Dear Jared:
How have you been doing? Still svelte? It's been awhile since you were a constant presence on our TVs with your tale of how a two Subway subs-a-day diet helped you lose a whopping
245 pounds. The exercise you added to your daily routine didn't hurt either. You were an inspiration to millions of overweight Americans. In fact, Subway says that thousands of people wrote the
company to tell of their weight loss, with a total loss of 160,000 pounds. The company's site informs us that this is equal to 10,000 marching band tubas!
I hear that you continue speaking
on Subway's behalf. Jared, you're also quite a mensch. Rumor has it that you started the Jared Foundation to combat childhood obesity. Very nice.
A modest
proposal
Life's been pretty good to you and you've certainly given back. Also, I know Subway still keeps you busy traveling 200 days a year but if you have some spare time, it
would be great if you could help the environment, too. I know, asking one man to tackle obesity and our environmental problems is a tall order but you're a natural. I see that you try to eat
organic produce when you can. In addition, your employer has a sustainability program called "Eat Fresh. Live Green." So you have at least dipped a toe into the sustainable living pool.
Why you? "I'm the obesity guy, not the green guy," you might protest. No, Jared you're Every Guy. We relate to you. If you committed to a green lifestyle, think of the
possibilities. Maybe we'd get off our fossil fuel-burning butts like when you made us put down our boxes of Krispy Kremes and get out of our Barcaloungers a decade ago.
Picture
this
You turn your home green with the help of several green product manufacturers. From your house's paint to its flooring to the food in your refrigerator, low-impact choices
will be everywhere. These companies get free advertising and you get some wonderful gifts for your impending nuptials. However, your going green isn't going to be enough by itself to get the rest
of us to take the plunge. You have to show us the benefits. When you restricted your diet to Subway subs and lost all that weight, the potential benefit of eating Subway subs was made clear even if,
mathematically, a sample of one means squat.
This is definitely going to be a bigger challenge. There will be no irrefutable before-and-after pictures you can produce to show the benefits of
going green. How about a before-and-after estimate of your home's carbon footprint?
However, there might be health benefits that you can document such as keeping your weight off with all
the organic produce you're eating. Also, maybe you and your future wife will have fewer respiratory problems from the lack of paints containing volatile organic compounds and the use of less toxic
cleaning products. Keep a journal and see if you notice any other positive health effects of going green.
And let's talk money. Alright, you're getting all these green goodies for
free; so rebates and tax breaks may not be in the offing for you. However, you should see your utility bills go down and you may be able to spend less time and money maintaining your home. When it
comes time to resell your home, you should be able to fetch a higher price for it. And let's not forget those sponsoring companies that might be eager to pay you to work your PR magic for their
products.
Besides being healthier and more budget-friendly, a green home may also be more comfortable since heating and cooling will be better distributed throughout the house. And have you
seen some of these green buildings? They are pretty easy on the eyes, too.
And then there are the intangible benefits to your psyche. Perhaps you'll feel the satisfaction that comes from
doing your part to lessen your impact on the environment. And the patriot in you might get a kick from denying revenues to nations that produce both oil and a hatred of the U.S.
Will all this
lead to a happier, healthier, more fulfilled Jared? Just maybe. What have you got to lose?
All the best, Jeff