Extraordinary Alum: Jacek Helenowski

[Pete]

Walking the WalkLabor of Love
The house was a weekend and weeknight project. It took 12 years from start of research to finish.
To Name a Few
Among many others, the green features of the Helenowski residence include a green roof, recycled drywall, soy-based insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, a vertical axis wind turbine, solar panels, and LM Cold Cathode lighting.
From the AshesFriends in the Right PlacesThe Sunny Side of the Street
Toward a New Day
Helenowski holds several patents in efficient lighting, many of which are in LED (light-emitting diode) lighting products. Since those patents were filed, Helenowski has moved away from LED lighting, which contains arsenic, toward a light source called LM Cold Cathode, which does not.
Notable Projects
National Pride
Square 1 Precision Lighting created and built a large illuminated United States flag as a 9/11 memorial, which was the official flag for Salt Lake City Olympics and Paralympics. The Olympic committee estimated that this flag was seen by one-quarter of the people in the world.
Lighting the Wayhttp://blogs.luc.edu/ilweekly/2014/0...ek-helenowski/

[Pete]

I didn't know this piece:

Toward a New Day
Helenowski holds several patents in efficient lighting, many of which are in LED (light-emitting diode) lighting products. Since those patents were filed, Helenowski has moved away from LED lighting, which contains arsenic, toward a light source called LM Cold Cathode, which does not.

Googled it:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...bulb-concerns/

I know that CCFL lighting contains mercury though:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=7431198

I do recall helping a friend in his new home and doing some LV stuff. His son (a physics major) was also helping us. I broke a CCFL lamp by accident and the son ran away as if it was some toxic biochemical fumes that I had released. That said I think it was more relating to the son not wanting to help rather than running away from a broken CCFL bulb.

I also have been playing with EL lighting and LV CCFL lighting in certain places in the house. I have left one LV CCFL lamp on now some 3 years 24/7 and its still works fine.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=7431198