Contrary to popular opinion, small and medium enterprises' (SMEs) IT needs are unlikely to consume significant amounts of energy, according to industry experts.

Green Consultancy, which provides dedicated energy management services, advised that SMEs can often make better energy savings in other aspects of their business.

Michael Webb, spokesperson for the Green Consultancy, said: "For a small organisation the amount of energy they're using in computers is probably not that great.

"We'd always advise that people have an energy audit done which will identify ways in which they can save energy. It depends on what sort of business you are and ways you use energy. But computing and lighting are things everyone will use."

The Federation of Small Businesses has claimed that in 2008 firms will be more environmentally aware and socially responsible than ever before – with 83 per cent actively engaged in waste minimisation and recycling.

Its chairman John Wright predicted that over the next 12 months SMEs will come to view things like recycling and waste minimisation as "plain old good business practice".

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