"Shared living is not only a solution to reduced expenses but also to the epidemic of loneliness, which has been amplified since the pandemic (35 per cent of women aged 45 and older who live alone report feeling lonely often or always, according to the AARP). Shacking up with others also helps fight climate change. Consider the typical 2,500-square-foot home creates about 28,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year while a 200-square-foot room only emits about 2,000 pounds. “The cumulative environmental impact of shared resources in co-living spaces is often underestimated,” said Emma Green, an environmental scientist, at UC Berkeley. “It’s not just about sharing electricity and heating — it’s about sharing everything from appliances to transportation, creating a multiplier effect on sustainability.”