Device Repurposing: The Key to Sustainable Signage?

ChromeOS Essentials - Part 4

In the final instalment of our ChromeOS Essentials series, in partnership with Craig Francis, Partner Manager for ChromeOS, we will discover how to repurpose devices and maximise sustainability thanks to ChromeOS Flex.

The Cost of Constant Upgrades

In 2025, sustainability has moved from a trend to business imperative, and businesses are set on reducing their environmental footprint, energy consumption, and extending device lifespan.

Previously, growing or maintaining a digital signage network has meant buying new dedicated players and disposing of older hardware - an expensive approach both financially and environmentally.

Repurposing Existing Devices

Repurposing existing hardware for signage offers a solution to businesses to extend device lifespans, cut down on e-waste, and reduce capital expenditure. The key is finding the right platform to make these devices secure, reliable, and signage-ready - even if they’re past their original prime.

Enter ChromeOS Flex

ChromeOS Flex is a lightweight, cloud-first operating system designed to breathe new life into aging PCs and laptops. By replacing Windows or Mac operating systems with ChromeOS Flex, you can repurpose outdated devices into reliable digital signage players without compromising on performance or security.

This is especially relevant as many businesses seek to move away from legacy operating systems that will no longer be supported such as Windows 10. Instead of sending perfectly functional devices to landfill and replacing them due to security concerns or hardware incompatibility, ChromeOS Flex offers a secure, sustainable way to keep them in use.

With ten years of automatic security updates guaranteed, you can confidently plan the long-term future of your digital signage network.

Lower Energy Consumption, Instantly

Legacy operating systems are resource-intensive, consuming more power and requiring frequent maintenance.

When rolled out across an entire signage network, the potential energy savings are significant. For businesses with displays running 24/7, this translates to a measurable drop in power usage and emissions.

Fortunately, power management is simplified thanks to ChromeOS’s advanced remote device management capabilities, allowing you to remotely schedule device sleep & wake up from the Google Admin Console. This both saves energy and reduces the need for carbon intensive on-site visits and travel, the ideal solution for retailers, schools, or any businesses managing digital signage across multiple locations.

“If your business is looking to reduce costs whilst minimising their environmental impact, ChromeOS is the perfect choice. Due to the lightweight, cloud-first approach ChromeOS devices deliver amazing performance on lower specification hardware reducing both costs and energy consumption. The optimised performance also reduces energy consumption during use, and remote management functionality built in helps to reduce transport-related emissions. Finally, with up to 10 years of security updates, the extended lifespan helps eliminate device obsolescence and E-waste” - Craig Francis - Google ChromeOS

Secure, Reliable, and Sustainable

With ChromeOS Flex, a complete hardware overhaul is no longer necessary, transforming your legacy devices into fully functioning digital signage players all while meeting performance and security requirements. An effective way to both reduce operational costs and protect the environment and our planet.

Learn more about what the Xibo for ChromeOS player can do for your digital signage needs.

Sources

invidis, Managed Signage: Unlocking New Services, 2025
Sutton-Parker, J., ‘The impact of end user computing carbon footprint information on human behavioural change and greenhouse gas abatement’. Warwick, UK: University of Warwick, 2023