Microsoft has signed up as a participant and an endorser of the EU code of conduct for data center efficiency.

To date ,the company is one of the largest data center operators to sign as a participant in the Code. The Code of Conduct offers two levels of engagement, participants are generally data center operators who must commit to monitoring and reporting of data center energy use and endorsers, generally suppliers, who promote the code.

Mark Taylor, Director of Developer and Platform Evangelism, Microsoft said: "We need to do three things: Address the issues in our own industry, work to find technological answers to the environmental problems we are all facing today and tomorrow and help individuals and organisations change their behaviour.

"Signing up to the Code of Conduct is just a small part of Microsoft's commitment to environmental sustainability, but with the projected growth of cloud computing it's important. We are also working with our network of partners, customers, environmental groups, industry groups, and leading environmental scientists and academics to drive global action on climate change and share best practices."

Microsoft cited the efficient design of its Dublin data center as a model of reduced energy usage. "The new Microsoft Data Centre in Ireland, due to come online this summer, will consume approximately 50% less energy than a traditional data centre of its output. In the Dublin facility, Microsoft has applied 100% of the 'Expected' and the large majority of the optional best practices outlined in the code of conduct, and will employ artificial cooling on just one or two days per year.

Microsoft said its data centers are currently operating with an average PUE of 1.6 and that it is targeting a PUE of below 1.2. It has already, or is planning to implement, the majority of the Code's best practices in its data centres in Europe and across the globe, it said.