The increasingly popular fad of going green is basking in the sun.
Across the country, more and more people are line-drying their laundry in an attempt to save money and the environment. Many thoughtful Americans, including college students, drape lines across their backyards or balconies and use the sun to dry their laundry instead of the electric muscle of their dryer. Though this movement is not without its critics, line-drying is a worthwhile process for anyone concerned about cutting energy use.
According to a 2001 report by the Department of Energy, electric dryers account for 5.8 percent of the total electricity usage in U.S. homes ““ an alarming figure when one considers that all indoor and outdoor lighting comprise only 8.8 percent. According to Web sites such as laundrylist.org, line drying makes clothes last longer due to averting any lost lint, and sunlight conveniently doubles as the ideal bleach. A Web site devoted to the practice, linedryit.com, features smiling celebrities affirming air-drying as a powerful way to decrease your carbon footprint.
Rachel Bilson from “The O.C.” said, “Line drying is great for your clothes and for the environment,” while “Brothers and Sisters” star Matt Rhys added, “Hang out your clothes to dry, not the planet.”
Though they love the concept of line-drying, environmental conservatives admit that getting the majority of people jazzed about this revolution is no easy task. Indeed, line-drying can be seen as inconvenient to many people, especially to students living in the dorms. Few students living in triples in residence halls choose plastering their entire room with wet T-shirts and boxers over paying the four quarters for the dryer. But if there’s space, air-drying is a wonderful habit to start. Even without much room, anyone can utilize a drying rack for valuable clothing and other personal items. (Indoor drying can work wonders as a humidifier, by the way.)
The only downside to line-drying is the mildly unaesthetic appearance, which irritates neighbors of line dryers who object to this unsightly process. Miles Maassen, a third-year physiological science student, attempted to line dry outside of his apartment earlier this year when he encountered opposition.
“From my balcony, I tied my 20-foot ethernet cord between two palm trees in front of my apartment and started draping all my clothes in the sun. I was greeted later that afternoon with partially dried clothes and a note on the front door from a displeased landlady saying it reflected poorly on the apartment and is public space,” Maassen said.
Though the benefits of line-drying trump the moderately unattractive image, some remain offended by the practice.
Peter Kappen, a fourth-year history student, lives next to Maassen and said he wasn’t impressed by the line-drying attempt.
“When I saw the clothes hanging there, I couldn’t believe someone was cheap enough to hang their whole wardrobe out in front of their apartment. I understand that you might be saving money, but I don’t want your wet underwear dripping on me as I walk by,” Kappen said.
Despite these concerns, there’s no reason why mindful line-drying shouldn’t become a universal practice. Many environmental activists and conscientious moms agree, and they are zealously encouraging America to hang up their laundry.
One Web site, Right2dry.org, has collected nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition that urges the Obama family to line dry their clothing on the White House lawn during a photo-op, all in the name of “regaining energy independence.” This unlikely event becomes more likely as an increasing amount of focus is directed toward “sustainable” government buildings and “economically friendly” policies.
Eliminating 6 percent of all household energy is a worthwhile ambition that will result in a significant difference.
Whether you’re like me and air drying simply because it’s economical or you want to reduce your environmental impact, this increasingly popular practice is positively changing the future.
If you’re interested in the art of line drying, contact Pearring at spearring@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.