SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Roofing Projects for new government buildings and for Repairing existing government buildings is expensive, but it would Save a lot of money over time if we added Solar Panels at the same time as roof work is being contracted. The installation costs would be reduced greatly and the electrical savings would more than make up for the smaller construction cost over time and would lower our dependence on energy. It would... more »

The following suggestion can be applied to all washrooms in buildings owned and rented by the federal government:
All washrooms should be equipped with low-water usage toilets and urinals. Toilets should have different flow levels for solid and liquid waste. No-water (dry) urinals should be used where feasible. Faucets/taps should be fitted with water aeration filters to reduce water usage. Faucets/taps should... more »

In my ventures as a government employee I do see a lot of waste in electricity and water. I have noticed a sink in the bathroom of my office building that has run nonstop since I moved to this location a year and a half ago, if that was my sink at home I would have had a heart attack when I got my water bill, even after it has been reported to the building repair staff it goes unfixed, and we are asking the American people... more »

What savings is it to turn off those lights of the computer monitors, coffee machines, phone chargers, heaters, fans, etc. stay plugged in. At home I have instituted "Green Switch" that turns off everything that I don't need on when I'm gone. At work it could be as easy as plugging non essential things into a power strip and linking that to a wall switch. As you leave you can flip it off and voilà, you have instant energy... more »

Keep some lights bulbs Off while others light bulbs are On (alternating bulbs). We should continue to alternate bulb use like we did prior to using Fluorescent light bulbs.Thus still providing enough lighting to do the job while conserving Electricity. Reduce lighting – Cost Savings.

Our building lease for office space includes utilities like heating, cooling, water, and electricity, but because those utilities costs for our consumption are charged back to the government, then we should send out periodic reminders to all staff (both federal and contractors) reminding them to reduce waste and promote economical and environmentally friendly use of utilities. For example, our overhead fluorescent lights... more »

Put on demand heaters on all the water heaters on the overnight locations, and in federal buildings. This way the water heater is not constantly running, and is only heated up when actually going to be used.

To become greener and to save on electricity, we should put solar panels on all government buildings. If there is electricity left over, we can sell it back into the "grid" for the city and actually make money.

"Pavegen" manufactures energy generating sidewalks. I.e. Pedestrians generate electricity (approx 2.1 watts per hour per panel) just by walking.

These could be use to generate electricity from foot traffic at security check points, bathrooms, security entryways, tracks or even roadways etc --- anywhere where there is heavy foot traffic.

This not only helps with generating electricity but also helps to move the government... more »

Here's how to save millions per year by flipping a switch.

There is an all encompassing SOP that dictates federal employees leave their computers on (in "locked" mode) at the end of the day. This is a huge waste of electricity (ESPECIALLY if the monitor and speakers are also left on)

I understand that the reason for this is so that IT can complete system updates using less bandwidth. However, by dividing the computers... more »

Turn off all electrical devices at the work stations (office) at the end of your duty schedule. Computers, printers, and lights. Unplug all chargers from outlets, radios, personal heaters, fans, and any other electrical items not government issued used. Even when these items are turned off they still use electricity.

Use Geothermal Energy for all government buildings new and old for prisons being built and retro fit all other prisons. At 7m in the ground the temp is a constant 50 degrees and at a little of 200 feet you get the heat from the earth, install this technology which is not new, just not widely used, there would not be a need for expensive heating and cooling systems that generate hefty bills and use precious fossil fuels.... more »

Electric space heaters are very inefficient uses of energy and their use by employees in offices during summer months is counterproductive. Heating an individual office during the summer with a portable space heater may actually "trick" a nearby thermostat into thinking it's warm, thus increasing the cooling pattern to a level that is too cold for other peers. A simple solution would be to keep a light jacket or sweater... more »

Allowing more natural light to enter Bldgs will help reduce energy costs significantly. Installing skylights durable enough to withstand local weather in key common locations such as hallways, waiting areas, conference rooms, auditoriums, etc., will save the DoD millions in energy costs while maximizing mother nature's power. We see this in homes, large corporations, airports, etc, and it works. Corporations have invested... more »