Linux can be a great way to keep using older computer hardware and keep it out of landfills. Depending on the Linux flavor or distro you go with will depend on how old and useful that old computer can be. Though some of these ditros may not have all the feature you are looking for. You may not get your 3D graphics or Some of these distros are single purpose like being a router. This can be a great learning tool though most likely not the greenest solution. Several of these small versions are able to run without a harddrive. So if your hard drive- has gone bad or is just so slow you don't want to use it these can be great solutions. Here are a few: Porteus, Puppy, Peppermint OS. Though if you go to old you are using more power/electricity then you need. Below / in the notes is an article, Examining the costs of reusing old hardware, that explains in detail. I have downloaded and created live CDs/DVDs. This way we are going to look at a few of these and see what features they have and how well they work. tools: powertop Power Statistics Powerstat PowerAPI (on github) cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/power_now turn of what not using: display/monitor, turn down brightness, bluetooth, wifi, buffering: write to disk less often ---nwclug - Green Linux -- re-using old computers Google Search: lightweight Linux distribution https://www.google.com/search?q=lightweight+Linux+distribution Avoid the Trash Heap: Great Uses for an Old PC - APRIL 22, 2016 - multiple OSes http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2454182,00.asp 11 Uses for an Old PC - Oct 28, 2010 - muliple OSes http://www.pcworld.com/article/209079/11_uses_for_an_old_PC.html 5 Ways to Repurpose an Old PC with Open Source Software - August 08, 2016 - multiple OSes http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/tipsforsmallbusiness/repurpose-old-pc-with-open-source-software.html 11 ways to reuse an old PC - July 13, 2016 - muliple OSes http://apcmag.com/11-ways-to-reuse-an-old-pc.htm/ http://apcmag.com/11-ways-to-reuse-an-old-pc.htm/2/ TPT: Repurpose your older computers by installing Linux! - Jun 21, 2015 - Linux https://www.reddit.com/r/TechnologyProTips/comments/3al7tt/tpt_repurpose_your_older_computers_by_installing/ Tech-Friendly: Bring new life to an old PC with Linux Mint - July 9, 2014 - Linux http://rockrivertimes.com/2014/07/09/tech-friendly-bring-new-life-to-an-old-pc-with-linux-mint/ Ways to repurpose that old PC that still works - March 22, 2015 - multiple OSes http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/consumer-advice/ways-repurpose-that-old-that-still-works/HmWTNsCjXYJ1KvW4oi1hoI/ Repurposing Your Old PC - October 16, 2013 - multiple OSes http://www.librarypoint.org/repurposing_old_pc Should I Reuse or Recycle My Old Computer? - 22 Nov 2012 - multiple OSes http://linuxblog.darkduck.com/2012/11/should-i-reuse-or-recycle-my-old.html How to Use Linux to Rejuvenate Old Computers - 6 Sep 2012 - Linux http://linuxblog.darkduck.com/2012/09/how-to-use-linux-to-rejuvinate-old.html 4 Reasons to Have Live Linux at Home - 2011-10-10 - Linux https://www.garron.me/en/linux/4-reasons-to-have-linux-live-cd-home.html 6 WAYS TO REPURPOSE A RETIRED PC - August 19, 2013 - multiple OSes http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/6-ways-to-repurpose-a-retired-pc/ 8 uses for your old Windows XP PC - April 08, 2016 - multiple OSes http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc/what-to-do-with-your-old-windows-xp-pc-1232642 25 Ubuntu tips for beginners - November 07, 2010 - Linux http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/25-ubuntu-tips-for-beginners-906002 14 Ways to Make Good Use of Your Old Computer Again - 8th Jan 2013 - multiple OSes https://www.maketecheasier.com/make-good-use-of-old-computer/ Repurpose older Windows XP computers with Lubuntu Linux - Nov 6, 2013 - Linux https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q_1O7gydXI wiki: How to Build Your Own Home Theater Personal Computer With an Older Computer - - Linux http://www.wikihow.com/Build-Your-Own-Home-Theater-Personal-Computer-With-an-Older-Computer Recycling of Hardware - 8.1.2. Linux Applications for Old Computers - older info http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Ecology-HOWTO/ecology-howto-lifecyle-hardware.html Turning a crappy old Windows PC into a full-fledged Chromebook with CloudReady - 10/16/2015 - linux ish http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/turning-a-crappy-old-windows-pc-into-a-full-fledged-chromebook-with-cloudready/ Examining the costs of reusing old hardware - 2014 http://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2014/165/Doghouse-Reusing-Hardware Jon "maddog" Hall Best Lightweight Linux Distros - AUGUST 2015 https://www.linux.com/news/best-lightweight-linux-distros 5 Live Linux Desktop Distributions You Should Know https://www.linux.com/learn/5-live-linux-desktop-distributions-you-should-know Google search: live cd linux https://www.google.com/#q=live+cd+linux Lubuntu http://lubuntu.net LXLE http://lxle.net Steam OS http://www.steampowered.com http://www.amahi.org Ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com Fedora http://www.getfordora.org Gentoo http://www.gentoo.org FreeNAS http://www.freenas.org Damn Small Linux http://damnsmalllinux.org/ arch linux https://www.archlinux.org/ Puppy Linux http://puppylinux.org/ Trisquel Mini https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/trisquel-mini Ubuntu MATE https://ubuntu-mate.org/ debian https://www.debian.org/ https://www.debian.org/CD/live/ Porteus http://www.porteus.org/ DistroWatch: Small and Floppy-based Linux Distributions https://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=links#floppy DistroWatch: Live CDs https://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=Live+CD#distrosearch Live CD List https://livecdlist.com/ Google Search: live cd linux Puppy http://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/puppy-tahr/iso/tahrpup%20-6.0-CE/tahr64-6.0.5.iso http://distro.ibiblio.org/puppylinux/puppy-slacko-6.3.2/32/slacko-6.3.2-uefi.iso Ubuntu https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/try-ubuntu-before-you-install http://releases.ubuntu.com/16.10/ubuntu-16.10-desktop-i386.iso Porteus http://dl.porteus.org/ http://dl.porteus.org/i486/testing/Porteus-v3.1- http://build.porteus.org/dl/df4a6499706046572f16d7f83bb7ce3b/Porteus-KDE4-v3.1-i486.iso Debian http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/i386/iso-hybrid/debian-live-8.6.0-i386-cinnamon-desktop.iso If that old computer needs to go, do it right: How to Dispose of Old Computers Responsibly http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/3555/how-to-dispose-of-old-computers-responsibly/ How to Get Rid of Old Computers http://www.allgreenrecycling.com/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-old-computers/ Google Search: green ways to get rid of computer https://www.google.com/#q=green+ways+to+get+rid+of+computer ditch your e-waste the green way https://www.esurance.com/info/cell-phone/ditch-your-e-waste-the-green-way computer power consumption: How Much Energy Does Your PC Use? (And 8 Ways to Cut It Down) - Jun 2016 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/much-energy-pc-use-8-ways-cut/ Google Search: computer generation power consumption https://www.google.com/#q=computer+generation+power+consumption Google Search: cpu power consumption in watts https://www.google.com/#q=cpu+power+consumption+in+watts Typical Power Consumption of PC Components - Power Draw in Watts http://www.buildcomputers.net/power-consumption-of-pc-components.html Power Supply Calculator - The most accurate PC wattage calculator http://powersupplycalculator.net/ How much electricity do computers use? http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html How Much Power Does Your PC Need? [Technology Explained] - Sept 2012 http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/power-pc-technology-explained/ OuterVision Power Supply Calculator http://outervision.com/power-supply-calculator Electricity usage of a Computer - Energy Use Calculator http://energyusecalculator.com/electricity_computer.htm WATT You Should Know About Processor Power - I/O Hub http://www.logicsupply.com/explore/io-hub/watt-know-processor-power/ Computer Power Consumption http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/anton/computer-power-consumption.html When it comes to the cost and power consumption of your computer, how low can you go? http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/when-it-comes-cost-and-power-consumption-you-computer-how-low-can-you-go.html The Problem of Power Consumption in Servers https://software.intel.com/sites/default/files/m/d/4/1/d/8/power_consumption.pdf 2016: New-generation Power-efficient Computer Systems Design https://multicorereu.eecs.wsu.edu/ More than Moore Technologies for Next Generation Computer Design - Google Books https://books.google.com/books?id=MWGYBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=computer+generation+power+consumption&source=bl&ots=fuiFKCdqXa&sig=WESN4K_VR_JLV376z63CyRDy_lc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFz_T1xrPRAhWj5YMKHZliBZU4ChDoAQgxMAU#v=onepage&q=computer%20generation%20power%20consumption&f=false Computers May Need More Power than the World Can Generate by 2040 - July 2016 http://www.powermag.com/computers-may-need-more-power-than-the-world-can-generate-by-2040/ Computer design: Reducing the power consumption of memories -- ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160721073131.htm An end to scaling: Intel’s next-generation chips will sacrifice speed to reduce power https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/222590-an-end-to-scaling-intels-next-generation-chips-will-sacrifice-speed-to-reduce-power Try These 8 Tips to Reduce the Power Consumption of Your Computer - Gizbot http://www.gizbot.com/computer/features/tips-reduce-power-consumption-computer-news/slider-pf60291-034056.html Raspberry Pi Zero - Power Consumption Comparison | Jeff Geerling - Nov 2015 http://www.jeffgeerling.com/blogs/jeff-geerling/raspberry-pi-zero-power List of CPU power dissipation figures - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CPU_power_dissipation_figures PC Mag - Google Books - Apr 1994 https://books.google.com/books?id=G0SCDRC-VPQC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144&dq=power+consumption+486&source=bl&ots=adT_J0j6KW&sig=s48M6hu_KEeJmA_kdqtr2B-b7go&hl=en&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwi3sIPKy7PRAhXL34MKHX0YBY8Q6AEIWjAJ#v=onepage&q=power%20consumption%20486&f=false Energy per Instruction Trends in Intel® Microprocessors http://www-cs.intel.com/pressroom/kits/core2duo/pdf/epi-trends-final2.pdf Google Search: cpu power consumption chart https://www.google.com/#q=cpu+power+consumption+chart Then and Now: Almost 10 Years of Intel CPUs Compared - TechSpot http://www.techspot.com/article/1039-ten-years-intel-cpu-compared/ The ultimate guide to reducing your PC's power consumption | TechRadar - Jan 2010 http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc/the-ultimate-guide-to-reducing-your-pc-s-power-consumption-661978 Reducing power consumption with pfsense router converted from old laptop? | SmallNetBuilder Forums - Jun 2011 http://www.snbforums.com/threads/reducing-power-consumption-with-pfsense-router-converted-from-old-laptop.5423/ Google Search: cpu power consumption router https://www.google.com/#q=cpu+power+consumption+router Google search: reduce power consumption linux https://www.google.com/#q=reduce+power+consumption+linux Google search: lowest power consumption router https://www.google.com/#q=lowest+power+consumption+router Electricity usage of a Wi-Fi Router - Energy Use Calculator http://energyusecalculator.com/electricity_wifirouter.htm WIFI Routers Power Consumption http://www.tpcdb.com/list.php?type=11 Power management - ArchWiki https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Power_management How To Analyse & Reduce Your Computer's Power Consumption [Linux] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-analyse-and-reduce-your-computers-power-consumption-linux/ How can I optimize Ubuntu for minimal energy usage? http://askubuntu.com/questions/379311/how-can-i-optimize-ubuntu-for-minimal-energy-usage Linux Ecology HOWTO: Reduction of Power Consumption http://oss.sgi.com/LDP/HOWTO/Ecology-HOWTO-2.html Reduce Linux power consumption, Part 1: The CPUfreq subsystem https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-cpufreq-1/ Reduce Linux power consumption, Part 2: General and governor-specific settings https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-cpufreq-2/ Reduce Linux power consumption, Part 3: Tuning results https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/l-cpufreq-3/ PowerManagement/ReducedPower - Community Help Wiki https://help.ubuntu.com/community/PowerManagement/ReducedPower Power Saving Tweaks https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/PowerManagement/PowerSavingTweaks Powersaving - openSUSE https://en.opensuse.org/Powersaving Power management/Guide - Gentoo Wiki https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Power_management/HOWTO Power Management Guide - Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/6/html/Power_Management_Guide/index.html 8 Simple Ways to Improve Battery Life on Linux Laptops http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/04/improve-battery-life-linux How to Maximize the Battery Life on Your Linux Laptop http://www.howtogeek.com/55185/how-to-maximize-the-battery-life-on-your-linux-laptop/ Measuring application power consumption on the Linux* operating system https://software.intel.com/en-us/blogs/2013/06/18/measuring-application-power-consumption-on-linux-operating-system How to reduce power consumption in Ubuntu 14.04 https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2225985 How to reduce power consumption in Ubuntu 14.04 https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2225985 How to squeeze more battery life from your Linux laptop | PCWorld - Jul 2015 http://www.pcworld.com/article/2949818/laptop-computers/how-to-squeeze-more-battery-life-from-your-linux-laptop.html How do I monitor power consumption? http://askubuntu.com/questions/73904/how-do-i-monitor-power-consumption How to monitor power usage in Linux http://xmodulo.com/how-to-monitor-power-usage-in-linux.html Linux - How to find power draw in watts? http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/10418/how-to-find-power-draw-in-watts System energy consumption monitoring http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/304356/system-energy-consumption-monitoring PowerTop - Monitors Total Power Usage and Improve Linux Laptop Battery Life http://www.tecmint.com/powertop-monitors-linux-laptop-battery-usage/ 80 Linux Monitoring Tools for SysAdmins - Server Density Blog https://blog.serverdensity.com/80-linux-monitoring-tools-know/ Monitoring and controlling power consumption using Linux http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/linuxonibm/liaai/energymgmt/liaaienergymgmt.htm Power monitoring with linux…the low-energy way https://oimon.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/power-monitoring-with-linux-the-low-energy-way/ small / low power hardware: 10 alternatives to the Raspberry Pi http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/10-alternatives-to-the-raspberry-pi/ Ten Raspberry Pi 2 alternatives http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/ten-raspberry-pi-2-alternatives/ Move over Raspberry Pi, here are a dozen, better alternatives http://www.zdnet.com/pictures/move-over-raspberry-pi-here-are-a-dozen-better-alternatives/ Google Search: small hardware like Raspberry Pi https://www.google.com/#q=small+hardware+like+Raspberry+Pi Low Power Consumption Energy Efficient Solar Friendly Computers - DOUG THE TECH GUY http://www.dougthetechguy.com/computers.html STM32L486RG - Ultra-low-power with FPU ARM Cortex-M4 MCU 80 MHz with 1 Mbyte Flash, LCD, USB OTG, AES-256, DFSDM - STMicroelectronics http://www.st.com/en/microcontrollers/stm32l486rg.html ---nwclug - Green Linux -- re-using old computers --end