18 votes
It is about time the U.S. invest in all power sources. Wind, solar, AND nuclear power are a must. By increasing supply the cost will go down allowing more dollars into the economy and more jobs. With huge increases in energy and health care costs how is the nation ever going to recover!
90 votes
Government already has some good telework initiatives in place, however, they are not equal across the board. In fact, there's even some shady reporting occurring from some Departments. If an employee has no real reason to come into an office, other than to make sure that they're working, then they should be given an opportunity to telework full-time. Full-time telework would also mean that they could live apart from ...more »
Government already has some good telework initiatives in place, however, they are not equal across the board. In fact, there's even some shady reporting occurring from some Departments.
If an employee has no real reason to come into an office, other than to make sure that they're working, then they should be given an opportunity to telework full-time. Full-time telework would also mean that they could live apart from their local, so long as they could attend mandatory meetings (at their cost).
British Telecom did a case study in the 90's that computed each of their employees cost them $258 pounds per month in space, utilities, and equipment. They gave 10% of their workforce the chance to telework full-time, and saved over 100 million pounds per year from 6000 employees teleworking full-time.
There is no excuse in this digital age to have physical offices for 50% of government employees.
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12 votes
Allow domestic and foreign car manufacturers to have more fuel efficient diesel automobiles available for the United States consumer. Diesel fuel is more powerful and is not what it used to be in the 1970s and 1980s. Cars overseas are acheiving 50+ mpg on diesel engines with comparable horsepower to a compact vehicle. Not one major domestic automaker uses the clean diesel technology like overseas manufacturers are ...more »
Allow domestic and foreign car manufacturers to have more fuel efficient diesel automobiles available for the United States consumer. Diesel fuel is more powerful and is not what it used to be in the 1970s and 1980s. Cars overseas are acheiving 50+ mpg on diesel engines with comparable horsepower to a compact vehicle. Not one major domestic automaker uses the clean diesel technology like overseas manufacturers are doing. This would be an easier way to reduce the dependence on foreign oil and manufacturers if domestic automakers can be what consumers are looking for. For simple math it is easier to see that $4 gallon on a 50mpg vehicle is much less expensive then $3.50 for a 30mpg vehicle. Fuel tax could be raised on diesel gas with no impact to the cost per mile.
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10 votes
The federal government pays a lot of money for the electricity, natural gas, and other energy sources that power our facilities. We have energy-saving goals, but we don't have the capital necessary to make the up-front investments. Changing lights, windows, controls, and other equipment can save energy in future years. But, there is a negative impact on the budget in the year the energy-saving change is made. And, ...more »
The federal government pays a lot of money for the electricity, natural gas, and other energy sources that power our facilities. We have energy-saving goals, but we don't have the capital necessary to make the up-front investments.
Changing lights, windows, controls, and other equipment can save energy in future years. But, there is a negative impact on the budget in the year the energy-saving change is made. And, with budgets the way they are today, there's no capital today to invest in something that will provide savings tomorrow.
I propose that the federal government go to the private market to sell bonds (or other instruments) to raise the capital necessary to make those investments today.
These bonds can then be paid back with future energy savings. The repayment could be set up to provide a net positive cashflow -- save some money during the repayment period, save even more when the investment is totally paid off.
This will allow us to cut future energy costs without incurring any upfront cost. Today's budgets will not increase and future budgets will be lower.
In addition, this will spur private market investments in the kinds of projects that are really good for the US. There are investment firms looking for low-risk "green" investments. They would welcome an opportunity like this.
Just think how effective it would be to have an Executive Order encouraging energy efficiency coupled with a no-upfront-cost source of funds. This is truly an idea whose time has come.
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18 votes
The US has the technology to obtain all of its needed energy from the sun, wind and other natural sources differerent from oil. Instead of focusing on more oil production or foreign wars around oil-producing countries, the US should invest in these technologies for a much better global future.
6 votes
Very simple and basic ideas that are easy to do, but hard to make a habit for most. 1. Unplug unused electronics 2. Power down computers 3. Turn off lights when not in use I know the current policy is to keep computers on for patches and updates, but I'm not sure this is entirely necessary. I know more recent versions of Windows does not take long to update, and surely anything our IT is doing can adjust to a sign-in ...more »
Very simple and basic ideas that are easy to do, but hard to make a habit for most.
1. Unplug unused electronics
2. Power down computers
3. Turn off lights when not in use
I know the current policy is to keep computers on for patches and updates, but I'm not sure this is entirely necessary. I know more recent versions of Windows does not take long to update, and surely anything our IT is doing can adjust to a sign-in update. A few extra minutes waiting to update will save a ton over a year.
Plus, computers do have lifespans, and having them on all the time certainly doesn't extend them.
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8 votes
BACKGROUND: The Department of Defense is examining its energy demands and is taking action to reduce fuel demand where it will not negatively affect operational capability. Such efforts will reduce DoD fuel costs and assist wider U.S. Government energy security and environmental objectives. The Air Force is the largest user of energy in the Department of Defense and aviation operations account for 84% of that energy ...more »
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Defense is examining its energy demands and is taking action to reduce fuel demand where it will not negatively affect operational capability. Such efforts will reduce DoD fuel costs and assist wider U.S. Government energy security and environmental objectives.
The Air Force is the largest user of energy in the Department of Defense and aviation operations account for 84% of that energy usage. Of that, over half is attributable to air mobility operations, and significant actions are underway now to mitigate the impact of increasing fuel costs.
Many other initiatives are out there, and DoD Components must continuously strive to capture and capitalize on innovation and cost saving methods across the enterprise.
SUGGESTION:
Recommend SAVE Award run a focused campaign to harvest aviation fuel efficiency initiatives from DoD components, with specific email invite to the US Air Force military and civilian population.
BENEFITS:
-Creates tangible link between current DoD, USAF initiatives and POTUS interest
-Harvest innovation from sources associated with fuels
-Recognizes major contributors to the process
-Increases awareness of need to reduce fuel demand across DoD
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162 votes
Create and enforce a policy that all federal buildings use solar panels. The Federal Detention Center in Honolulu has the highest electricity bill on the island of Oahu and doesn't use any solar power!
18 votes
Save travel costs, energy costs, and increase health of federal employees by providing the option for low-cost non-motorized transportation reimbursements rather than only providing the current high cost motorized vehicle use rates. If, as an example, just a couple percent of federal employees would use bicycles that could be reimbursed at 10 cents per mile instead of 50 cents/mile for automobile use – much would be saved ...more »
Save travel costs, energy costs, and increase health of federal employees by providing the option for low-cost non-motorized transportation reimbursements rather than only providing the current high cost motorized vehicle use rates. If, as an example, just a couple percent of federal employees would use bicycles that could be reimbursed at 10 cents per mile instead of 50 cents/mile for automobile use – much would be saved annually in various monetary/environmental/energy/sedentary costs associated with exclusive motorized vehicle usage. Those employees that are eligible for patrol assignment home to home reimbursements have a good opportunity to benefit the taxpayer (including self) and the environment by using non-motorized transport between home and duty station.
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13 votes
We all hate a slow computer! Recently I found out how easy it is for a computer tech. to delete a few unneeded files and make my computer start-up twice as fast! Let's have computer techs make a concerted effort to help EVERYONE speed up their start-up time. We can save time, money, and energy by deleting unneeded files off everyone's computer. This would also encourage more people to turn off computers at night because ...more »
We all hate a slow computer! Recently I found out how easy it is for a computer tech. to delete a few unneeded files and make my computer start-up twice as fast! Let's have computer techs make a concerted effort to help EVERYONE speed up their start-up time. We can save time, money, and energy by deleting unneeded files off everyone's computer. This would also encourage more people to turn off computers at night because they don't have to wait so long in the morning for their computer to start up.
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31 votes
Install green roofs, covered with soil and grass [or other suitable kinds of plants, typically smaller than trees], to extend roof life, reduce heating and cooling costs, and provide wildlife habitats, on as many federal buildings as practical.
58 votes
Require all Federal agencies to install motion sensing on lighting in offices so that energy is not wasted by employees who forget to turn the lights off or do not care about such things as saving money. Millions, probably a billion or two, could be saved annually if all Federal offices had minimal -- required by OSHA for safety / security -- lighting after hours and on weekends. Ask the President to look out the window ...more »
Require all Federal agencies to install motion sensing on lighting in offices so that energy is not wasted by employees who forget to turn the lights off or do not care about such things as saving money. Millions, probably a billion or two, could be saved annually if all Federal offices had minimal -- required by OSHA for safety / security -- lighting after hours and on weekends. Ask the President to look out the window of the White House or his vehicle when he's moving around DC any evening and he'll see hundreds of office lights on in Federal buildings and there is no one working.
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