Here’s some advice from Dell on how to save energy (if you’re a small company)…

1. Consider power management software. It can remotely switch PCs off and on and automatically saves any documents open on the screen. PCs can be set to come on in the mornings, ready for when employees get into the office.

2. Default printers to print double sided and do the same for photocopies; this reduces the amount of paper used.

3. Consider virtual working methods which allow employees to work from home and utilise ‘hot desks’ when in the office. This can cut down the amount of office space and furniture required and the energy used.

4. Invest in server consolidation and virtualisation1 technologies that are not only more energy efficient but also make better use of existing hardware.

5. Invest in power efficient products. Many servers on today’s market for example, consume up to 25 per cent less energy than previous generations and many computers use up to 70 per cent less power than previous models.

6. Recycle or donate end-of-life computer equipment. There are a number of services available to businesses that offer safe and environmentally acceptable IT disposal solutions. Additionally, the EU has introduced the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which means that manufacturers of electrical goods will be responsible for the safe disposal of their products, even after they are sold.

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