SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Currently few if any TSA airport sites use working dogs. Instead of spending millions on technology that cannot find everything, start placing trained bomb sniffing dogs at all airports. At the same time train TSA personnel to watch for signs of people reacting nervously to the dogs. These individuals, and any the dogs alert on, could then be rapidly pulled aside for enhanced security inspections. Utilization of properly... more »

Make a policy or law requiring a closed loop user feedback process for new, current and future Government Information Systems (software). This would provide Lean Six Sigma quantifiable data for senior leader decision makers. Not what the vendors, contractors think.

As software products are developed this will ensure the feedback is collected by a closed loop system to measure the usage, effectiveness and correct issues... more »

Create DHS Ombudsman Office to deal with abuses of power that decrease efficiency. This office could address unprofessional behavior that is not criminal. The mandate of this office would be to champion employees who have tried to make improvements or changes to the workplace and have met with organizational resistance brought about by personal bias, laziness, or possibly by efforts made to cover incompetence or illegal... more »

Turn off computer monitors at night. Computer monitors can always be turned off at night. Computer upgrades can occur with monitor screens switched off. Leaving computer monitors on at all times is a huge waste of energy and dollars. It is completely unneccessary!! Let's save those dollars! Let's save that energy! It will also cut our greenhouse gas emissions!

Keeping track of the hours worked of millions of federal employees is an important job. Federal workers do not get paid automatically by salary, although many folks have rigged the electronic timesheet system that way. We can save our nation money by putting in an old fashioned honest day's work, day in and day out. But who is keeping track/ Who is watching? In certain branches a few supervisors are watching, but by and... more »

When vehicles are replaced, buy the most efficient vehicles that are available at a reasonable cost. This will save operating costs in vehicle fleets.

Instead of mailing multiple reminders to veteran and military patients pateints, the organization can email or phone the appointment reminders. This will not only cut down on postal costs but paper costs too. The automated reminder system will be sent via email or phone whichever is preferred by the patient. The preference will be specified upon registration into the health system.

Every new mandatory training further saps the workforce productivity, and indiscriminately wastes more and more total effort. It is far too easy to make a training "mandatory," and too tempting by their creators to make them overly burdensome. For several years now, annual IT security training for anyone with a computer in HHS has required completion of 15 individual modules. There have been mandatory trainings in 508... more »

Currently only one mysteriously selected winner in the SAVE program gets to meet the President. Recommend that this be changed so that the Top 5 or perhaps the Top 10 winners would meet the President. This could help increase participation in the SAVE program and lead to more money saving suggestions from someone who would not have participated.

T-12 and incandescent lamps can be replaced to initiate cost savings quickly. Any of these lamps that remain should be replaced as soon as possible. Old products should be recycled.

Reuse existing buildings when possible. Existing building use is usually more cost effective and is more conserving of resources. It is wasteful to tear down buildings that can be used productively.

Some agencies in DHS are using paper-based performance reviews. This is time-consuming and resource-wasting. At the mid-cycle and annual reviews, signature pages must be printed and inserted into the Performance Plan and Appraisal, which is then PDF'd and stored in several places.
DHS had an e-performance system but it didn't work well and was removed. We need an online system to reduce paper waste and improve efficiency.... more »

The Superfund Records Center at the EPA currently requires paper copies to be submitted with a paper routing/approval system. The printed documents are then scanned into the electronic records system. So much time and money can be saved at the EPA by making this archaic process fully electronic as the original documents are already electronic and must be printed out along with an approval sheet that has to physically... more »

There are currently 2 OPM requirements hindering tremendous savings for the Telework Program.

First- an employee's home cannot be considered their official post of duty. Therefore, there is a requirement for employees working at alternate locations report to the office twice a pay period. If an employee has to report to the office, then the Government must have office space available for these employees. The concept... more »

Travel system should provide comprehensive alternatives - just enter where you are and where you need to be.
The minor costs can really add up.
Automatically suggest the best options with a few selectors or options.

Help find:

If an alternate airport and rental car (including taxes, fees and parking) would be cheaper than an airport hotel and taxi. (This information is available in travel guides, but takes a lot of... more »