Sharing Resources

Sharing leverages communal purchasing power to “do more with less,” and can help reduce the financial burden on individuals and families. Community-wide sharing initiatives put useful resources—from toys to transportation services—in the hands of more people and offer a valuable approach to conserving resources, educating community members, and strengthening civic infrastructure. Learn more about sharing opportunities in your community, and join the worldwide movement toward “collaborative consumption.”

Did You Know…

• The average American uses his or her car only 8 percent of the time, while the average power drill is used for only 6 to 13 minutes in its lifetime.
• To house their "stuff," Americans spend $22 billion per year on 2.4 billion square feet of self storage.
• Some 2.2 million bike-sharing trips are taken each month, while more than 3 million people from 235 countries have "couch-surfed."
• The sharing economy is now a $110 billion-plus market, according to expert and advocate Rachel Botsman.