101. Paint the roof white.

Paint the town red

Paint the roof white

Paint the dress blue…and black (...or is it white and gold?)

If we’re gonna paint the roof white (or any color), let’s make it worthwhile. We’re going to paint it not only white, but white with a white scenery to include the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man dancing with Snow White while listening to Jack Black… uh, but singing Berry White and the White Stripes. 

We will also paint a few white airline logos on our roof too (to see if we can get airline pilots to honk… like 18-wheeler drivers).

To help you “paint the roof white’’, here’s a simple 2-step process:

1. Get a ladder, an easel and some paint. No. A larger ladder.
2. Uh… maybe just start practice painting by painting white happy little clouds.

Your Future You looks back on today and sees things with utmost certainty - things are pretty much  black and white.  So with great trepidation, without giving too much about the future away, your Future You told us, they have a ‘friend’ that ‘painted the roof white’ without proper protection, and ended up black and blue - (NOT gold and white).  

P.S. - It’s been reported that Corporate Housing Companies help ‘paint the roof white’’ by making sure our furnished properties blend natural colors in our monthly rentals - even white roofs!.  But after the dress color fiasco, we're not sure spending a lot of time choosing roof matching color pallets matter all that much. For that matter, why stop at the roof? We’re in Washington DC, so we can start by painting the roof white then continue that color on down to the ground… so you live in your own version of the White House. (Gingerly insert playful Political poke here)  

Why does this ‘Future You’ Series exist? What’s it about? 

1. Promote easy, quirky sustainable practices that are NOT preachy, or guilt-ridden and without a focus on the ‘saving the planet’ (hint: the planet will survive…) 

2. A playful post of simple ways to improve our lives, and the lives of those we love. Also improve our future lives… by taking fun action steps today. 

3. Still reading? Cool. We think you’re amazing and full of joyful zest. 

This series is based off ‘105 Simple Sustainable actions’ - from Stephane Omsanski’s article in Parade from 2021.

https://parade.com/1300935/stephanieosmanski/ways-reduce-carbon-emissions/

101. Paint the roof white.

Similar in practice to a "cool roof," simply painting your roof white makes your home cooler during the hotter months. In fact, cities or towns with painted roofs could have as much of a carbon dioxide offset as 130 to 150 billion tonnes.