2012 SAVE Award

2012 Winning Idea

Frederick Winter of Arlington, Virginia
Program Officer at the Department of Education

Frederick from the Department of Education proposes that all Federal employees who receive public transit benefits shift from regular transit fare to the reduced senior fare as soon as they are eligible. In the D.C. area, this change would lower the cost of the employyee’s travel by 50 percent, with no loss in the effective benefits for the employee.

2012 SAVE Award Additional Finalists

Angela Leroux of Locust Grove, Virginia
Accountant at the Internal Revenue Service

Many Federal agencies maintain buses to shuttle employees from one government office to another for work purposes. Too often these vehicles sit idle, or travel their routes with just a few passengers. Angela at the Internal Revenue Service recommends that agencieseliminate or consolidate the bus service and encourage the use of conference and video calls, or provide metro cards to those with a need to travel.

James Szender of Anchorage, Alaska
Land Transfer Resolutions Specialist at the Department of the Interior

A written transcript of Federal meetings or hearings is often required. James from the Department of the Interior proposes, whenever possible, using digital equipment for transcripts instead of hiring a courtreporter, as using digital transcription is significantly less expensive than getting a certified court reporter to attend, record, and transcribe the proceedings.

Laurie Dempsey of Alexandria, Virginia
Branch Chief at the Department of Homeland Security

Customs and Border Protection is required to post a bulletin weekly that lists all imported items that have completed the customs inspection process. Currently, Customs ports across the country print this bulletin, which can be hundreds of pages long, and post it in the customs house. Laurie from the Department of Homeland Security suggests instead posting the bulletin electronically on CBP.gov. This change would save paper, reduce costs, and make it easier for the public to find out about what items have been inspected without having to visit the facility in person.

All 2012 SAVE Award Ideas

View all of the ideas submitted as part of the 2012 SAVE Award.