Data centres account for 23 per cent of IT sector carbon emissions, according to figures from analyst Gartner.

And overall, technology represents two per cent of global CO2.

Data centres account for such a large proportion of emissions for three reasons.

A lack of floor space and a failure to adopt higher density servers means greater cooling costs. And ever-increasing power consumption uses more energy.

The problem is worsening because facilities which house current data centres are ill-equipped to provide the necessary cooling for a new generation of more powerful servers.

Gartner recommends businesses carefully monitor energy costs, establish a sustainable IT team, evaluate future technologies and develop a green procurement program.