GoingTrueGreen's Blog Postings

Home Made Maple Syrup

3/21/2026

Springtime is here and Maple Trees are sending their Sap upward to create new leaves on their branches. AND that means we can access some of that Sap to make Maple Syrup.

So sit back and enjoy this short video a colleague sent me about his efforts to make "home made" Maple Syrup...

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Earth Day Impaired

4/22/2020

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Earth, Earth Day, Going Green, Impaired Earth Day, Going True Green, sustainability, sustainable living, CO2, Greed, Everything Green, environmental science, saving energy, EPA, Gaylord Nelson

New Day Over Earth as of 7:28am Pacific Time, April 22, 2020

Fifty years is a long time. We had amazing accomplishments and we still have much to change. However, afford me the time to read this GTG blog post, because the change I will speak of, may surprise many. Nevertheless, the change I wish to share, will make the difference. I have seen the evidence and the facts over the decades while working in the environmental science/energy fields.

An impaired Earth Day may have come at the right time. Not just because of a virus that has confronted the world and cancelled outdoor events for Earth Day's 50th anniversary, but because of many other reasons. Exactly 50 years ago when Senator Gaylord Nelson started the first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, over 20 million people in the United States attended events that day. The day's mission was to teach, present facts and learn other ways of doing everyday tasks so our environment would not be harmed. For me today, that mission has become impaired because of the following truth that I find self evident:

Back in 1970 the problem was how Earth's environmental issues were NOT addressed by political parties and the environment's concerns, were NOT covered by the media. Today, the reasons and mission for Earth Day has been hijacked by political parties, the media, and anyone with a voice who is not interested in educating, teaching facts or presenting solutions. They are just using the complex and multiple issues of our environment to make money or protect money already being made, by failing to show the complete picture. Both extreme sides are purposely omitting truth and only telling their narrative by the process of omission. They blame someone else and as a result, effective feasible solutions are rarely presented or taught.

A vortex of excess verbiage has hit our ears over the years and demands have been thrown at politicians and corporations, much justified, for many decades. Sadly this approach called "the blame game" and "listen to me so I can make greedy amounts of money" comes from both sides and has caused doors to be shut and effective communication to be destroyed. At the conception of Earth Day both American political parties worked together to not only start Earth Day, but also the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Corporations were even persuaded to work as one team and save the world's Ozone layer from being obliterated. So what went wrong? Greed.

Different view points are always beneficial when presented objectively, however today, everything has become subjective. So perhaps this is a time for a third view point...

Only recently, there is additional talk about how each of us can implement solutions to save ourselves money and our Earth. Originally in the 1970s, this discussion was based on conservation, which translated into making sacrifices. Put on a sweater and lower the heat. However, with the complete picture based on facts and the correct technology, an individual's action is a much more powerful phenomenon than most realize. All of us together become the team that surpasses any government or corporation. This may come as a surprise to some or perhaps many, but long term solutions are both tangible and attainable for each one of us. Teaching the data and facts for decades has been my mission. Demands made by others did not help me put out one garbage can a week, while my neighbors put out two cans, twice a week. Waiting for someone else to save the day did not have me obtain a Net Zero home. First I had the lowest electric bill in town because of multiple actions done within my own budget of time and money. Then after I was able to get solar panels (with a payback in 3 years and 8 months) I have no electricity costs for almost 5 years now. I gave up red meat almost 25 years ago. I do not buy potting soil, top soil, or mulch, because I make my own for free! No celebrity, politician or corporation taught me that - Actually an Amish farmer did.

Today with all the blame and spin going around, we have very little progress because we have very little education with all the facts. Also when each one of us implement a solution ourselves, that does not make anyone else money! So perhaps we have to teach ourselves. I for one have been sharing as much as I could over the decades.

Basically, this is easy... Teach the individual and we save the world. Think about that and ask who is a politician? Who runs a corporation? Individuals make up the corporation's board, CEO and so on. And yes, as hard as this is to believe, politicians are individuals too.

Each one of us can be the problem or together we are the solution! The battle is not between them over there and those standing here. The battle is within each one of us!

Additionally we need to come together with communication, facts and solutions because our environment is complex and has thousands of situations that need our intelligent caress. For if we are to believe that all our environmental issues will be solved just by lowering or eliminating carbon dioxide, then we are truly leaving our grandchildren with a "world of mess" to clean up. God help them to do so, if we do in fact, fail them.

Here are a few additional serious concerns for our planet that are rarely addressed and may play a larger role with harming our planet's sustainability:

We are causing great harm to our oceans, the truly one main source of our oxygen supply. The invisible O2 producing forest within our oceans’ waters is called Prochlorococcus. These microscopic green photosynthetic organisms were discovered around 1989 and they use sunlight to convert Carbon dioxide into oxygen. They divide once a day and have been making oxygen for millions of years. One drop of ocean water has 20 Thousand cells! Humankind is killing them with Nitrogen and Plastics!

The Rainforest is being cleared to meet the demand with increase consumption of meat and palm oil. Palm oil is found in products and food we all consume everyday. Decrease our forests and increase our issues with oxygen and CO2.

Another major concern is that we are manufacturing clothes mostly of plastic. We are all contributing to the fact that we are drinking, breathing and eating plastic. When we wash our clothes, research studies showed that up to 700,000 Micro Plastic Fibers go out with the water for each wash load! Studies in Germany found plastic fibers in all of the 24 beer brands they tested at Octoberfest four years ago. They also found plastic in honey and sugar.

My hope is that this GTG blog post will be a catalyst for each of us, every individual, to be inspired with learning the complete picture of our environment. Many parts of that picture can always be found in my GTG blogs and website.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, GoingTrueGreen.com has created a GTG Membership program with a Lifetime enrollment to provide organized solutions so each one of us can make a difference. From Videos to Check Lists, please consider this and the benefits with the link above. This summer, two new On-Line classes called:
What Actions Each Individual Can Do and Sustainable Survival! Both will be included in our membership program.

Thank you for reading and following GTG all these years. You are already part of the solution to make our planet's complete picture look beautiful in the future!

Bill Lauto, at GoingTrueGreen.com
Environmental Scientist
International Sustainability and Energy Consultant
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Bill Lauto Goes To Washington

5/4/2016

2 Comments

Association for Environmental Studies and Scientists, AESS, Bill Lauto, Going Green, Sustainability, Sustainable Living, Environmental Studies, Saving Energy, GoingTrueGreen, climate change, global warming, greenhouse, saving the world, save money, energy and earth

I will not be addressing Congress, at least not yet, but I will be speaking at the AESS Conference in Washington, DC this June. The Association for Environmental Studies and Scientists is based on the West coast and when I saw that American University in DC will be hosting their annual conference, I immediately submitted a proposal for consideration. My workshop proposal was accepted and I will be presenting as one of the pre-conference workshops.

The Conference Theme is: Science, Empathy, Collaboration and Sustainability
My Workshop title: Sustainable Living and Team Work, June 8th, 9:30am to Noon

So I will first speak about how we as individuals, when living a more sustainable life, are healthier, happier, save more money, and help save Earth's future for our children. All this without making sacrifices, because I don't ask you to conserve, I teach you how to be efficient with today's current technology and knowledge. I will show you details and numbers as examples for how much can be saved by your own ethical actions. After all, why would anyone want to risk our children's future?

Next, I will speak about how to bring what we do at home to our workplace. From non-profits to corporate America, from small shops to universities. The reason is because behind those doors of business are individuals like you. I will share stories on how we work together as a team to solve the problems, not blame each other and fight over who is responsible for the problem.

Last, I will discuss bringing this knowledge to the people we elect and show them that their inner circle of advisors are limited and are stifling solutions. The way solutions are implemented are key and we will review precedent situations to this very point.

I am hoping some of you may attend the conference and hear my presentation if your institution or company will reimburse you for expenses. For those of you who are students, the AESS also offers a student discount.

For more information about Registration, please visit the Association for Environmental Studies and Scientists
website at the LINKs below:

https://aessonline.org
OR
https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1801388&ResponseMemberId=&jID=3421680

When using these Links, Click on Registration Link, then on the second page Click on Morning Workshops. My Workshop Sustainable Living and Team Work is second from bottom.

For more information about my Workshop, please Click on my Speaking Engagement Link above.
Thank you all for your time and consideration. I hope to see some of you there!

Bill Lauto , GTG
Environmental Scientist
 International Sustainability and Energy Consultant 
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Telomere, Telomeres, L.J. Williams, BBV Publishing, Hitler, Cold Spring Harbor Labs, World War Two

Telling the Untold Stories: TELOMERE by L. J. Williams

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Climate Warrior Award

1/22/2016

9 Comments

ICT, e-waste, Treehugger, climate, climate warrior, IT equipment, IT, followers, comments, top treehugger & climate warrior award, going green, going true green

I am pleased to share the news that Going True Green's Blog was one of several "green" style blogs selected by ICT, an international e-waste management company, for their environmental award. ICT deals with recycling electronics as well as IT equipment and has named their award: Top TreeHugger & Climate Warrior Award

The criteria all winners had to meet is listed below:

1) Actively promote sustainable principles (recycling, zero waste, sustainability etc.)
2) Posts on average once per month
3) Has been noted by at least one other credible source for their "greenness"
4) Actively engages with readers either via their blog or their social profiles
5) Lives what they preach
6) Provides unique perspective and ideas

ICT manually reviewed over 500 blogs and narrowed it down to the winners. They searched out active blogs that not only "promoted" green living but lived it and interacted with readers regularly.

In part, the email we received from ICT stated:

We did our best to find active blogs that not only "promoted" green living but lived it and interacted with readers fairly regularly. We avoided blogs that were mostly news sites full of sponsored commercial links. Of course we fully support the use of sponsored posts, but some sites provide almost no value to readers other than SEO backlinks.

Your website was specifically chosen because of your unique approach of offering online classes to help people go green. Many blogs offer words of advice, few offer online classes! We were happy to include such a unique resource.

A major contributing factor to receiving this acknowledgement is because of our followers and readers. By collaborating regularly with my support team of experts throughout the fields of sustainable living, we are 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 ICT.

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

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Top Green Living Blog

8/18/2014

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Top Green Living Blog Award, Going True Green, Going Green, Bill Lauto, Saving Money, Saving our Environment, Blog award, sustainable living, ecollege finder, Blog Awards

Back on July 24, 2014 I was pleased to announce that GoingTrueGreen's Blog was nominated for a Blog Award.

Today I am honored to share the news that eCollegeFinder.org selected Going True Green's Blog for the:

TOP GREEN LIVING BLOG AWARD

I know that a major contributing factor to receiving this acknowledgement is because of our followers, readers, and my support team of experts throughout the fields of living a sustainable life who I collaborate with regularly.

Also the Likes, Comments, Discussions, Emails, and Website visits help provide a clean well rounded evaluation of our situations and the presentation of better solutions. I graciously extend my sincere thanks to all of you who have made a contribution in the form of a "Like" or "Insight".

In part, the email received stated:

"We’ve selected Going True Green as a winner of eCollegeFinder’s Top Green Living Blogs Award! Your blog stood out amongst stiff competition and is now featured on our site as a recommended technology resource for our readers."

Thank you,
Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
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Nominated for Top Green Blog Award

7/24/2014

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ecollegefinder, top green living blog, green living, going green, green living award, ecollege finder, ecollegefinder organization, bill lauto, energy savings, sustainable living, green award

GTG Nominated for Above Blog Award

GoingTrueGreen.com is honored to share the news about eCollegeFinder.org nominating Going True Green's website and blog for the:

TOP GREEN LIVING BLOG AWARD

The Logo on the left is a Link to access eCollegeFinder's web page for additional information. Winners will be announced on August 11th, 2014.

All of us at GTG extend our gratitude for this nomination.

Bill Lauto, GTG
Environmental Scientist at
GoingTrueGreen.com
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Global Warming: Hot, Cold, or Medium Rare

2/3/2014

4 Comments

Speaking Greenish: Part thirteen

Global warming, greenhouse effect, climate change, climate extremes, IPCC, greenhouse gases, CO2

Is Global Warming (Climate Change) real and what does this have to do with me?

The winter of 2014 is very cold for America, we have not seen a brutal winter like this since 1978/1979. So what is the story with our planet being warmer when this winter is so cold and we hear more and more about a Polar Vortex occurring?

Many factors come into play and one theory states: Melting ice from the North Pole, caused by global warming, will place more cold water into the warm gulf stream and this may actually cause a stall in the gulf stream's warm air and water. Thus causing colder weather.

Confusing? Yes, this is a complicated issue, especially since we do not have all the facts and data. So let us first go over what we do know:
Greenhouse effect, climate change or global warming, use whatever name you wish, but the indisputable data showing the continuing rise of Earth's average temperature is the definition.

Does science have a complete understanding of the causes and effects of global warming? No, but we do know the following facts:
Since the late 1970s most of the warming has been over our oceans. NASA's images of the North Pole from 1980 compared to 2012 show a 50% reduction in the pole's total ice mass. We are reaching almost a two degree increase worldwide since the start of the 1900s and over 75% of this increase in average temperature has occurred between 1980 and 2012. Evidence points more and more each day to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases as the cause.
So as an individual, what does this have to do with me and what can I do about global warming?

Greenhouse gases are from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Emissions of CO2 come from many sources, and yes, all those fossil fuel combustion engines we use proves humankind is a contributing factor. The car we drive and the way we cut the lawn all play a part. Have you seen my video on a better way to mow lawns? Click Here To Watch

Now the real question is what will be the outcome from Global Warming? Will this spell d-o-o-m for the human race or will everything remain the same as always? We have heard the preaching of doom and gloom from Global Warming on one hand and a relaxed, "this is all normal" attitude, on the other hand. Either way, we do not have enough facts, data, or research to know the definitive answer to that question. Beautiful roses or dead roses as the outcome is an unknown. Therefore, it is important for humankind to play things safe and do as much as we can to maintain a normal average temperature on our green planet called Earth.

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

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Lawn Conversation

7/25/2013

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Less Lawn and More Garden: part two
Topic related GTG Video available with GTG Membership!

One of GTG's followers sent this story below that circles the internet in regards to the posting of Less Lawn and More Garden: part one on GTG's Blog and the topic related GTG Video Mowing Down the Lawn in July of 2013. The conversation is made up and the dialogue is between God and St. Francis. I injected the fact about Lightening and the point that plastic bags are made from oil. There are several stated facts throughout that are very true and at first you may wish to chuckle, but then a realization sets in... We need less lawn and more gardens!

God asked, "Francis, you know all about gardens and nature. What in the universe is going on down there on Earth? What happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds that I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of colors by now. All I see are green rectangles."

Saint Francis replied, “It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers 'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.”

“Grass is just one color,” stated God. “Grass doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod worms. Grass is very sensitive to temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?”

“Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow grass and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing grass with chemicals and poisoning any other plant that grows in the lawn.”

“Now I know the spring rains and warm weather will make grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.”

“Apparently not, Lord. Once the grass grows a little, they cut it.” St. Francis paused before continuing, “Sometimes twice a week with obnoxiously loud, smokey and smelly machines.”

“Surely they then bale the grass like hay and make other use of the crop?”

“Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake the grass up and put it in bags made from oil, they call the bags plastic.”

“Then what do they make of the bagged grass?”

“They pay to throw it away.”

“Oh I cannot imagine this non logical act,” God proclaimed. “Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass with chemicals so it will grow. With that alone I am sadden by the fact that with all their science, they don’t know that a Lightening storm naturally fertilizes all living plants. With that alone the grass will be green, just not a dark green. Sad that green alone is not good enough and they want a richer green... And when the grass grows, they cut it down and pay to throw the grass away. Did I go wrong somewhere Francis?”

“No, my Lord, they just think that they are smarter than what they really are.”

Well, at least my Suburbanites are relieved in the summer when less rain falls and the temperatures increase. That surely slows the growth of grass, thus saving them much work, hard earned currency and resources.”

“Lord,” St. Francis said softly. “When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water the grass, so they can continue to cut the grass and pay to get rid of the grass.”

“Francis that is nonsense... Well, at least they kept some of the trees. Trees are a genius process that allows leaves to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to the ground to form a natural blanket, thus keep moisture in the soil and degrade to provide nutrients to all living plants and all new growth.”

“Lord, I am truly sorry to say this,” Francis hesitated. “The Suburbanites have created a new process outside of the genius realm. When the leaves fall, they rake and collect them into great piles.”

“Oh Myself! Then what?”

“They pay to have the leaves hauled away.”

“Oh this is a sad turn to the natural order of life. How do they protect the plant’s roots in the winter? What replaces the nourishment for the soil?”

“After throwing away the leaves, they buy something which they call mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.”

“I do not remember creating this mulch. Where do my people get this from?”

St. Francis didn’t want to answer that question, so he rapidly spilled out the words, “They cut down trees and grind them up to make mulch.”

“I don't want to hear about this anymore. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us?”

“Oh Lord, the movie is called,” Saint Catherine hesitated. Then with a soft voice she said, “Dumb and Dumber. The story is about...”

“Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story from Francis.”

Bill Lauto, GTG
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Also join the Lifetime Membership with the GTG Membership Link above! Thank you.

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Carbon Footprint

7/15/2013

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Speaking Greenish: Part ten

Carbon footprint, greenhouse gases, going true green, carbon imprint

Comparison of carbon footprints by country

Footprint, as in what you leave behind.

Is your impression, imprint, good or bad? We measure our activities and the impact they have on our environment by calculating the amount of greenhouse gases produced.

Individuals are mostly leaving a footprint behind that is created by the way we use transportation. Countries have footprints that incorporate every person, industry and policy.

Bill Lauto, GTG

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Green-Collar Job

6/19/2013

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Speaking Greenish: Part nine

This Green-Collar Job phrase, is mostly used at the time of a political election. The term makes reference to any service or product that deals with our environment or Clean Energy.

For more details on Clean Energy see my May 7, 2013 Blog post, Speaking Greenish: Part three.
The title is: Renewable Energy, Clean Energy and Sustainability

The main definition for a green-collar worker is someone employed in the environmental sectors of the economy. This will range from environmental consultants to waste management and recycling. From green minded architects to nuclear engineers. From organic farmers to environmental lawyers and from workers installing solar attic fans to ecology educators.

Solar, solar power, attic fan, solar attic fan, solar exhaust fan, going gree

Solar power exhaust fan

A politician may use the phrase to tell her or his position on an environmental issue or on an energy policy, but not necessarily how to create more "green-collar" jobs effectively.

Bill Lauto, GTG

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