"Human population growth is threatening animals and plants, but so too is the rising number of households, even in areas where the population is steady or shrinking. Throughout the world, the number of generations living under one roof has declined, and divorce is splitting families into multiple homes. More households containing fewer people are more damaging to the environment than simple population growth...The abundance of dwellings with just one, two or three occupants can cause a sharp rise in the use of energy, land, construction materials and water."
Thanks to Michael Dudley