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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Roadside Litter

6/10/2019

litter, litterbugs, pollution, garbage, water bottles, plastic,

We are Infested with Litter Bugs

When will this type of littering stop? One of the largest areas where litter accumulates is a street corner by a red light or stop sign. Especially the street corners at the end of a highway's Off Ramp.

We have an infestation of Litter Bugs and they seem to have an urge to void themselves of all unwanted items after a drive on a highway by tossing them out the car window. From cigarette butts to water bottles and cups we see them piling up and clogging sewer grates.

cigarettes, cigarette butts, litter, litterbugs, pollution, garbage, water bottles, plastic

Cigarette Butt Litter

What these Litter Bugs don't realize is that everything you throw out your car window, even a piece of dental floss, will eventually find its way down the sewer and into our water ways. That means our rivers and oceans. If anyone has gone swimming and a long brownish-gray string came across your face, that is not seaweed, that was someone's used dental floss. More drastic is the fact that fish eat what is in the oceans that we polluted and we eat fish. We are our worst enemy.

Now, since I do not wish to "Be A Triple C" person, that is someone who Constantly Complains and Criticizes. I will also present solutions, because a Triple C person never accomplishes anything and they never help to find solutions or solve a problem. Sadly the majority of our politicians are Triple C people.

Nevertheless, we the individual are the solution and what we need to talk about with our townships is the installation of cameras at the various street corners that have a large volume of litter. The cameras should be relatively easy to move from one location to another when deemed appropriate and should be used to catch people tossing anything out their car windows. License plate numbers will be recorded and a summons mailed to the owner of the car. This money can then be used to clean the litter and our oceans. All without raising taxes.

Don't Be A Triple C and don't be a Litter Bug.

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!

Pool Cover Water

4/30/2019

Water, rain water, pool cover, swimming pools, pools, going green, sustainable living, Holy Name Society, lower water bills, save money, money saving ideas

Collected Rain Water

The other day at a Holy Name Society meeting, my friend Roger came over to share a water saving action he came up with before removing his pool's cover.

Roger grabbed my attention by telling me that he came up with a great idea and I would be proud of him. So much so, that I would do a Going True Green blog post on the subject. He was right, so below is his water saving idea.

For everyone who owns a swimming pool on their property or the roof of an apartment building and you have some cold months where you cover the pool, the following can occur: Rain water may accumulate on top of the cover and instead of letting the water spill onto the patio/walkway around or into the pool, siphon off the water for your garden. This rain water is perfect to use with a siphoning hose to water your plants coming up in a garden or flower bed.

Several gallons of water can be sitting on a pool cover, so this is an excellent way to save water and lower your water bills. Just another great action, we as individuals, can take towards being a solution and preventing any possible future environmental issues.

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!

Plastic Water, Air and Food

12/27/2017

Microplastic Fibers, Microplastic, plastic pollution, plastic in water, distillers, food chain, planktonic, pesticides, water treatment, water, food, SETAC, Prof. Kelly, Dr. Kirby, going green, sustainability, going true green

Microplastic Fibers

New studies and reports are now quantifying what has been a growing concern for many years.
Allow me to first present statements that are being considered facts today by many scientists:

We are drinking Plastic Fibers
We are breathing Plastic Fibers
We are eating Plastic Fibers

I am not trying to yell the sky is falling, but we have created a monster. For those of us who don’t eat meat or fish, grow some food, and have counter top water distillers, a sense of brief relief may arise. However, this is an ever growing interconnecting issue, that is rapidly becoming serious for the world. Mainly because we do not know what the end results will be for humankind, animals, and nature!

How we are eating plastic:
Our clothes have more synthetic materials today than any other natural material. That evening dress we will wear this New Year’s Eve, the fleece coat we will use when shoveling snow and our exercise clothes for those workouts. Polyester equals plastic. An analysis was done by Tecnon OrbiChem on the data showing chemical use worldwide. Polyester is the world’s mandated fiber since 2007.

We then wash our clothes. Microplastic fibers that can’t be seen, are washed down the drain. A recent study found each washing machine cycle could release 700,000 fibers.

Also don't forget plastic microbeads in facial scrub products! These plastic fibers end up in our waterways, our oceans, because Water Treatment plants are unable to catch all of them. Dr. Alice Wemaere, EPA Research Manager said, “Consumers can help by checking the product labels for cosmetics and cleaners to see if they are certify microplastic free."

Next these plastic fibers absorb things while in the water. Things like: Oil from spilt motor oil, Pesticides from spraying weeds, Drugs from discarded medicine pills, Bacteria from Sewage and Wastewater Treatment plants, Chemicals from just about anything that went down the street’s sewer drain. To summarize in one word… Toxins.

Microplastic Fibers, Microplastic, plastic pollution, plastic in water, distillers, food chain, planktonic, pesticides, water treatment, water, food, SETAC, Prof. Kelly, Dr. Kirby, going green, sustainability, going true green

Plastic Microfiber being ingested, Image by Dr. Kirby

Fish then eat these polluted plastic fibers and we eat the fish. Additionally, Plankton that support the entire marine food chain also eat plastic. The image shown is a still frame from a video done by Dr. Richard Kirby. The footage shows a 3mm long blue plastic microfiber being ingested by a planktonic arrow worm. This is our Food Chain and we may be hanging ourselves with that very chain.

We don’t recycle plastic well and an additional source of plastic for fish to eat also may come from, for example, 38 million pieces of plastic waste that washed up on the sands of an uninhabited South Pacific Island.

If Polyester is the mandated fiber, then the question is… Mandated by who?
Manufacturers, Profits, Consumers? We are all guilty.

How we are breathing plastic:
Studies done in 2015 by SETAC Europe (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry) told researchers that microplastic was atmospheric and offering substance to the old adage: The sky is falling. A minimum estimated of three tons of plastic fibers were being deposited each year onto the city of Paris. The question now is: By what means are these microplastic fibers getting into the air?

Professor Frank Kelly led research done in London and reported to the 2016 UK Parliamentary Inquiry the following:
“If we breathe them [microplastic] in, they could potentially deliver chemicals to the lower parts of our lungs and maybe even across into our circulation.”

How we are drinking plastic:
Plastic fibers have been found in our tap water around the world and I don’t mean a small sample. Plastic particles are found in 83% of the samples taken. The United States of America leads the way with the highest contamination rate at a staggering 94%. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found plastic fibers in the drinking water of their Headquarters and buildings used by Congress.

India and Lebanon came in second and third with the next highest rates. The UK, Germany and France had a 72% contamination rate. An independent study done in the Republic of Ireland by Dr. Anne Marie Mahon at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology also found microplastic particles in well water and tap water.

“We don’t know what the [health] impact is and for that reason we should follow the precautionary principle and put enough effort into it now, immediately, so we can find out what the real risks are,” said Dr. Mahon.

Another statement made by Dr. Mahon causing consternation was, “If the fibers are there, it is possible that the nanoparticles are there too that we can’t measure. Once they are in the nanometre range they can really penetrate a cell and that means they can penetrate organs, and that would be worrying.”

Compound that statement with microplastics absorbing bacteria found in sewage, because some studies have shown harmful pathogens on microplastic downstream from wastewater treatment plants, now the world's population has a bigger problem.

Beer, Germany Beer, Microplastic Fibers, Microplastic, plastic pollution, plastic in water, distillers, food chain, planktonic, pesticides, water treatment, water, food, SETAC, Prof. Kelly, Dr. Kirby, going green, sustainability, going true green

Plastic with your Beer?

We now know of several sources on how microplastics can arrive into our water. Water is used to make everything, even Beer. Studies in Germany found plastic fibers in all of the 24 beer brands they tested. They also found plastic in honey and sugar.

Therefore if we are drinking plastic polluted water, then so are the animals. We then consume the chickens, cows, turkeys and pigs.

We are our own worst enemy.

We have no idea what the long term results will be for babies, children, and adults, when we consume years of microplastics with toxins. How our organs, muscle tissues, and overall health will be altered is still a quagmire.

I teach Outdoor Education part time at BOCES. I tell my students that everything is connected and there are consequences to all our actions. Our world’s ecosystems are being suffocated by plastic as these fibers become ubiquitous in the world. We are risking adverse consequences, but as I also tell my students, “There is always another way.” The last pull-over shirt I received as a gift, was 70% cotton. Much better than a few years ago, but still not the same as my 100% cotton shirts, T-shirts and jeans.

God’s green earth is becoming a plastic earth. I am sorry to say that I can’t find a Happy New Year in that possible indomitable issue.

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

TELOMERE, by L. J. Williams "Telling The Untold Stories™ BBV Publishing

Solar Fountain & Eclipse

8/22/2017

Solar Eclipse, Eclipse 2017, 2017 Solar Eclipse, Saving money, save energy, solar, solar power, solar electric, solar powered water fountain, going green, sustainability, sustainable living, going true green

America's 2017 Solar E!

My Solar powered water fountain is another action I did so that I can be “going true green.” I improvised the construction with left over parts and pieces that all came together as a conglomerate, thus provoked the fountain’s name…

Then the American 2017 Solar Eclipse occurred slowly casting a shadow that decreased the output from the 10 watt solar panel. As crickets became pronounced in sound production with this false twilight, the babbling water in the fountain stopped. The event gave a realistic aura to my fountain named The Ruins of Pompeii.

So the moral to this story is… Well, just look into a Solar powered pump for your water fountain, if you have one. Make sure you recycle and reuse the same water running through the pump. A battery backup works fine for the cloudy days and evenings when you sit outside with family and friends. The benefits are numerous all around. My water fountain comes on every morning when the sun comes up and runs all day with Free electrical energy from our sun. If I had to pay an electric bill, then I guess I would only turn the fountain on for special occasions. With Solar, I can enjoy the sounds of running water from the fountain every time I step into my yard. Even when I am just outside to pick some carrots or a water melon. This is an excellent Going True Green action that saves money, energy, water, and our environment. All by just living a more sustainable life right in your own home. If we all did these actions, together we the people, will save more of everything compared to any corporate entity.

Solar Eclipse image and video above is Copyright © 2017 by BBV Publishing and can not be reused without written permission

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

Telomere, BBV Publishing, L. J. Williams, Telomeres, Cold Spring Harbor Lab, Hitler, living forever

TELOMERE, by L. J. Williams "Telling The Untold Stories™ BBV Publishing

Money & World Saving Workshop

8/29/2016

Announcing Our First Money and
World Saving Inter-Active On-Line Workshop!

This Workshop topic is WATER: H2O - Water, an element essential to life on this Earth.
COVERING:

Why we need to STOP buying water in plastic bottles!
How much money stopping can save!
How much drinkable water do we really have for survival?

Registration is now OPEN.

GOALS FOR THIS WORKSHOP:
Learn how to save Money, Health, Water and our World.

Learn about water pollutants; recycling and waste of plastic bottles; why buying bottled water pollutes the environment and wastes your money; healthier alternatives to bottled water; impact water bottles have on the environment

We have all polluted our waters, think about it:

Do you buy water in plastic bottles?
Have you ever dropped one piece of litter anywhere?
Have you ever used chemical fertilizer?
Do you use man made cleaners?
Do you use toilet paper that has a color?

Contaminated water and levels of toxins are more of a concern now then ever before. Why? Because we know more about what is in our water than ever before. Today's equipment is sensitive enough to detect very low levels of compounds and chemicals. Our concern is justified because the following traces of toxin have been recently found in our water: Ibuprofen, Naproxen, anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety drugs to name a few Pharmaceutical chemicals. We have already been aware of what may be in old pipes, such as in-organics leaching from rust, copper or lead. In addition, build ups of organics can create an estuary-like environment supporting the life of pathogens such as E.coli.

Unfortunately, issues do not stop there. Our underground drinking water tables are becoming low as more and more people pump water out of the ground and there really isn't an equal amount of RECHARGE back into the ground anymore. Now let us build another "parking lot" and pave over more ground with an end result of more polluted Recharge of water into our Waterways.
Our underground drinking water tables are also infiltrated day after day with:

Acid Rain derived from air pollution
Toxic Waste from land fills
Chemical spills from Industry
Salt water from oceans near our shores
Gasoline from old leaking tanks at closed down gas stations
Nitrates, Pesticides, and Fertilizers from farms
Chlorine and Fluoride from Municipal Water Treatment
Human waste from individual houses with Septic tanks

Because of all of this, along comes Bottled Water. Yea! Isn't it amazing what some people will pay!
THE SOLUTION IS NOT BOTTLED WATER… THE SOLUTION IS US AND THE KNOWLEDGE WE SHARE!
TAKE OUR WATER WORKSHOP, IF NOT FOR YOURSELF OR THE WORLD, AT LEAST FOR YOUR GREAT GRAND KIDS. Registration is now OPEN.

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

Telomeres, Telomere, Cold Spring Harbor National Lab, L.J. Williams, fountain of youth, live forever

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

Waterless Lawns

7/26/2016

Water, Drought, Southern California drought, California drought, water shortages, Los Angeles, saving water, rain barrels, rock gardens, waterless lawns

A Waterless Lawn

Several GoingTrueGreen.com followers have been asking me about the wave hitting the West Coast to combat the water drought in Southern California. That wave of improvisation is known as Waterless Rock Gardens or Rock Lawns. After all, to use clean fresh drinking water for your grass lawn just doesn't make sense in a severe drought. At least this makes sense to all the households in Los Angeles where income doesn't afford watering lawns. Those lawns are now all brown.

The reason for not watering is because there isn't enough water. Yet, if that isn't reason enough, there are higher water costs and fines to endure. For the average and low income families, that is all understood. However, in towns such as Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills, and Bel Air, those lawns have been "green" the longest according to local news papers. Some of the very people maintaining lush green lawns for as long as they can in this devastating drought, are financially secured celebrities that many low income kids look up to. Some reports have claimed that well known and very vocal environment friendly celebs, are the most heinous offenders! Only after being identified and embarrassed did they take steps to save clean drinking water.

Water, Drought, Southern California drought, California drought, water shortages, Los Angeles, saving water, rain barrels, rock gardens, waterless lawns, rain barrels, rain rocks

Rain Barrel

Now taking steps to save water was made very easy by the state and cities of California. Four years ago they offered lawn owners $1.50 per square foot to replace your lawn. These tax credits had Los Angeles homeowners, along with commercial businesses, pulling out a million and a half square feet of grass. The grass has been replaced with rocks, vines, trees, shrubs, gravel, cacti, succulents, and perennial plants. Homeowners earned even more money from the utilities if they used drip irrigation, weather over-ride systems, and eco-friendly sprinkler heads. I even suggest catching rain water off your roof with Rain Barrels. For more of my blogs on this subject visit More Garden, Less Lawn.

Recently the L.A.'s DWP, Department of Water and Power, increased the amount from $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot for grass removed so even more water can be saved. At that rebate price, some land owners could make one or two thousand dollars. However, before you run out to buy rocks and tear up your lawn, you have to follow set rules. You can find details on your local town or city website. Such as the LADWP, (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power), website for how to get pre-approval to present before and after proof. Without following the rules for proposed changes, you may not receive any rebate or tax credit.

All of us must take water saving steps, drought or no drought. The reasons are many and one is because clean drinking water has already become hard to find in many places around the world. A topic that I address in my first Online Workshop which is about WATER.

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

Telomere, Telomeres, L.J. Williams, BBV Publishing, Hitler, Cold Spring Harbor Lab

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

Solution For Flint's Water

2/3/2016

Flint, Flint Michigan, water, lead, domestic water, water filters, water distiller,

Solution for Flint's Water

I find the lack of teamwork to deal with the polluted drinking water of Flint Michigan, appalling. Below is the IMMEDIATE Solution for the people of Flint and their domestic water poisoned with lead. When you work as one team with everyone, you get solutions.

The immediate solution is a countertop Water Distiller in every household. The solution is NOT water faucet filters or handing out water in plastic bottles. Filters do not get all the lead out and they don't fit on old style faucets. A tremendous thank you must go out to plumbers of the United Association who donated their time to install new faucets donated by Plumbing Manufacturers International in many Flint homes. Nevertheless, the filters distributed by the State of Michigan, can filter out about 150 parts per billion of lead. Some reports claimed levels of lead in some houses to be as high as 4,000 parts per billion. A filter system is not designed to deal with those high numbers. Additionally, I would strongly recommend changing those filters every 3 weeks, perhaps sooner. Then you have the costs for replacement filters, which add up fast.

Water in plastic bottles is the biggest "bill of goods" pulled over the American people in our entire history of being a country. Also handing out plastic water bottles to the people of Flint is adding insult to injury. Visit and learn the details about these shocking numbers at my EnergyHotwire website.

Here are the parameters to the immediate solution of countertop Water Distillers in every household:
About 42,000 Households in Flint
About $200.00 for each Countertop Water Distiller, delivered and installed with a demonstration for use and cleaning
About $8,400,000.00 dollars to implement and American households will help solve this price tag with one nickel.

Flint, Flint Michigan, water, lead, domestic water, water filters, water distiller, going green, saving flint,

Countertop Distiller

What was looked upon as a way to save money by taking water from the Flint River is now going to cost millions. However, I know each Household in America will be happy to help and allow FIVE Cents more go to our Federal Taxes this year. This will be only for this year and only if we were to know for sure that our nickels will go ONLY towards buying the water distillers for each Flint home.

Flint, Flint Michigan, water, lead, domestic water, water filters, water distiller, going green, saving flint

Crap in all Water

The Water Distillers should be used until Flint's eroded lead pipes are replaced and then continue using the distillers because money and health is saved. I have been distilling my water for 27 years. If you want to know all the facts behind always using distilled water, use the Links provided to my EnergyHotwire Section.

The only issue left for this immediate solution is for us to help get this post to the ears of the media so they can get all our political leaders to hear and implement this solution. Thank you.

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

Ice Stupa Equals Ingenuity

9/10/2015

Ice, Ice stupa, ingenuity, himalayan, himalayan mountains, water, snow melt, ladakh, humankind, glacier, artificial glacier, india, pheyang monastery

Ice Stupa About 200 Feet Tall

You may first ask, "Where and what in the world is an Ice Stupa?" Ice Stupa first demonstrates Humankind's ingenuity. Then the definition grows from Stupa, which is the name of a tower by a Himalayan temple, to an artificial glacier created by humans. Thus, the location: Ladakh. A mountain desert in the Himalayan mountains with villages in the highest northern reaches of India.

Ice, Ice stupa, ingenuity, himalayan, himalayan mountains, water, snow melt, ladakh, humankind, glacier, artificial glacier, india, pheyang monastery

View of Melting Glacier From Space

All human life in this area of altitudes from 8,000 feet and higher are centered around glacial streams. Temperatures in the winter will drop to 86 degrees below zero and diverting water from the streams is necessary to support all life. Canals are built to send water toward deserts so food can be grown, but acute shortages of water happen almost every April and May. Then flash flooding starts when the snow melts in the mountains causing much of the water to flow into the Indus river after the farming season has ended. That is greatly needed water for the start of the next planting season. In addition, Climate Change has caused the glaciers to decrease in size, only to provide less water over all.

Ice, Ice stupa, ingenuity, himalayan, himalayan mountains, water, snow melt, ladakh, humankind, glacier, artificial glacier, india, pheyang monastery

Water Supplied to Farms from Ice Stupa

However, over the past two years experiments at the Pheyang Monastery by SECMOL Institute have created artificial glaciers called Ice Stupas. They are created by a series of pipes that send the melting mountain waters into the air to freeze. Within a short period of time a mountain of ice grows into a storage area of water that would have otherwise been lost. This frozen water in the shape of an ice mountain then melts to supply the farms with water when they need the life giving liquid the most. Human ingenuity!

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