Doonesbury Weeklong series on the Banning of Clotheslines by 35,000 Home Owner Associations in California.
With permission of Doonesbury.com

view the rest of the series at Doonesbury.com - direct linked below.

Day 3 inforcing the 'rules'
Day 4, property values
Day 5- the concerned neighbor
Day 6 bylaws & threats

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What's the hang-up? Clotheslines save energy and money, but they are considered unsightly by some and banned in many areas. Rising electricity rates have prompted Stacey Swett to seriously consider taking a step she finds somewhat distasteful: hanging a clothesline in her back yard. "I don't really like the looks of them, but you have to get past that; we have a huge issue here with our SMUD bill," Swett said. [Right photo: Leo Rainer hangs laundry in the back yard of his Davis home. An employee of Davis Energy Group, which designs energy-efficient systems for homes and businesses. Rainer is a firm believer in the simple, venerable - and in many neighborhoods - banned clothesline.]

The California Energy Commission touts clotheslines as a nearly cost-free way to conserve electricity. Statewide, clothes dryers burn about 1,000 megawatts of electricity on a hot summer day, which could be enough to avert a blackout on days when state power supplies are tight. An electric dryer costs about $130 a year to run. A retractable clothesline will set you back about $14.99....more. Mary Lynne Vellinga in Sacramento Bee 2001.05.21