Buy what you need: One purchase affects the entire supply chain. Try to reduce purchasing heavily packaged/processed foods and/or takeout, and opt to cook at home more often, if you’re able. Better yet, if you can, grow or raise your own food!

Buy used: When purchasing used home goods, it’s important to check for pests, mold, etc. (this is a good idea for new items, too). For clothing, keep in mind that the fashion industry is one of the largest sources of pollution in the world. As 85% of clothing ends up in landfills, try to avoid fast fashion: Buy quality clothes that last longer (and can be thrifted), and donate or repurpose used ones.

Declutter: Have you ever spent money on something you already had but simply couldn’t find? Find ways to be creative with what you already have, but also be willing to part with things by throwing away, recycling, donating, or selling. Have a garage sale, possibly even a neighborhood rummage sale.

Repair, mend, and reuse: Darning socks is back in style! Slow fashion encourages people to buy thoughtfully, opt for quality over quantity, and mend what you already have. Fix your appliances/devices when possible and within reason, and if you prefer to purchase new, donate, sell, or recycle the old.

Electricity: According to Georgia Power, for maximum efficiency/economy, set thermostats for air conditioning to no more than 20 degrees below the outside temperature. Run appliances during non-peak hours, unplugging them when not in use. Fix drafts that leak cold or hot air (make sure your house is properly and safely ventilated and that you have adequate alarms for carbon monoxide or other potential toxic gases), and shut window blinds to reduce solar heat in warmer months (open them in colder months).

Water: Use less water when washing dishes by using a wash basin or the dishwasher; run only full loads of laundry when possible. Consider using eco-friendly irrigation systems for lawns; when possible, opt for wildflowers over just grass.

Green clean: Try to use environmentally safe products and limit exposure to toxic materials and unnecessary fragrances. Watch out for “greenwashing” (marketing products as eco-friendly when they aren’t actually very eco-friendly). Find out where to properly dispose of old/unused household chemicals, including paint. Try to avoid using disposable rags or mops when possible; reusable wipes or mops are best, but take care to keep them clean and dry. When spraying for pests or treating your lawn with fertilizer, try to find pollinator- and pet-friendly options.

Technology: Limit your use of screentime and AI. While it may be tempting to generate a picture of a ferret wearing a leprechaun hat, consider the environmental impact: Data centers, the infrastructure for training and running AI, can consume massive amounts of electricity and water, in some cases as much as a medium-sized city. Along with increased electricity costs and potential water scarcity, data centers have also been shown to cause air and noise pollution, soil contamination, and elevated local temperatures – usually with little economic benefit to the communities in which they’re built. Pope Leo XIV’s words in Magnifica Humanitas can serve as a helpful guide: “We must learn, then, how to exercise restraint in the use of AI and to protect our young people from…that subtle temptation which renders human thought seemingly superfluous precisely when it is most needed.”

Take an occasional media break: Every single bit of information found online, whether it be a Facebook post from 2012, an all-time-favorites shelf on Goodreads, or that YouTube channel you started as a teenager, lives in the digital realm, requiring servers, which require electricity. And we produce gargantuan amounts of content every day. It’s not necessarily bad to produce more content: Catholic social media has led many souls to Christ and his Church; dating websites and apps have introduced many married couples to one another; and online fora have provided a community for many virtuous friendships to blossom. But when we are just wasting time, producing and consuming content that does not uplift the soul or improve our lives, why not save a little electricity?

Delayed gratification: Don’t upgrade just because the newest version is out. Repair what is broken, and if you do upgrade, give away or sell your old version. Tech landfills, aka e-waste dumping grounds, in places like Ghana, are jammed with toxic materials. While steps are being taken to improve the conditions of workers and the situation involving illegal dumping, our role in this cannot be overstated. The average US family purchases a new phone every 2–3 years, while the phones might only need a new battery to last many more years. This isn’t placing the blame on consumers alone, of course; cell phone makers and service providers certainly create demand. But instead of a new device, how many of us would prefer to spend (and perhaps save) money on an “old-school” device that has lasted 20+ years?

Slow down: Many of the things that cost us a lot of money, time, and energy are the result of a fast-paced society and busy lives. Whenever possible, slow down, pray, take time to make decisions, be careful with your belongings, and take care of your health. God created the idea of a Sabbath to help us and our world.