SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Standardize the management of our vehicle and equipment fleets. Currently, each agency, writes policy/regulation and has software, procedures, and management policy for their fleets. Conversely, we're all doing the same thing; tracking utilization, right-sizing, greening, tracking fuel, training, etc. On top of that, each agency is writing directives, regulations, policy, and even creating separate forms. Standardizing... more »

Conversion of laptop computers to tablet PCs on an attrition basis would allow users to easily record and store hand wirtten data, transmit that information to interested stakeholders and create a method by which the millions of documents that are printed to be red-lined can be worked in cyberspace without printing. According to Wikipedia an average user prints 28 pages per day or about 14 reams of paper a year. The actual... more »

As an employee who regularly submits notices to the Federal Register, there would be enormous time, material and cost savings if the process were brought into the 21st century.

Currently, several identical signed copies of Federal Register notices must be hand delivered, along with a CD of the word file, to the Government Printing Office (GPO). Our Department, in Washington DC, has an individual drive to the GPO every... more »

Idea Factory is used with success at TSA. The same tool needs to be used across all of DHS year-round.

The annual cost attributable to obesity in the US among full-time employees is estimated to be $73.1 billion. The US obesity epidemic is largely driven by an increase sedentary behavior, particularly in the workplace. Sedentary behavior is a risk factor for both obesity and for cardiovascular disease, independent of traditional recreational exercise activities. Engaging in continuous low-level activity at work can increase... more »

It is unnecessary to print a file only to send it to another office where they scan it and input it into their system --- and then print it to send to another office, and so on and so.

 

This process can be just as easily done through email attachments or file server databases. The issue isn't utilizing new software --- but rather, mandating the use, by all employees, of current software.

Mandate that the office space for every LoB with eligible telworkers is reduced to a ratio of 4 employees-3 workspaces. This would not only reduce the amount of GSA leased space, but it would also force the subatomic micromanagers to implement a teleworking policy.

Each department of every governmental agency has an expenditure budget dedicated to office supplies/items/furniture. The EPA’s Region 9 spends around $50,000 per year on office items. That’s approximately $500,000 for just the EPA on office supplies. During our summer internship, we sighted one way that federal dollars could be used more efficiently, support American companies, and spur the green economy: by leveraging... more »

This idea is in regards to the Social Security Administration case workers in the field offices. As a case worker I believe that the benefits to getting a second monitor would be advantageous in our “Go Green” initiative by reducing our carbon footprint and increasing the efficiency of production. However, the following are preliminary numbers that I have come up with for our office here in Georgetown.

21 reps each... more »

If you don't have it you can't waste it. More paper is wasted on meetings, weekly reports, gantt charts, phone lists, status updates etc. Instead of providing an endless amount of printing paper, provide finite amounts monthly, once it's gone it's gone until the next ration arrives.

Here are a few ideas that could save the government money by eliminating unnecessary expenditures:

1. Travel:
a. Audits or “Site Visits” should be conducted remotely when possible.
b. We should eliminate all travel for training and conferences and conduct these utilizing available technology.
2. Paper Waste: Leave and Earning Statements should only be provided electronically.
3. Recycling in mass: This... more »

I would love to see energy efficient lighting installed that have automatic shut off when no one is in the room or using the facility and then to automatically come on based on motion. This would be quite the cost saver on electricity and thus help our national goals of less reliance on foreign energy. I am also in favor of removing the papertowel dispensers in the bathrooms with an energy efficient drier put in place... more »

Every pay period, people who telecommute more than 50 miles from their home agency have to come into the office JUST TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE. While they are travelling to the office, these employees are not working. This wastes millions in lost productivity for the USPTO alone. Government wide, the amount of waste is staggering.

This does not include the waste of money to the employee or the horrendous amounts of energy... more »