Project Laundry List — The Right To Dry

by Katy on August 10, 2008 · 5 comments

 

What’s the newest trend in home energy conservation?

Hang drying your laundry.

I’ve written about my own backyard solar clothes dryer here and here.

This issue is BIG, BIG, BIG right now.

People all over are looking for ways to incorporate green living techniques while saving money. And clotheslines are a great way to decrease one’s energy usage without a huge outlay of cash that many techniques require. (I would certainly love to have the roof crusted with solar panels, but that’s not exactly in our current budget.)

Unfortunately, many people are forbidden from hang drying their laundry by homeowner associations (HOA’s).

But a few states have been passing laws that forbid these restrictions.

To learn more about clothesline issues and The Right To Dry movement, make sure to check out:

Project Laundry List

A great website with all kinds of great information.

Maybe you’ll even save enough money to get that massive solar array.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Howling Hill August 12, 2008 at 3:13 pm

My electric bill is down at least $30 every month due to me using a line in the summer and racks in the winter.

Reply

Martin Mador August 12, 2008 at 3:40 pm

I’m the Legislative Chair for Sierra in Connecticut. I ran a bill to allow clotheslines last year, which failed, and will introduce a bill again next session. Anyone living in CT interested in helping, such as submitting a paragraph of testimony in support for the committee hearing, should contact me.
martin.mador@aya.yale.edu

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Jen M. August 13, 2008 at 6:21 am

We also had legislation in Maryland that went nowhere. I asked my delegate why, and he cited HOAs. I wrote him back and asked why they are allowed to have so much power.

No response.

I hope that Maryland will try again.

Reply

veganverve August 19, 2008 at 12:32 am

I had NO idea HOAs even restricted hanging laundry out to dry! HOAs frequently have such ridiculous “rules” that no one should have to follow. Yet another example of power going to someone’s head. I would refuse to live somewhere where I couldn’t hang laundry to dry outside! It’d drive me crazy! I really enjoy your blog and all the info you provide!

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Penny October 2, 2008 at 5:05 am

It’s really bizarre to me that people would even consider using them in good weather. Even here in Australia (where it is sunny and warm a good amount of the time) people have them.

I can’t believe that some local governments (I’m guessing that is what a homeowners association is like) would not allow them? No wonder the US has such huge power and pollution problems!

I can’t quite understand what their problem could be though – is it that they think a washing line does not look attractive? Are they looking over your back fence to see what you are doing in the privacy of your own yard? Do they have nothing better to do with their time? 🙂

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