Sustainability

Docked Living

Tiny life, Big Impact

  • Docked residents use 64% less water than the national average and 36% less electricity while occupying less than half of the square footage than the national average. 

  • Docked residents enjoy unprecedented affordability, accessing quality housing at 50% the cost of market rent.

  • What is good for the environment is good for the budget.

Coliving = More with Less

Docked’s strategy is aligned with the following United Nations’ SDG: 

  • Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.

  • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. 

    • Subgoal: reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.

  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption.

In efforts of preserving our environment and promoting sustainable cities & communities, Docked actively pursues the following objectives: 

  1. Transformation of properties and space usage: Docked promotes living in a less resource-intensive manner without sacrificing quality of life. Sharing resources is smart for the planet and for keeping expenses low. The average American occupies 971 sq ft while the average Docked member occupies 358 sq ft. In lieu of 8 kitchens for 8 people, we have 1 kitchen for 8 people. 

  2. Extensive use of green building technology: Docked has deliberately over-invested in green tech to achieve the lowest energy usage per capita within Tampa Bay. All of our properties feature spray foam insulation throughout, low-flow showers, sinks, dual flush toilets, high-efficiency HVAC, and LED lighting. Many of our members choose to live car-free. 

    Furthermore, Docked Living has been investing in solar panel implementation through its current active properties and expects to be 100% solar by 2023.

  3. Encouraging environmentally-related activities and/or volunteer work: Docked creates partnerships with the aim of stimulating members to take action and adopt more sustainable habits; e.g. organic gardening, which provides an opportunity for a locally generated food source. 

    With Docked Living’s support, members have taken the task of looking after native species in the landscaping, thus enhancing the local ecosystem and requiring less maintenance, fewer pesticides, and reduced water use. 

  4. Densification & lower carbon footprint: the densification of space occurs when people reduce their individual space in exchange for larger communal spaces. Carbon footprint, waste, energy usage, and daily habits emit about half of the emissions of an average household (Coliving Insights, 2020).

    Docked Living reduces the number of washing machines, toilets, and cooking appliances causing instant emission reductions. 

    Moreover, studies support the correlation between higher residential density and adults’ engagement in walking and cycling. In several cases, the likelihood is 2.5 to 3 times higher for adults living in higher residential densities, that way contributing to the reduction of motor vehicle emissions. (Evidence supporting the health benefits of Housing Diversity, N.D.). 

  5. Transformation of vacant, traditionally rented, and under-used properties into coliving housing by restructuring existing floor plans: reduces the need for new resources in the building process.

Docked Living’s Electricity & Water Consumption VS National Average

  • Electricity: 

    • Docked Living annual consumption per capita: 38,000 kWh = 129 million Btu. 

    • Florida Average (per capita): 201 million Btu. (US Florida Department of Agriculture, Office of Energy - Annual Report, 2019)

  • Water: 

    • Docked Living annual consumption per capita: 10,848 gallons.

    • National Average (per capita): 29,930 gallons. (USGS - Estimated Use of Water in the United States, 2015)

“Over the last 42 years, the square footage of living space per person in a new US house has increased from 507 to 971 square feet.” (American Enterprise Institute, 2016).


Resources

  • Coliving Insights. (2020). Impact & Sustainability in Coliving. 3rd edition. Accessed from https://www.colivinginsights.com/publications/impact-and-sustainability-in-coliving 

  • Evidence supporting the health benefits of Housing Diversity. (N.D.). Heart Foundation. Accessed from https://www.healthyactivebydesign.com.au/design-features/housing-diversity/evidence 

  • US Florida Department of Agriculture. Office of Energy - Annual Report. (2019). Accessed from https://www.fdacs.gov/ezs3download/download/90056/2572665/Media/Files/Energy-Files/2019-OOE-Annual-Report.pdf 

  • USGS - Estimated Use of Water in the United States. (2015). United States Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed from https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts 

  • New US homes today are 1,000 square feet larger than in 1973 and living space per person has nearly doubled. (2016). American Enterprise Institute. Accessed from https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/new-us-homes-today-are-1000-square-feet-larger-than-in-1973-and-living-space-per-person-has-nearly-doubled/