries. Yet, I was reassured that the Mayor would call me up to answer any question posed by the Press on energy saving lights.

None of the displays offering solutions were shown, no questions were posed and I didn't contribute anything. An expert witness that attended for teaching about how to save water, became so upset that just before the closing of the Press conference he pushed his display right in front of the podium. I can not remember if one piece of educational information was presented to help the general public. In the end, that was not the purpose of the conference. Introductions and Earth Day event announcements for around the city were made and that was the purpose. Lesson learned.

I will work hard to provide you with situations and solutions. I will not just put on a show. I am already receiving requests for solutions on certain topics. I hope to cover them all. Have a great, safe and green weekend.

Bill Lauto, GTG

Going True Green Blog: Earth Day 1990

4/25/2013

Part one of two

In late January, I was put in contact with Pamela Lippe, the Executive Director of the Earth Day events in New York City. The year was 1990, the 20th anniversary of Earth Day would occur in April. They needed someone to direct topic on saving energy and thus saving our environment. I volunteered and received approval to be the energy advisor to the Earth Day committee for NYC after my meeting with Pamela and staff, but promotions and most event plans were already completed. We needed some fast and effective energy saving tutorials by March.

SL-18, Energy saving bulb, first energy saving bulb, Phillips Lighting, Bill Lauto, Going Green, Going True Green

SL-18 Bulb

Over the next two months we set up several menus, some included demonstrating energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs. Yes, those energy saving fluorescent bulbs did not come out in the year 2002 when Home Centers and eventually Supermarkets started selling them regularly. The first energy, money and earth saving bulb (SL-18) had been around since 1982! Unfortunately, because of money making goals, twenty years had to go by before they became readily available at affordable prices. I fear the same will stand true for the new LED bulbs. BUT I digress...

New York's City Hall Blue Room, Going Green, Earth Day Press Conference, Bill Lauto, Major Dinkins, Christopher Reeve, Mel Gibson

NYC Blue Room

Our most advantageous demonstration would be at former NYC Mayor Dinkins' Press Conference for Earth Day. There would be speeches, children, celebrities, and a comparison display of light bulbs with me as the expert witness to answer any question from the press. Nevertheless, the main goal was to have NYC demonstrate their own new energy saving bulbs in each chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the "Blue Room" of the Press Conference. What a show! What a lesson in politics... I will have the conclusion to this in my blog tomorrow.

Bill Lauto, GTG

Twelve Things To Do Before Christmas

11/30/2011

Holiday Press Release, December 2011

The truth about having a True Green Christmas for the 99% of us in 2011 is we can't. Nevertheless, we can take action toward a GREENER Christmas and feel good about doing so. Below are twelve things to do before Christmas to save money, energy, and our planet. Additional information and photos can be seen on our GoingTrueGreen.com Blog posts.

First Day: Buy cards made from Tree FREE Resources, such as hemp or make our own cards using recycled paper or recycled card stock. Reuse old envelopes and use environment friendly inks when writing out our cards or printing them.

Second Day: Go shopping for the holiday feast a different way. Walk! If we can’t walk to the food store, take a vehicle that gives us the best gas mileage. That might be a car, but public transportation is better. To facilitate shopping check out, use Reusable Cloth bags.

Third Day: When buying all that food we can save a great deal by not buying foods that must be shipped thousands of miles to get to us. Buy from local farmers who take pride in growing organic produce or sustainable meats. This will help our own local economy and help to reduce the carbon footprint just by shopping smarter.

Fourth Day: If we have yet to read the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, please do. A simple gift from our heart is worth a million times more than a big electronic and noisy product that uses natural resources. The digital version of this book makes a great eco-friendly gift.

Fifth Day: Have a tree planted in a U.S. National Forest for a person who loves nature and the outdoors. This is another great eco-friendly gift.

Sixth Day: Call neighbors and ask them if they need anything from the post office or supermarket when making that trip. Perhaps we can even carpool with some of them and get to know them better, along with their traditions and customs.

Seventh Day: Donate our talents to local outreach programs that help save time, money, energy, and our planet.

Eighth Day: When buying commercial gifts, buy GREEN. A reusable mug or cup can help our environment and save energy by avoiding buying bottle water that is the worst. Learn how a reusable mug and distilled water can make a powerful difference at our GoingTrueGreen.com website and Blog postings under WATER.

Ninth Day: When wrapping those gifts reuse old wrapping paper, bags, and boxes from prior years.

Tenth Day: If we are putting lights up outside our house to whatever degree, use the new LED lights to save energy and money. Realized savings can be as high as 90%. Simple is better for most people, so also try to stay away from all those Blow-Up Decors that use fans and lights. We all need to remember the real reason for Christmas and keeping Christ in Christmas is easy after we see Jesus’ real face and full passion on the Shroud of Turin.

Eleventh Day: Remember the Three Rs: Reuse old holiday cards by tearing off the cover image and using them as gift name tags for next year. Thus Reducing the need to buy new name tags. Recycle the back half of the cards.

Twelfth Day: Visit us at GoingTrueGreen.com to learn so much more about saving Money, Energy, and our Environment.

Updated Blog Post - From EnergyHotwire.com to GoingTrueGreen.com
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

West 81st Street NYC With WINS NEWS

8/7/2010

Look at all the AC units in this one building!
Can you count how many AC units are installed in the WRONG location?
HINT: ONLY ONE (1) AC unit is installed in the best location for using the least amount of energy and having the Lowest electric cost.

Window units, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, Energy Efficiency Rating, air conditioners, through the wall AC, cooling units

Okay, give up counting. AC units are mounted through the building's wall, in the windows and the photo was taken in early May.

Even more AC units will be installed within a few weeks as the days get hotter!

So if they are all wrong except for one... Which one is correct? See the close up photo below for the answers.

solar, windup radio, Window units, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, Energy Efficiency Rating, air conditioners, through the wall AC, cooling units

Solar Power and Wind Up Radio

REMEMBER: COLD AIR DROPS

So the HIGHEST location is the BEST location for your "COOLED AIR" to ENTER your room.
Let it be through a Vent or from a Window unit mounted in the window or through a wall, the fact remains: Higher up in the top half of the window or by the top of your wall is best and since AC units come with REMOTE CONTROLS... NO PROBLEM !

Window units, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, Energy Efficiency Rating, air conditioners, through the wall AC, cooling units

Window units, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, Energy Efficiency Rating, air conditioners, through the wall AC, cooling units

We hope this educational information is helpful to the people and maintenance office of this building and everyone else in our country.

Because each air conditioner installed wrong is wasting America energy and costing Americans money.

Every AC unit in this building should be mounted in the top half of the windows. Not the bottom of the windows and Never below the window through the walls!

Yet even today, new buildings are designed with below the window openings in the walls for AC units.

Is common sense dead in this country?

The government isn't teaching us this, nor are the Utility Companies.

Updated Blog Post - Published Article from EnergyHotwire.com to GoingTrueGreen.com
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

In the Big Apple with WINS News Radio

6/25/2010

We are looking at AC window units in this building and ONLY ONE (1) is installed in the best location for saving ENERGY and MONEY. Can YOU Find that one AC unit?

Solar, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

Look Carefully: Only 1 AC Unit Is In The Right Location. Do you see it?

Solar, Wind up Radio, Solar, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

Interview with 1010 WINS News Radio

Window units, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

REMEMBER: COLD AIR DROPS

So the HIGHEST location is the BEST location for your "COOLED AIR" to ENTER your room.

Click the photo on the left for a close-up view and note the text within the image.

We hope this educational information is helpful to the people and maintenance office of this building and everyone else in our country...

Because each air conditioner installed wrong is wasting America energy and costing Americans money. Every AC unit in this building should be mounted in the top half of the windows. Not the bottom of the windows and Never below the window through the walls!

Also read and hear Part Three that has another radio spot.

Updated Blog Post - Published Article from EnergyHotwire.com to GoingTrueGreen.com
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!

Summer Cooling Facts On WINS 1010 Radio

5/28/2010

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COOLING YOUR HOME

Solar, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

Planning to stay cool this summer?
The central air unit in the photo above has a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) of 12 to keep the electric costs low. The HIGHER the SEER, the lower the electric cost. Look for units today with at least a SEER of 14 for best results with costs and pay back times.
Also listen to a NYC radio report below:

Solar, AC, Central Air, Cooling, Wind Up Radio, WHILE Formula, SEER, EER rating, BTUs, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating

Wind Up and Solar Power Radio

AC units for windows and through the wall see below and the next two parts:
Before you buy an Air Conditioner for your window or through-the-wall you must calculate how many BTUs (what size air conditioner) you need.
Below are the formulas for sizing AC units and getting the proper amount of BTUs.
Most formulas we have all heard and still hear from many Sales people are NOT correct and will cost far more on the electric bill. For one example of an incorrect formula, see the next paragraph:
Length of room multiply Width of room multiply by 100 equals BTU size.
10 feet X 10 feet = 100; then X 100 = 10,000 BTUs. This is WRONG.
A ten by ten room would most likely need only a 5,000 BTU air conditioner. Worst case - still only 6,000 BTUs.

The above formula only sells inventory and can double your electric bill, PLUS make the room CLAMY! This is because the AC unit is double the size needed, thus the compressor will cycle on and off, on and off, on and off, leaving the room sticky and clammy. Basically the AC unit can never get rid of the Humidity in the room because it is oversized.

NOTE: Since sizes of air conditioners vary in BTU's from one manufacturer to another, always choose the one with the highest E.E.R.* and is closest to the BTU size you need. DO NOT buy an AC unit just because it has the Energy Star Label on it. This label shows that it at least meets the minimum requirements to have an Energy Star Label, BUT the Energy Star Label DOES NOT automatically mean you are buying the MOST Energy Efficient Model made! You MUST read the YELLOW Energy Guide charts on the AC unit to determine that. If the models in the store you are shopping in are not the most efficient, then leave and go to other store to see different brands. Find out which Manufacturer makes the most efficient model in the BTU size you need. (Or as close as possible to the BTU size you need). And buy that most efficient model, even if the unit costs more, you will save the price difference off the electric bill usually within one summer.
* (EER means Energy Efficiency Rating)

Part Two has another radio spot and a game to play for testing your AC knowledge! Click Here

A much better formula to use is called:
The W.H.I.L.E. formula.

Proper sizing of a ROOM air conditioner is dependent upon the cooling load, or the amount of BTU/HR the air conditioner must have to cool the room in order to maintain the desired temperature. (BTU/HR means British Thermal Units Per Hour)

The cooling load can be determined by using the W.H.I.L.E. formula then Divided by 60 as shown below:

W = Width of room
H = Height of room
I = Insulation value in the walls
(Use the # 10 for WELL INSULATED or 18 for POORLY INSULATED rooms. An insulation value of R-11 or lower will be poorly insulated. Learn more with our Insulation Blogs.)
L = Length of room
E = Exposure. Which direction the longest outside wall faces.
(North use #16; East use #17; South use #18; West use #20)

Multiply: W x H x I x L x E
then
Divide by 60 to equal (=) BTUs needed.

Updated Blog Post - Published Article from EnergyHotwire.com to GoingTrueGreen.com
Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
Contribute your comments!