Elaine S. Povich

Posts by Elaine S. Povich

Government Seeing Big Savings From Green Buildings

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The U.S. Treasury has always been a place where people could find something green, but this time the term is not referring to money. The U.S. Treasury building has obtained a green environmental designation, probably the oldest federal building to earn one. It has reduced its operating costs by $3.5 million annually as a result.

If the Treasury, built first in 1836, can go green and utilize smarter systems management, then most of the rest of government should be relatively easy, according to experts in the field. All it takes is a little ingenuity, a great deal of effort and a desire. And a presidential executive order helps too. Keep reading →

 /  Published January 11, 2013 at 9:00 AM

Third Party Monitoring Of Apps Saves Money

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A new survey suggests apps lose value and become costly if they perform slowly, fail altogether or are overwhelmed with users. But third-party monitoring could be the solution for to save money and ensure reliability of increasingly essential government agency apps.

The Government Business Council’s “Industry Insights” survey noted that agencies such as the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Veterans Affairs ran into trouble when apps were overwhelmed and shut down. Such instances, GBC notes, undermines the agency’s mission and public trust. Keep reading →

 /  Published January 2, 2013 at 7:00 AM

GSA Offers Help As Agencies Plan For Possible Sequestration

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GSA Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini said Wednesday that the “supply” agency is working with other agencies to plan for possible sequestration budget reductions since that would mean cutting back on everything from supplies to real estate.

“Our planning is really responsive to the agencies we serve and to get a better sense of how they are thinking about it,” Tangherlini told reporters following a speech at George Washington University. “One of the things we are trying to do is establish a continual framework of communication and see if there are ways we can help [other agencies] manage their way through it.” Keep reading →

 /  Published December 13, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Veterans Fill Technology Workforce Gap Through Private Programs

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American companies and industry organizations are ramping up efforts that began last year to help employ returning veterans and meet growing IT workforce needs.

Private training and mentoring programs are bridging the knowledge and training gaps for veterans as federal agencies begin to process the influx of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Private efforts aimed at training for private industry and government jobs are also in response to President Barack Obama’s call last year for American firms and associations to help 100,000 veterans re-enter the workforce by the end of 2013. Keep reading →

 /  Published November 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM

Chevron, NASA Team Up For High-Tech Exploration

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Chevron has teamed up with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab to bring space-age techniques to down-to-Earth energy exploration and production involving increasingly harsh environments. Keep reading →

 /  Published November 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Anti-Conference Trend Forces Innovation Amid Concern

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Government agencies and departments are learning to live with travel restrictions and discovering innovative alternatives amid an anti-conference trend brought on by budget restrictions and well-publicized abuses.

But some managers fear the trend will inhibit federal workers’ ability to stay current with new technology field advancements or to consult with experts in the private sector via site visits, professional seminars and annual conferences. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 31, 2012 at 1:30 PM

State Agencies Bypass Bureaucracy With eGov Portals

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From background checks on truck drivers to renewing hunting licenses in Mississippi, eGovernment portals are taking consumers directly to government services through a “self-pay” fee system without either state or federal appropriations or expenditures.

For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has instituted a background check system that bypasses bureaucracy and delivers information directly to trucking companies. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 9, 2012 at 8:00 AM

Video Conferencing Could Save $5 Billion Annually

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This is one in an occasional series exploring how federal agencies are finding and implementing innovative ways to drive efficiency and cut costs.

The federal government could save almost $5 billion annually by substituting video conferencing for face-to-face meetings and conventions, according to a new study by Telework Exchange, a public/private partnership emphasizing telework. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 25, 2012 at 7:00 AM

Challenge.gov Contests Liberate Labor Department Data

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The Department of Labor has emerged as a leader in transforming crucial information buried in online PDF files or impenetrable government websites into new applications that widely distribute government data. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Federal Workers’ Ideas Fuel Federal Budget Cuts

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This is one in our regular More With Less series exploring how federal agencies are finding and implementing innovative ways to drive efficiency and cut costs.

The Office of Management and Budget has about 20,000 money-saving ideas from federal workers to consider in the coming weeks. One of them will win an award. Many could find their way into the next fiscal budget. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 6, 2012 at 1:00 PM
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