Denver Business Journal names EON’s CEO one of the 2013 “Forty Under 40”
On March 21st the Denver Business Journal recognized the 2013 Forty Under 40 award winners during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Convention Center.
Denver’s young, dynamic, up-and-coming leaders under age 40 were recognized for their business success and community contributions. There were 340 individuals nominated for this year’s awards, including EON’s own CEO Elena Sirpolaidis, 35. Elena started EON at age 23, and the company has grown successfully over the past 12 years. While competing with multi-billion dollar companies like Staples and Office Depot, EON maintains the personalized service of an independent, local company. Read more about Elena's business and involvement in the Denver community here in her Denver Business Journal feature.
EON extends its congratulations to Elena and the other 39 entrepreneurs and business leaders chosen by the Denver Business Journal as part of the "Forty Under 40". To view a slideshow of the winners and read about their stories on the road to success, please click here.
Clean Winter Salt From Floors & More
Spring has finally come to Colorado with its alternating wet, heavy snowstorms and warm, sunny days. The mix of slush and salt left on roads and sidewalks is corrosive and can damage everything from cars to carpets, so it is good to be aware of how to clean salt from various surfaces. Offices can be especially affected by salt because of increased foot traffic. Here are some helpful ways to keep salt and deicer from ruining your floors, clothes, and vehicles.
Floors:
The important factor in cleaning salt from floors is to use plenty of water- when dry, the salt crystals can act like sandpaper and scratch a floor's finish. It is recommended that you use warm water with 2 tbsp of ammonia and 1 tbsp borax, but a mixture of warm water with a splash of vinegar will also do the trick. Spray or splash the floor with the water and wait a few minutes for the salt to dissolve before mopping.
The best mop for the job is one that absorbs the most water quickly, such as a microfiber mop. Sponge mops may not absorb quick enough and allow the dirty water to settle in grout or other crevices. If you are noticing an extreme amount of dirt and residue on your floors it may be time to buy new or better mats to place in all the entryways to catch grime before it comes inside.
Clothes and Shoes:
Unlike floors, clothes cannot be scratched. This means you can allow the salt to dry on the fabric (you will see a powdery white residue) and you can brush off most of it using a clothes brush or any soft bristle brush. Any mud mixed in with the salt should also brush off easily, but make sure it is completely dry before attempting it or the mud will get ground deeper into the fabric. Any remaining salt or dirt can then be laundered away.
Shoes, especially leather shoes, should be wiped down immediately after contact with salt residue. Saddle soap or other leather cleaning products should be used to clean and protect leather shoes on a regular basis to keep them shiny and moisture-resistant. Olive oil works in a pinch to condition the shoes against water. If the shoes are very wet or soaked through, avoid drying them with heat (which can lead to shrinkage and further damage). Instead, fill the shoes with dry newspaper and replace the paper as necessary until the shoes are dry. Suede is trickier to clean, but try blotting it with a soft towel soaked in white vinegar to take out the worst of the stains. Once it dries you should then buff the suede with a dry cloth to renew the surface (the "nap" which makes suede soft).
Cars:
Salt and deicer can seriously damage a car's paint and exposed metal surfaces. Again, water mixed with vinegar (1/2 and 1/2) can be used to spot clean, but the best way to protect your car is to take it to your local car wash. Car washes are more environmentally friendly than doing the same job at home because they filter the dirty runoff instead of letting the salt run into drains where it can run into streams and rivers.
With (hopefully!) nothing but warm weather ahead, these steps can help keep your floors, clothes, and cars protected from corrosion until next winter. Unsure of what cleaning products to use in your office? Contact EON for recommendations.
Credits: How to Clean Salt from Tile Flooring>howtocleanstuff.net
Think Green in 2013, Part 5
EON helps offices stay environmentally friendly with a large selection of green products and recycling programs. “Greening” your office will not only help the environment, but potentially save money for you and your company. Here are some ideas for cutting down waste and saving energy in your office, as well as suggestions of eco-friendly products from EON.
BREAKROOM
Did you know that coffee is one of the most chemically treated and expensive to produce food products used in the US? Buying shade-grown coffee prevents tropical deforestation and choosing organic varieties will protect you from exposure to pesticides. A lot of coffee is grown where rainforest has been cut or burned- look for the green Rainforest Alliance Certified stamp on coffee products to be sure.
A little research goes a long way when it comes to making product choices. Companies like Keurig have a policy of social responsibility and their K-Cup packs that may seem wasteful at first glance can be recycled and their contents composted. They also adapt their packaging to have less environmental impact.
When it comes to eating lunch, consider the amount of gas and waste packaging involved in getting takeout or leaving the office for lunch. Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers cuts down on waste and saves you money, and knowing what is in your food can help you make healthier choices. Especially in the case of beverages a reusable cup can cut down on the amount of Styrofoam and plastic that would enter landfills from disposable cups and bottles.
It is always best to buy food and beverages with the least amount of packaging possible. Try unwrapped candies in favor of individually packaged snacks. As with paper, keeping easily accessible and clearly labelled recycle bins for plastic and aluminum in the breakroom can cut down on the environmental impact of your office. Why not have a flip through our Green Catalog to give your break room a quick eco-makeover?
FEATURED PRODUCTS
3M Reusable 16.9oz BPA-free Water Bottle
SKU: MMMRB01MC022
Reusable, water bottles are exclusively designed for use in the 3M Filtrete Water Station (sold separately), a water filtration system. BPA-free bottles are dishwasher-safe and include a leakproof cap. Slim design allows the bottle to fit in most vehicle beverage holders. Each bottle holds up to 16.9 oz. (500 ml). Threaded, multicolored caps let you color-code according to use or individual.
Baumgartens Bamboo Coffee Station Organizer
SKU: BAU10650
Keep your coffee station neat, organized and clean with separate compartments for sugars, creamers, straws and stir sticks. Heavy-duty bamboo construction ensures years of high-volume usage while the sleek bamboo design adds beauty to your breakroom. Coffee Station Organizer offers three shallow compartments and three deep compartments to store your coffee essentials. Earth-friendly bamboo is a sustainable and renewable material.
For more sticky notes on how to Think Green, click on the Think Green category under EON Sticky Notes to see all articles on conservation.
Aurora Hills Middle School
Aurora Hills Middle School was a fun project that allowed EON's design team to play with bright colors and geometric shapes. The project focused on the main level of the school, which includes the reception area, offices, conference rooms, and library pods. Each library pod is used for a number of different activities; EON designed custom serpentine tables to bring movement and functionality to this area. These tables can be easily moved to accommodate small or large groups. Each pod has a different color of chair: red, green, and blue. Materials and finishes were selected for their durability. Blues and greens were used throughout the space in combination with warm wood grain laminates.
Think Green in 2013, Part 4
EON helps offices stay environmentally friendly with a large selection of green products and recycling programs. “Greening” your office will not only help the environment, but potentially save money for you and your company. Here are some ideas for cutting down waste and saving energy in your office, as well as suggestions of eco-friendly products from EON.
OFFICE SUPPLIES & FURNITURE
Do you know about VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)? Many common office furnishings are made of pressed board, foam, or paint which contains VOCs- toxic compounds that are bad for the environment and potentially your health. Make sure you buy green products from reputable vendors who can help you choose items that are SCS certified to protect your air quality. You can also find office décor and supplies made with high percentages of post-consumer content, which means those items are made from materials that would otherwise be in landfills. Also, don’t forget about plants! They help clean the air and beautify your space as well as lifting your mood.
Disposable items like pens and tape dispensers take up space in landfills, so buy refillable versions and buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste. Just as you can promote recycling paper by keeping convenient recycling bins in the office, you can promote recycling of plastic by doing the same. Check regulations for your area before disposing of possibly toxic items such as ink cartridges and spent batteries- you may need to take these to a facility that will deal with this refuse safely.
FEATURED PRODUCTS
Pilot Corporation BeGreen B2P Gel Pen
B2P BeGreen Gel Pen is made from recycled plastic bottles and contains a high percentage of recycled material. Vibrant gel ink delivers smooth, effortless writing. Gel pen has a retractable fine point and is refillable for continued use with G2 refills. Gel pen also earned the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal.
HON Unanimous 7602 Executive High-Back Chair
SKU: HON7602BW90T
Executive high-back chair offers high performance and comfort. Functions include pneumatic seat-height adjustment from 16-1/4" to 20-1/4" high, back-height adjustment, 360-degree swivel, tilt, tilt tension and tilt lock. Arms adjust in height and width. Outer back is upholstered. Executive high-back chair also offers a five-star base with casters for stability and mobility. Weight capacity is 300 lb. Seat size is 19" wide x 20" deep. Usable seat depth is 18-1/4". Back measures 19" wide x 24-1/2" to 27-1/2" high. The distance between the arms is 16-7/8" to 19-3/8". Chair is certified by SCS to be in compliance with specific indoor air quality emission requirements and meets or exceeds applicable ANSI/BIFMA standards. Chair is available in black frame only
For more sticky notes on how to Think Green, click on the Think Green category under EON Sticky Notes to see all articles on conservation.
Think Green in 2013, Part 3
EON helps offices stay environmentally friendly with a large selection of green products and recycling programs. “Greening” your office will not only help the environment, but potentially save money for you and your company. Here are some ideas for cutting down waste and saving energy in your office, as well as suggestions of eco-friendly products from EON.
PAPER
Paper has been around for almost 2,000 years and has revolutionized the way people spread information. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency has calculated that each office employee in the US generates on average over a pound of paper waste per day. This is a huge drain on the environment, from the trees used to create the paper to the chemicals used to treat the paper and the transportation required to ship it around the globe.
To avoid this unnecessary waste, only print when necessary- emails, notes, and forms are easy to store digitally and will keep you more organized as well. Try to never use two sheets of paper where one will do, such as omitting cover sheets for faxes in favor of a small label. Label sheets can also create a lot of waste, so if you end up printing a lot of them you might try a label printing machine that will align text properly the first time and print on a roll which is more economical. Used paper can be used for note taking, or consider using a dry erase board for notes and reminders- it’s reusable and harder to lose than a sheet of paper. When printing is a must, use both sides of the paper and recycle when possible by keeping easily accessible recycle bins at every desk. Paper can also be taken home to be used for composting, lighting fireplaces and grills, wrapping or cushioning packages, and much more around the house.
If you receive a lot of mass marketing by way of catalogs and mailings you can save paper and send a message by taking the time to contact those companies and opt out of their marketing programs. Most catalogs and coupons cannot be recycled because of how heavily coated in ink and plastic they are.
When purchasing office products, consider printers that print on both sides of the sheet automatically and either purchase paper that already has a high post-consumer content or paper that is unbleached and uncoated, which is easier to recycle in future. Some papers are made using toxic materials, so take care to research products that are processed in environmentally friendly ways. With just a few alterations to the ways you use paper in the workplace you can take large strides toward saving money and protecting this amazing resource for generations.
FEATURED PRODUCTS
Domtar EarthChoice Copy & Multipurpose Paper
SKU: DMR1842
EarthChoice 30 is a reliable multipurpose paper containing a high percentage of post-consumer recycled fiber and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). EarthChoice contains ColorLok Technology for more vivid colors and bolder blacks. Curl control means jam-free performance and less downtime. Recycled, 20 lb. office paper is engineered to run smoothly on a wide variety of printing equipment including all high-speed copiers, laser printers and inkjet printers. Use for everyday copying, high-speed volume applications and more.
Rubbermaid Deskside Recycling Container
SKU: RCP295673BE
The 28-1/8 quart deskside, recycling bin offers an easy, effective way to recycle paper. Ideal for gathering white paper for recycling. One side is marked with the chasing arrows, recycling logo. Sturdy plastic contains post-consumer recycled resin (PCR) exceeding EPA guidelines.
There are a lot of creative ways to conserve or reuse paper in the office. What are your ideas? Our next feature focuses on EON's specialty- office supplies and furniture. Learn how to shop smart for the environment and your own well-being too!
For more sticky notes on how to Think Green, click on the Think Green category under EON Sticky Notes to see all articles on conservation.