SAVE Award 2011 Ideas

Why are federal employees expected to wear suits and ties during summer? The summer dress code for all federal workers should be changed to business casual [including golf shirts] and the ambient indoor temperature of federal office buildings should be increased 5 degrees. Employees will be more comfortable at work and commuting on mass transit, no more complaints about overly air conditioned offices, and the government... more »

A number of employees are sent around the globe to attend topic-specific conferences, meetings, etc. I propose we invest in partnering with these major conferences to implement video conferencing, interactive sessions, etc. Many organizations have adopted virtual meetings such as the distance education institutions allowing them to conduct classes with students around the globe. It would greatly save the government... more »

Eliminate End of year spending. Allow money to cross fiscal years. This would eliminate the need to do new Purchase orders every October 1 for contracts from the previous years. If money can flow across the FY then it has the ability to save the government time, money and energy. There should be an incentive to return any unused portion of an agencies budget to the treasury.

I recommend that all federal agencies would work 4 days 10 hours each. This way the government will have a total of 3 days without using the resources it takes to run the buildings, i.e. electric, water usage, cooling/heating, etc.

Why is it that if I get put in jail I don't continue to get paid YET a senator or congressman does!!! Talk about waste, fraud and abuse--this is MAJOR. They also should not get a pension for doing one term, that continues for years and years after they leave office. They also should not be able to vote in raises for themselves---the US people should be able to do that. They act like they rule the world and are more important... more »

My idea is to have one security clearance, or background check to cover all, or at least most agencies. For example right now a person can already have a Top-Secret clearance with the Department of Defense, and they would have to start a background investigation all over again if they were to apply with another agency, even if it’s only for a Secret clearance. They would have to fill out the same SF-86, the same eQip... more »

At the end of the fiscal year, agencies that have carryover money are put in a position to spend that money or lose it in future budget cycles. Why not reward agencies for saving money at the years end by ensuring they get the same amount or more in the next budget cycle? Or through some other means of reward where they are not penalized in the next budget cycle for their fiscal responsibility? There is so much government... more »

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.

Building insulation greatly reduces space conditioning costs. Insulate outside walls, ceilings/roofs and other areas of building envelopes to reduce energy use and save money. Seal cracks to provide a complete insulation barrier.

Repair broken window panes to save energy and money. Broken glass, and leaking windows are very wasteful of energy from space conditioning.

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.

I am presently reimbursed at 51 cents per mile to use of my privately owned automobile and would like to instead sometimes be reimbursed at 10 cents per mile to use my privately owned bicycle. Add bicycles to the list of reimbursable mileage rates or otherwise fund its use. My bike, tires, maintenance, and riding gear have costs, yet i reduce the higher societal costs of fuel demand, traffic control, pollution, road maintenance,... more »

The 2011 SAVE Award (judges/moderators) should have the prerogative to also choose COMMENTS as "winning ideas". And, based on merit of both useful ideas and comments, give time-off awards.

Recognize that POV travel is less expensive than GOV travel, and reimburse appropriately. A new AAA study shows the cost to own and operate a sedan rose nearly 2 cents a mile to 58.5 cents per mile. As a high-mileage driver the government had been reimbursing me (to use my POV for government business) 19 cents per mile, which is down from the 28.5 cents per mile that was reimbursed in prior years (while actual costs have... more »

I recently went to a training session at a cost of several thousand dollars per person, and the training was still in the development stages. I believe huge efficiencies and savings (both personal and monetarily) could have been realized if the quick reference guide, or DVD, or another method was simply sent to me with no personal travel involved. In this solitary case, millions of dollars could have been saved.