Charlie Popeck is a recognized authority and leader in the field of building science, sustainability and green building. As President and founding Principal of Green Ideas Building Science Consultants, Charlie is sought after as an expert in building science and LEED, the Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). His business responsibilities for Green Ideas include operations, business development, marketing, educational programs and technical consulting. As a life-long construction industry professional he has worked on a wide range of commercial, industrial and residential projects and has unique expertise in green building products, applications and installation techniques. He has been a licensed California General Contractor and has held senior management level positions for general contractors, architectural and product manufacturing firms. His passion for high-performance design and construction, along with his construction management and tradesman background uniquely qualifies him as one of the most versatile green building consultants in the country.
As one of the first LEED Accredited Professionals in the United States, Charlie has been a leader in the green building industry for many years. He is a former member of the USGBC’s national faculty, regularly delivering educational seminars throughout the country on behalf of the organization. In addition, Charlie served on the steering committee that was responsible for bringing a chapter of the USGBC to Arizona in 2002 and has held leadership positions within the chapter including Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary. Charlie has a keen understanding of the various LEED Rating Systems, as well as hands-on field experience with green building products, applications and installation techniques. As a certified Construction Documents Technologist with the Construction Specifications Institute, he also brings a unique product and construction administration perspective to the green building industry.
Charlie has personally trained over 40,000 architects, engineers, contractors, product manufacturers, building owners, and other construction industry professionals about high-performance design and construction, building products, material selection, and construction means and methods relating to green building and the LEED Rating System. He is a dynamic and entertaining speaker who has delivered on the subject of sustainability and building science before dozens of trade associations, universities, businesses, municipalities and multi-national corporations around the globe including Arizona State University, BASF, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Intel, Parsons, Raytheon, Starwood Development and Wachovia.
As a certified Charrette Facilitator, Charlie has effectively led the planning process for many high-profile green building projects including Garmin Corporate Headquarters, Intel Ocotillo Campus, General Dynamics C-4 Systems, Phoenix Convention Center, General Motors IT Innovation Center, Walgreens and BASF’s Near-Zero Energy Home.
Charlie is also an accomplished author who regularly writes on the subjects of corporate sustainability, high-performance design, construction and operations management. His articles have appeared in Environmental Design + Construction, Southwest Contractor, California Green Building Quarterly, American Builder and Green Living Magazine, among others. He was a contributing editor to Smart HomeOwner Magazine, a premium publication that concentrates on innovative solutions for creating efficient, healthy, and eco-friendly homes. His perspectives on sustainability and the green building industry were a stand-out feature in every issue of the publication.