In 2010, data centers (servers, cooling, and other electrical infrastructure) were responsible for 1.1-11–1.5% of electrical energy consumption worldwide and 1.7-27–2.2% in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/technology/data-centers-using-less-power-than-forecast-report-says.html?_r=0 |title=Data Centers Using Less Power Than Forecast, Report Says |date=31 Jul 2011 |newspaper=[[NY Times]] |access-date=18 Jan 2013 |first=John |last=Markoff}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=November 2023}} One estimate is that total energy consumption for information and communications technology saves more than 5 times its [[carbon footprint]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smart2020.org/_assets/files/02_Smart2020Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122051650/http://www.smart2020.org/_assets/files/02_Smart2020Report.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2010 |title=SMART 2020: Enabling the low carbon economy in the information age |date=6 Oct 2008 |publisher=[[The Climate Group]] |access-date=18 Jan 2013 }}</ref> in the rest of the economy by increasing efficiency.
Global energy consumption is increasing due to the increasing demand of data and bandwidth. [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] (NRDC) states that data centers used [https://lifelinedatacenters.com/data-center/reduce-data-center-carbon-footprints/ 91 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) electrical energy in 2013 which accounts to 3% of global electricity usage.]{{Update inline|date=November 2023}}
