Data centres and VoIP call services have the potential to be more environmentally-friendly, it has been suggested.

Both VoIP and data centres offer potential efficiency benefits for firms, but Freeform Dynamics service director Jon Collins pointed out that this comes at a cost in terms of greater power usage.

Speaking to BusinessGreen magazine, Mr Collins said that IT networking "doesn't have the best track record when it comes to green, which is ironic given that it is an area of great potential".

This was especially galling "considering the efficiency gains that could be achieved if the data was in the right place at the right time", he added.

However, there may be a fair balance between energy use and efficiency through the use of power management software.

These applications have the ability to control IT systems and turn them off to conserve power outside of work hours.