When most people think about traditional ways of living, the first thing that comes to mind is having your own personal house.
This type of lifestyle has a lot of benefits, such as providing privacy and giving you a sense of ownership. However, there are also a lot of drawbacks to owning a house, such as the high cost and the amount of time and energy it takes to maintain it.
Chances are, you’re already familiar with those downsides of homeownership, but there are also environmental costs to our system of individual property ownership, and we rarely discuss them.
Increased habitat disruption, the increased use of resource-intensive materials like asphalt shingles and concrete and increased energy use are just some of prices we pay in a system where it’s considered ideal for every family to have their own separate house.
In fact, one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint is by co-living.
What is Co-Living?
Co-living is when a group of people live together in a single housing unit, often sharing common spaces like kitchens and living rooms. Not only does this reduce the amount of energy you use on a daily basis, but it also cuts down on waste.
Co-living is a new way of living that is gaining in popularity because it offers many of the same benefits as owning your own house, but without the drawbacks.
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Co-living spaces are designed to be communal, which means that you’ll have access to shared amenities like a kitchen, laundry room and garden. This can drastically reduce your carbon footprint because you won’t have to use as many resources to maintain your own space.
Living in a co-living space can help to reduce your carbon footprint because it cuts down on the amount of resources you use on a daily basis.
On average, Canadians produce about 4.1 tonnes of CO2 emissions per person every year. This number can vary depending on your lifestyle and the type of energy you use. CO2 emissions are one of the main contributors to climate change, so it’s important to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint.
How Co-Living Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Co-living cuts down on the building materials required to house people, lowering the embodied energy associated with your home. Building waste is similarly reduced.
When that home features sustainable building materials, like furnishings that are biodegradable and that can be recycled, a home’s footprint is lowered even more. Linen curtains are a good choice, for example, because they are durable and can be recycled at the end of their long lifespan.
Co-living also cuts down on the amount of energy you use on a daily basis. By sharing common spaces like kitchens and living rooms, you can save a lot of energy that would otherwise be used to maintain your own space.
More people in the common spaces means less energy required per capita to keep lights and other electronic devices like televisions on. Sharing a kitchen means you will use less electricity running the fridge (and maybe the oven, if you plan to cook meals at the same time) and the food will less likely go to waste.
Usually, people in co-living spaces are also more respectful towards others by doing small things like taking shorter showers, reminding each other to always unplug electronic devices when not in use and switching off the lights when it’s daytime.
An added benefit of co-living is that it can help you save money. Because you’ll be sharing costs with other people, you’ll be able to reduce your living expenses significantly. This is especially beneficial for students or young professionals who are just starting out and don’t have a lot of disposable income.
Tips for a Happy Co-Living Space
People are often hesitant to co-live because they think it will be cramped or uncomfortable. But this doesn’t have to be the case. There are plenty of co-living spaces that are designed for comfort and privacy.
And if you’re not ready to move in with a bunch of strangers, you can always start off by co-living with friends or family.
In Canada’s inexcusably expensive housing market, it’s becoming more common to purchase a home with friends and family and when you do that, you can build/renovate a space to fit everyone’s needs. If you’re following Canada’s housing market trends in general, “Tiny Home Village Provides Solutions for Kingston Veterans” may also be an interesting read.
For those people who are thinking about making the switch to co-living, here are a few tips to help you make the transition:
1. Start off by co-living with friends or family. This will help you get used to the idea of living in a communal space.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Co-living might be a new experience for you, so don’t be afraid to ask your roommates or the housing coordinator questions about how things work.
3. Be respectful of your roommates. Co-living requires cooperation and respect for others, so make sure you are respectful of your roommates’ space and belongings.
4. Be mindful of your energy use. Co-living spaces can be more energy-efficient than traditional homes, but it’s still important to be mindful of your energy use. Try to avoid leaving appliances on when you’re not using them and unplug electronics when they’re not in use.
5. Get involved in the community. Co-living spaces are often designed for socializing and networking, so take advantage of the opportunities to get to know your neighbours. This can help you make friends and build a support network.
So if you’re looking for a way to live more sustainably, co-living is definitely worth considering. And who knows, it might just become your new favourite way of life! Before you make your move, though, we recommend that you check out A Guide to Sustainable Moving From Start to Finish so you can make the moving process as eco-friendly as possible.
Feature image: RODNAE Productions; Image 1: cottonbro
