How coliving spaces (if done right) can be some of the most sustainable living environments around

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

​Let’s get things straight coliving and coworking spaces, like all spaces, hotels and homes can have their physical ecological disadvantages and each one along with the supply and travel chains connecting it should be considered and encouraged to transition individually. Coliving and coworking spaces might use more power in regards to laptops and wifi, but they may also save and offset and encourage positive change in even more intangible but equally significant ways. Let’s discuss…

Community feeling.

A community feeling can help with loneliness and social anxieties vs. solo living that's been glorified for the past few decades. A group setting can help to increase life satisfaction and rewarding experiences. Harvard conducted the longest ever study to determine what leads to a joyful and rewarding life and the answer was surprisingly simple.

“Harvard study, almost 80 years old, has proved that embracing community helps us live longer, and be happier”

Meaningful relationships and community are key then. Of course coliving doesn't necessarily equate to meaningful relationships or a community if you haven’t given yourself time to also establish a meaningful relationship with yourself it can also be a way of avoiding that task so a balance unique to every individual needs to be struck here.

Why is community and happiness important for the planet?

Well, when we’re happier and more engaged we’re less likely to consume our way out of anxiety or boredom. We’re more likely to live a more minimal lifestyle and put a priority on relationships with other people. We’re also more likely to be aware and open to being influenced to changing our lifestyles and habits as we have the base level satisfaction, peace and happiness to be able to understand there is more to life than just us. That almost inevitably leads to more conversations about important topics in society and contributing towards those in a meaningful way. 

How shared spaces can reduce impacts on the environment.

• Reduction in energy required for cooling and heating vs the same number of people living in separate properties.
• No need to do a daily commute to work, just a walk up and down the stairs or to another room, so we save there.
• It reduces our load on the environment as shared living encourages housing to be more efficient rather than large individual homes or our own flats with their own appliances and heating/cooling systems.
• It can help connect us to nature if we work mindfully and determine our own hours and routines. We are more likely to go out and enjoy nature for a surf or a walk or hike or run or an explore if we don't have to be sat in an office for the majority of the day. We can work more efficiently, live cheaply and enjoy nature and each other.

What can individuals using coliving spaces do to reduce their impact on the environment?

• Be vocal and offer tips on how locations could improve sustainability practices along with offering a helping hand to set up a program if they notice something that could be improved.
• Slow travel.
• Travel sustainably (fly less)
• Eat local.
• Discuss with other guests in a kind way how we can all raise our sustainability game.
• Fund laptops driven by circular economy https://circularcomputing.com/
• Learn about circular economy practices and supply chains 

How can our coworksurf partners work towards more sustainability?

• Proactively encourage community and discussions around these topics
• Encourage vocal and shared innovation and creative approaches to these issues
• Organize nature walks, beach clean ups and other incentives on top of surfing that encourage a link to nature
• Assist guests to becoming zero waste during their stays
• Point guests to local stores offering 0 waste products
• Encourage guests to reduce their energy usage at the locations
• Energy efficient appliances
• 100% renewable energy sources used within the locations
• Longer minimum stay lengths
• Links to locally grown produce 
• Create their own fruit and vegetable gardens

What are we doing as a company?

• Being kind to ourselves during this process because we know it takes time
• Recognising that changes starts from within so encouraging that as a primary focus
• Learning about sustainability and living sustainably
• Learning about permaculture, biodiversity and the environment
• Consuming less unnecessary products ourselves
• Offsetting and becoming carbon negative with our own teams carbon footprint https://offset.earth/coworksurf
• Encouraging sustainable models of business and supporting other sustainable businesses https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17873964190495628/
• Shifting our business model to include carbon offsetting for every single booking automatically.
• Supporting other incentives that encourage a better association with the planet such as treehumans.com
• Encouraging a move to shared housing as it’s a more efficient way to live
• Encouraging longer staying guests

So there we have it. What are your thoughts? What else can we do? What else can you do? What have we missed? What have we done well?