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Let the Sun Shine In: If line drying clothes is bad for GDP, we need a new measure of success

Dawn Wolfe | Thursday 20th August 2009

To create the new, we must incessantly destroy the old. Or so goes the theory of creative destruction and "industrial mutation" held up by Joseph Schumpeter over 65 years ago.

Earlier this month, the op-ed pages of the New York Times contemplated the application of "creative destruction" to our current economic environment, arguing that the imperfections of GDP as a measure of wealth are significant enough to warrant tossing the revered indicator onto the "dust heap of history" alongside VCRs and horse drawn carriages. Amen.

Policy makers and those that swirl around them wait anxiously for news about GDP and give a disproportionate amount of weight to what its fractional movements in either direction indicate about the state of our country and our prospects. But what is missing from this myopic GDP picture? How we use our natural environment, for one. As Eric Zencey put it in his recent editorial, GDP does not "include the huge economic benefit that we get directly, outside of any market, from nature. A mundane example: If you let the sun dry your clothes, the service is free and doesn't show up in our domestic product; if you throw your laundry in the dryer, you burn fossil fuel, increase your carbon footprint, make the economy more unsustainable and give G.D.P. a bit of a bump." From this perspective, GDP is the antithesis of sustainable finance. Clothes dryers do not embody the true meaning of prosperity, but are a foundational element in how we measure it. Reliance on GDP growth as the key measure of our collective success is steering us down the wrong path.

I remember years ago reading an article about Amory Lovins, one of the most pragmatic environmental problem solvers of our age, and the author's contextual description of Amory checking the jeans he left to dry in his cold Colorado laundry room to see if they were yet free of moisture. Amory Lovins is known, among many things, for growing bananas in the frigid Rocky Mountains without energy sucking heat lamps. He has re-engineered industrial processes and saved companies millions of dollars while dramatically reducing their environmental impact. The description of Amorychecking his clothes line made me realize that his gift is in identifying and executing the obvious solution we are often too preoccupied to notice ourselves.

Much is possible, and even clear, if we can motivate to act. So, my good work for the week is to put up the clothes line I've been thinking about since I moved into a space that will accommodate it. G.D.P R.I.P indeed.

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Dawn Wolfe | Posted: 31 August 2009

Thanks for the tip Carolyn!

Carolyn B | Posted: 31 August 2009

'Here, here, Dawn. Dryers use 10 to 15% of domestic energy in the United States!

You (and your followers) will appreciate Project Laundry List, advocating for more clotheslines and acceptance of clotheslines in the US.

Dawn Wolfe | Posted: 31 August 2009

Way to go Clemens! I just returned from vacation and was excited to get my clothes line up this weekend. Unfortunately a tropical depression and 4 inches of rain set back my plans a bit, but it will go up in the next few days.

Dawn Wolfe | Posted: 31 August 2009

Excellent point David. There are also efforts underway in India (and a previously failed effort in China) to account for environmental externalities in GDP calculation. These are encouraging signs. I will definitely check out the GPI!

Dawn Wolfe | Posted: 31 August 2009

Recycle Bill--thanks for the comment! Consumption of "novelty" items and the urge to constantly replace useful items with newer ones will feed your business for some time I'm afraid. What type of recycling are you in?

David Jaber | Posted: 27 August 2009

Regarding GDP, attempts to better account for human activity and create an indicator where higher really is better include the GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator) developed by Redefining Progress http://(www.rprogress.org) .

In general, we need to be very careful about the indicators we use to gauge progress and guide action and toward goals. Choice of indicator means that we believe the indicator is an accurate gauge for progress or health. And inappropriate indicators drive inappropriate action. Let%u2019s say your goal is to restore a river. One indicator you could use is the number of fish in the river. An action you could take to try to improve the indicator is merely stock the river with fish. That doesn%u2019t mean you have restored the river and brought about aquatic health. Choosing an indicator such as the pollution levels found in fish could drive drastically different action %u2013 restoring riparian zones, installing water pollution controls, etc.

Recycle Bill | Posted: 25 August 2009

As one who earns his living in the recycling industry I can only agree that "creative destruction" simply doesn't work. My business should be the last stop, not the first.

Clemens Kownatzki | Posted: 20 August 2009

Bravo, excellent thoughts and ditto on the clothes line. We have been using our "solar powered" clothes dryer for years and pretty much all year round (we're fortunate to live in So. California). The concept though is simple but brilliant. There are many resources out there laying waste and we can all use them.