Condos and PUD's are a form of home ownership that indirectly promotes energy conservation, because the population densities of condo complexes are greater than neighborhoods having only conventional, single-family houses. For an urban population of a given size, greater density means reduced transportation fuel use for commuters. Moreover sharing one or two walls with one's neighbors can decrease the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling.

However condo homeowners associations (HOA's) are a different story. Board members have a fiduciary responsibility towards the homeowners that they serve. A part of that responsibility is taking reasonable measures to maintain property values. Example: repainting the units when needed.

It is fairly standard for CC&R's to prohibit clotheslines in patios, because they don't look nice. A condo complex with clotheslines would probably have marginally lower property values than an otherwise similar complex that prohibits clotheslines.

Prohibiting clotheslines means that people will be using energy-inefficient tumble dryers during the Summer months. It is not the fault of the board members; they are just doing their jobs. They are caught up in an informal, low-intensity conflict with other HOA's.

A federal or state law that gives homeowners in all condo complexes the right to use clotheslines in patios could save a little energy, without spending any tax dollars.