Bear in mind though that if an older laptop displaces a comparably priced older desktop it's likely to use significantly less energy. Typical power consumption is likely to be under 30 watts even for most older laptops, with peaks still well under 100.

How energy efficient is the recycling process? This includes transporting old electronics to somewhere else to be "recycled".

Which recycling services would you recommend? What assurances do they provide that it will be responsibly handled? Stories like this make me think that keeping the device, even shoved into the back of my closet, is a better idea: https://theintercept.com/2016/05/10/gps-tracking-devices-cat...

Besides, manufacturing a new device has certain environmental costs, and there's the money I'd have to pay for it, as well. What's the point where the manufacture+lifetime energy of a new device crosses the energy-use line of my current machine?

If you don't want another wind turbine then fire up a nuke plant or two.