Save Award 2010 Ideas

Configure computers to automatically shut down in the evenings in order to save energy.

Tapping Obesity Energy Reserve (TOER) is one initiative that contributes to solutions for two national issues--(1) the need for alternative energy solutions and (2) solutions to reduce obesity (like Let's Move). The genesis of the idea is to fund (with money otherwise spent on health care costs related to obesity) research, development, and incentivize production of home pedal power technology--like the bicycle powered... more »

Tapping Obesity Energy Reserve (TOER) is one initiative that contributes to solutions for two national issues--(1) the need for alternative energy solutions and (2) solutions to reduce obesity (like Let's Move). The genesis of the idea is to fund (with money otherwise spent on health care costs related to obesity) research, development, and incentivize production of home pedal power technology--like the bicycle powered... more »

Enable System Standby on all Government desktop computers. This can be done by a System Administrator at the highest level of each organization through a Group Policy on the network. It could be implemented at no additional cost and would only require a one-time configuration setting per organization. The desktops could be configured to enter "sleep mode" after 30 minutes of inactivity. This would save hundreds of... more »

How about installing solar panels on government buildings?

Unplug your workstation computer and printer as you leave each day. If each federal employee unplugged their computer when they left the energy costs could be reduced by millions of dollars.

I suggest you... shutdown computers. Require all users to turn off monitors and shut down computers at night. Have IT set all computers to hybernate after 30 minutes without use, and save and shut down after 2 hours without use. This would save millions in energy costs.

Install LED lighting in Government offices. This would enhance efficiency and reduce costs and pollution.

Encourage computer users to shut down computers at night if they are not in use. This will not only save the power that the computer uses while sitting idle, but it will cause the computer to generate less heat, meaning cooling systems will also use less power as well. A hidden benefit is that the computers will last longer before component failure, as just being on, whether in use or not, ages the computer faster than... more »

I suggest energy savings ideas be validated with an inexpensive power meter (~a $30 kill-a-watt unit can be purchased from MCM electronics for appliance level power usage.) Expending money and manhours to save small bits energy may not be worth the costs, yet big energy losses with no direct measurement can easily go unnoticed.

I suggest you...install PV windows (lets light in, and generates electricity) instead of regular windows whenever an old window is replaced (renovation) or a new window is purchased (construction). This could be done in Federal buildings as well as mandated for buildings constructed or improved with Federal funds. The cost savings for heating/cooling a building fully outfitted with PV windows is 50%.

I suggest for desk workers to use power strips with an on/off switch and have employees easily turn electronics off for weekends and holidays.

If each year, every department of the government had to eliminate just 1 document from being printed on paper and it was converted to be viewed on a computer as a .pdf for example, the savings would be in the Billions!
For example: Time sheets are signed in and out on paper every day.
Although we have badges that have chips in them to allow us to pass into secured areas and get into employee parking. Why can’t the same... more »

I find it amazing the number of batteries that are wasted. Many of the items used can use AC adapters, yet we place the battery driven item on our desk and waste govenment dollars. Item like calculators, labelers, and hundreds of others can use AC adapters. This can extend the life of our planet by not creating more toxic waste.

I suggest you use advanced utility meters to benchmark federal facilities on energy use. Use D.C. area as a pilot for other regions in the country. There is already a lot of benchmarking information (GSA HOTD data ) in the D.C. area that clearly shows who has effective energy management programs and who does not, yet it is not being used. A lot of SAVE recommendations are for basic energy conservation projects, but... more »