5 Online Tools Uncle Sam Wants You To Use
The White House website offers a collection of federal agency resources for the public. Think financial aid data, energy savings calculators, and more.
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Navigating government websites can be complicated, especially when you're searching for specific resources to help you make informed decisions -- whether it's saving money on an energy bill or filling out a financial aid application for college.
Earlier this month, the White House launched a new feature on its site that brings together the most useful online tools across the government. One resource spotlighted on WhiteHouse.gov/Tools is the Department of Energy's hybrid car calculator, which drivers can use to estimate how much money they would save by buying a hybrid car. The tool compares hybrids to their non-hybrid counterparts in fuel costs and manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).
Another tool featured on the site comes from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). CFPB has created a shorter, more straightforward credit card agreement that consumers can understand in simple terms. An interactive sample agreement, which can be found on Consumerfinance.gov, allows users to click on any section to learn more about it. According to the CFPB, the tool is meant to help consumers "know before they owe."
The new site currently features only a handful of tools from federal agencies. The White House said it plans to include more tools, and it's asking for input from the public.
Agencies are increasingly turning to the Web to offer services that have traditionally required filling out paper forms, a trip to a local office, or a call to a help center. President Obama has been instructing agencies to work toward building a digital government since his first term in office. Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel has described the transition as an "information- and customer-centric approach to changing how the government works and delivers services." While the transition hasn't been easy, agencies have been moving in the right direction.
In February, the IRS launched a self-service Web tool called Get Transcript, which lets consumers download transcripts of their tax filings. Get Transcript is one of a number of changes the IRS introduced for the 2014 tax filing season to provide better services to consumers while easing the back-office burden on the agency's employees. Automating the process has allowed individual taxpayers to take more control, since the IRS has struggled with limited funds to accommodate these types of person-to-person services.
WhiteHouse.gov/Tools isn't the only resource available to the public. USA.gov, launched in September 2000, has served as a single portal to help users find government information and services. The site not only directs consumers to different online services offered by federal agencies, but also houses a gallery of more than 100 government-created mobile apps.
InformationWeek Government has been closely following federal agencies' digital efforts. The following slideshow spotlights five online resources offered through WhiteHouse.gov/Tools.
The Home Energy Yardstick is a performance-based home assessment that examines 12 months of a household's utility bills and compares the numbers to similar homes. The tool uses a statistical algorithm to take into account the effects of local weather, the home's size, and the number of occupants. The provided score is based on data obtained from the Department of Energy's Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, which manages the Energy Star program, the tool can help consumers improve energy efficiency in their homes as they track the changes each month.
(Source: Energystar.gov)
The College Scorecard, provided by the Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency Center, lets parents and students search for colleges based on value and affordability. To start using the tool, users must enter the name of a college of interest or select factors that are important in their college search. These factors can include the majors offered, location of the institution, and enrollment size. The Scorecard offers interactive features that make it easy for users to navigate.
(Source: Department of Education)
For those who own a patent and have received a demand letter or might be threatened with a patent lawsuit, the Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Litigation Resource Center can help. It offers information on patent infringement and examples of related lawsuits. The resource center also provides options for responding to a demand letter and lists different legal routes that are available. The USPTO created the site in response to President Obama's request in June 2013 for an online resource to help those threatened with a patent lawsuit.
(Source: USPTO)
The Department of Agriculture has created a fully searchable map of food projects, farmers' markets, and food hubs found locally and regionally. Although it was last updated in October 2012, the map remains relevant to anyone who wants to learn about specific projects in their area (based on zip code). Users of the interactive map can use the slide bar to zoom into a location and scroll through the results using arrows at the top of the map's pop-up box. The map is part of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass, which is a digital guide to local and regional food systems.
(Source: USDA)
For college students looking to receive financial aid, there's a tool that lets them fill out and submit an application online. The government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provides more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds every year. By logging into the online system, students can complete the FAFSA and learn whether they are eligible to receive money. Using the tool, students can also make a correction to their form, add a school, view their student aid report, and more.
(Source: FAFSA.gov)
For college students looking to receive financial aid, there's a tool that lets them fill out and submit an application online. The government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provides more than $150 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds every year. By logging into the online system, students can complete the FAFSA and learn whether they are eligible to receive money. Using the tool, students can also make a correction to their form, add a school, view their student aid report, and more.
(Source: FAFSA.gov)
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