Valid, thanks. But to what degree? The light bulb that runs 18h a day in the kitchen likely draws the same power that my mini form factor Optiplex 3060 does.

To me arguments like "2W vs 10W" are fairly meaningless.

I am much more concerned about data center power usages, especially in the age of LLMs.

Like that ancient German teacher I had that kept preaching we should stop using electric kettles because it's bad for the planet. While the 3 plants in her hometown amounted to ~83% of all power usage and ~92% or all pollution. Boy, was she unhappy when I did that research and pointed it out to her.

Pi-s / SBCs are I suppose very good for computing out there in the meatspace, where you might need a battery because sometimes power stops for 6 hours? Could be that.

Wait how did she suggest people heat water for tea/coffee instead? I've never heard an environmentalist attack electric kettles before.

She did not offer any alternatives. That was also a very funny element to her preaching. She saw a class of students and thought she can signal her virtues.

She was, shall we say, disappointed with the response.

Also this was some 15 years ago.