Abstract

Cohousing is intentionally designed to foster personal connection and societal cohesion, and centers sharing practices. A growing body of research also suggests that cohousing is conducive to protection and support of the natural environment, because of sharing practices as well as broad-scale use of renewables and incorporation of various forms of environmental sustainability infrastructures. This study comprises an examination of national-level quantitative and qualitative data on these linked components of social and environmental sustainability in cohousing communities, with the ultimate aim of systematically assessing the potential for cohousing as a degrowth model in the U.S. Data comes from the first two phases of an ongoing Cohousing Research Network-led five-year panel survey of residents of cohousing communities and members of building/forming groups throughout the country.

Presenters

Heidi Berggren
Associate Professor, Political Science & Women's and Gender Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Economic, Social, and Cultural Context

KEYWORDS

Cohousing, Collaborative Housing, Intentional Communities, Social Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability

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