NOWHERE DRYER

The average American household that get its electricity from a coal-fired power plant burns an average of 78 lbs of coal in an average month of laundry-drying using an electric clothes dryer. In the Big Bend region of far west Texas there are an average of 281 sunny days per year. The NOWHERE DRYER project is aimed at raising awareness of the inefficiency of electric driers, and inspiring local residents to take pride in, and have fun with, using an old-fashioned clothesline. Line-drying has become a lost art in a society that values speed and (so-called) aesthetics over energy efficiency and saving money. NOWHERE DRYER seeks to revive the lost art of the clothesline, and to use 10.10.2010 as a regional day to celebrate our dry climate and its ability help us to conserve resources and save money.

RESULTS

In order to slow or even reverse climate change, the first step is to reduce pollution – the root cause of stress to the environment. While climate legislation would go a long way towards shifting our culture towards one of reduced waste and increased efficiency, the power of personal action is too often underrated. The ability of every individual to simply choose to use less is the most accessible, cheap, and immediate “green technology” available! Every kilowatt not burned reduces carbon emissions. And the sense of physical and emotional satisfaction that comes along with making small shifts, such as riding a bicycle, shopping locally, eating a more vegetable-based diet, and hanging laundry out to dry is a less tangible but equally important aspect of the grassroots resources conservation movement – one that has the power help our society to quickly become healthier and more sustainable.
The NOWHERE DRYER campaign will be a success when more people in our dry high desert community become reacquainted with the beauty and efficiency of a simple “Solar Powered Laundry Drying Apparatus” – a length of cotton rope and a few clothespins. Our ultimate goal will be to establish a permanent public clothes-drying area where those such as apartment dwellers and university students can proudly show their support of the environment by airing their wash in a community environment.
TIMELINE

We will begin publicity on the NOWHERE DRYER campaign immediately, contacting local newspapers and radio stations, hanging fliers in local establishments, employing social networks, and recruiting the local university campus to become involved. We will establish a blog and flickr site for the event and invite prospective participants to upload images of their clotheslines. We will encourage local businesses to join in the festivities by designing window displays dedicated to the 10.10.2010 NOWHERE DRYER day of action.

COMMUNITY

The NOWHERE DRIER target region lies near the Texas/Mexico border and the Big Bend National Park, and includes the three towns of Marfa, Fort Davis, and Alpine. Our community is culturally and socially diverse, consisting of individuals from a range of backgrounds and varying political and religious views, including a large Hispanic population, lots of artists, border patrol agents, teachers, ranchers, and social and political activists. The NOWHERE DRYER action would be an all-inclusive event – we would welcome and seek to include all who believe that small personal shifts can lead to dramatic positive impact on our culture and our environment. Together we can make a difference – we ARE the greenest technology available!

Please join our Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143670872317784&ref=mf#!/event.php?eid=145484985470650&ref=mf

For those NOT in the Big Bend region who would like to participate, please visit the Miraculous Clothesline Revival page on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143670872317784&ref=mf