Pro-environmental characteristics of urban co-housing communities

Abstract

A great part of the current ecological and social crisis is caused by the socio–economic structure of the mainstream urban society in industrialised countries. This crisis has to be faced with, thus solutions on how we should change this society should be searched for. Alternatively, more ecological, healthy behaviour and lifestyles are offered for urban residents by intentional small communities. Thus, some potential solutions that lead to decreased negative environmental impact of cities might be included. This article investigates the environmental impact of urban cohousing communities. Pro-environmental characteristics that reduce the negative environmental impact of cohousing communities are also examined. The article also explores the factors and processes these pro-environmental characteristics are created by. According to the findings of this study, urban cohousing communities tend to have less negative environmental impact than conventional urban housing options. All of the indicators for ecological footprint calculations show reduced need for energy and material consumption. Many of these pro-environmental characteristics are derived from four out of the six common characteristics of cohousing communities. Thus, they might be less harmful than conventional urban lifestyle even without strong ecological consciousness of residents.

Published in

Geographical Locality Studies
2015, Volume: 3, number: 1, pages: 490 - 529

UKÄ Subject classification

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
Environmental Sciences


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84684