Why we live alone--and what it means for the climate and our sense of community

[erronis]

https://phys.org/news/2026-05-climate-community.html
Ulrika Oredsson, Lund University

Solo living in your own home places a greater strain on the planet's resources than living with others, as everyone needs their own appliances--a toaster, a washing machine and so on. The Nordic countries stand out: Almost half of all households are solo-living households. Sustainability researcher Tullia Jack interviewed people who live alone about the reasons for this and hopes for new forms of co-living. The study is published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

. . .

"Many of the people I interviewed would prefer to live with someone else--ideally a romantic partner, but also friends or in a co-living situation. Living alone was just something that had happened," says Jack. She adds that the housing market does not make it easy for people to share living arrangements: new buildings are designed for nuclear families or single people, and it is more difficult for people who are not in a relationship to share a lease or take out a mortgage.

. . .

People who feel that, given their age, they have "outgrown" co-living have often lived with others in the past, for example while studying or for financial reasons. Many feel that the dynamics of co-living eventually becomes too demanding, or that this type of accommodation is seen as something for young people. At the same time, the sentiment was that those seeking co-living are becoming increasingly younger.

. . .

Then there were those who, for various reasons, actively sought solitude and expressed a strong need for privacy and not to be disturbed by others.

Men are more dissatisfied with solo living

Jack noticed a pattern that it was mostly men who were unhappy about living alone and saw it as stigmatizing. Among women, however--particularly older women who had been in previous relationships--there were more who were absolutely unwilling to share a home with a partner again, citing previous relationships where the division of household chores had been unequal. As one put it, "I was free when we were together, but not free enough."

. . .

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I don't agree with some of that

If you live alone appliances wear out half as fast.

If you live alone it is a major effort, expense, upheaval to try to live with someone, or heaven forbid, move to another location. It's not even easy to downsize. There are few support options.

Dynamics are complex and time-consuming. It becomes like a socialist residence with communal social space centered around TV, media, and food.

[erronis]

2. It is impossible to simplify all these dynamics down into simple formulae.

I've spend about half of my adult years living with someone in close relationships, and the other half either solo or some loose shared arrangements.

When the non-solo times work well, they are very good and I think satisfactory for all parties. When they aren't working well, the stresses can easily outweigh the benefits.

I manage my current solo existence by getting out in the community and volunteering, participating as much as I want. In some ways I feel more socially engaged than being in a confining relationship.

[Scrivener7]

3. I live in an apartment. I have very good friends down the hall and a floor away, but I live alone. We share

laundry and heating systems. When we need it, 3 friends and I have a plan to share a caregiver. Pay him/her double the rate, and each of us pays a half the rate.

My home is awesome.