IT systems are often a major factor in energy bills each month due to their high power output, but it has been suggested that savings can be made by using management software.

According to computer manufacturer Dell, a small firm can cut their outgoings as well as reducing its impact on the environment by installing software that acts to cut the amount of power used by each computer.

Jess Blackburn, a spokesperson for the computer manufacturer, said: "Power management software installed on client machines can actually be quite affordable and often pays for itself in reduced energy costs quickly."

But while software solutions may be a cost-effective method of reducing energy use, Ms Blackburn said it is not the only option.

She suggested that an IT upgrade could provide an even greater cut in power as modern computers use as much as 80 per cent less power than previous models.

On top of this, even greater reductions could be achieved by altering the "power management settings [which] are available on many computer products", she added.