グリーンビルディングのコンサルティング事業、20年の歩み
月商 — · 創業者1人 · 従業員1人 · Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Charlie Popeck（Founder, Green Ideas Building Science Consultants）· 創業 September 2002 · 記事掲載 — · egreenideas.com · 元の記事
創業者は建設業界で20年以上の経験を持ち、LEED制度の黎明期にいち早く資格を取得。当初はLEED APトレーニングで顧客を集め、その受講生が後にクライアントになった。主な集客方法は口コミ、Webサイトでの検索からの流入、創業者による大学での講義、業界イベントでの受賞や講演。2022年からはメールマガジン、PR、SEO、LinkedInを強化している。月商・人数は記事に記載なし。
売値の出典: 売値は確認できず（2026-10-14 取得）
SNS: YouTube
As a lifelong construction industry professional, I have worked on a wide range of commercial, industrial, and residential projects with unique expertise in green building products, applications, and installation techniques. I have been a licensed California General Contractor, as well as have held senior management-level positions for general contractors, and architectural and product manufacturing firms. My passion for high-performance design and construction, along with my construction management and tradesman background, has uniquely qualified me as one of the most versatile building science consultants in the United States. I have been in the construction business my entire adult life. After I completed my Masters's degree, I went to work for a construction product manufacturing company (Director of Sales) that considered their product to be “green”. I quickly discovered that it wasn’t. That’s when I decided to combine my love of nature and the outdoors with my construction industry background to found Green Ideas in 2002. At this time, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program was in its infancy, and I detected a business opportunity. I studied for the LEED Professional Accreditation (LEED AP) Exam (without any study guides or materials available) and was one of the first people in the country to successfully pass the exam. When people in the Phoenix AEC community discovered that I was a LEED AP, I was invited to speak at many trade organization events and was also asked by several companies to conduct LEED training sessions to help employees to become LEED APs. For the first several years that Green Ideas was in business, training services became about 60% of my business revenue.
I incorporated Green Ideas, Inc. as an S-Corp in 2002. I bootstrapped the start-up costs, and as the business grew, I reinvested profits into growing the company to the next level. As the sustainability movement in the AEC industry started to grow, I was invited to assess several projects to determine if they could qualify for LEED certification. Green Ideas’ first project was the Institute for Ecotourism in Sedona, Arizona, owned and operated by ILX Resorts (see attached Project Profile). This project was the first in the State of Arizona to earn LEED “GOLD” level status.
The launch strategy included the development of the first Green Ideas website, attending trade shows and events with a simple trade show booth setup, and conducting public LEED AP Exam Prep training seminars to help others to become LEED APs. Doing so, many people thought I was crazy at the time, stating “Why would you want to teach others to become a LEED APs? You are creating competition for yourself!” I looked at the bigger picture…I was out to save the world through sustainable design, construction, and operations practices! I wanted to transform the AEC industry into one that was more responsible and respectful of the environment. Our mission statement was to “Transform the AEC industry through responsible design, construction, and operation practices.” The public and private LEED AP Exam Prep training seminars were not only a revenue generator for Green Ideas, but the seminars also became a business development effort, as the seminar attendees were typically architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers, and product manufacturing individuals…ALL potential future clients! As these individuals became more aware of the advantages that high-performance building design and construction provided, and they began to be invited to participate in potential LEED-certified projects they would call their teacher (me) for help. Green Ideas began to evolve from a training company to a trusted technical consulting firm. And started offering Energy Modeling Services and Corporate Services.
The primary strategy that I have used to retain clients is to always complete projects on time and within budget…even if a project is not as profitable as planned. Green Ideas has always finished our projects with the client’s best interest in mind. Sure, I’ve lost money on several projects over the years, but we have ALWAYS completed everything according to plan. This approach has established credibility for Green Ideas and me personally as a trusted advisor. Many clients have told me that the word on the street is “If you want it done right…call Green Ideas”. Many of my clients have found Green Ideas on the internet when searching for “LEED Consultant”. This is evident as we are currently working on a medical/dental facility for the federal government in Guam. The client found Green Ideas through an internet search. (I have several more examples of this). In 2022, our 20th year in business, I decided it was time to freshen up our marketing efforts to ultimately celebrate our extensive resume of high-performance development and sustainable building experience as we make massive strides to transform the AEC industry! Recently, we have started to ramp up our email newsletter, PR efforts, SEO strategy, and social media again. Our most important social media channel is Linkedin, both professionally and personally. Awards and public speaking has been incredibly important in developing myself, as well as my company, as a top service provider. We have managed the certification of over 100 LEED projects and have been involved in over 100 sustainable projects in the Americas, let alone my home state, Arizona. One that comes to mind is the LEED certification for the Phoenix Convention Center. We were able to collaborate with the State of Arizona, the City of Phoenix, and a very talented Phoenix-centric project team to achieve LEED certification on April 14, 2008. The innovative strategies implemented for the project will help to save millions of gallons of potable water each year and will reduce energy consumption by half. Then, on May 7, 2009, was the Achievement of Green Ideas’ and Arizona’s fourth LEED “Platinum” level project, the Arizona Game & Fish Department Headquarters Building. This significant milestone vaulted Green Ideas into the national spotlight as one of the top green building consulting firms in the United States. The innovative design enabled the project to receive LEED Platinum certification, when originally only targeting Silver. Continuing on the topic of the last 20 years, we have earned the following awards and recognition: The first four LEED Platinum level projects in the State of Arizona Phoenix Business Journal “Green Pioneer” Award -Charlie Popeck (2010) ASU W.P Carey Spirit of Enterprise Award (2009) New Mexico Business Journal “Sustainable Business Award (September 2013) 2006-Valley Forward Association Environmental Excellence Awards Crescordia Award (Top Honor) – Public Assembly 2006-American Institute of Architects – Western Mountain Region Honor Award 2006-American Institute of Architects – Arizona The Kemper Goodwin Award 2006-American Institute of Architects – Arizona Citation Award 2007-US Green Building Council LEED – Gold Certification Arizona Commercial Real Estate Magazine – Featured in September / October 2007 Edition 2008 American Institute of Architects – Arizona SRP Sustainable Award GSA Mariposa Land Port of Entry. Nogales, AZ 2016 Design Award - U.S. General Services Administration / Public Buildings Service - GSA Mariposa Land Port of Entry. Nogales, AZ 2016 2016 GSA Design Excellence Program - Honor Award In Architecture
Green Ideas is doing great! The future is extremely bright, especially as the Biden administration has passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides tax incentives for energy-efficient construction. Our short-term goal is to continue growing the business by accepting projects from clients that “get it”. By that, I mean working for clients that truly want to be more sustainable through responsible building practices. This would include targeting projects that target higher levels of LEED certification (Gold or Platinum) instead of just getting by. (the Burwell Center is a LEED Platinum building and the first Platinum building at the University of Denver). Long-term goals include continuing to transform the commercial and residential real estate markets into business sectors that are more sustainable and respectful to our planet. I will do this by not only expanding Green Ideas’ business operations but by illustrating to others how to do it. (I teach the “Sustainable Construction” course at ASU in the “School of Sustainable Engineering and the Build Environment” in the “Del E. Webb School of Construction” department, and also teach “Sustainability” and “Applied Sustainability” courses at The School of Architecture (formerly The School of Architecture at Taliesin) in Scottsdale, AZ and Spring Green, WI). PS: Teaching is also a business development effort for Green Ideas, as many of my former students are now employed by AEC firms and they contact Green Ideas to help with projects. PSS: I have also been a member of the USGBC National Faculty
Finish what you start. Stick with it. Become a “sales-based” organization (not accounting) Educate your clients Don’t finance what you don’t need Find unique ways to market your services
The typical Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) along with building science software programs like “Energy Plus”, Procore and Bluebeam. These are all standards in the AEC industry.
In addition to reading many articles on the internet to keep up with new developments in the industry, I have also read several “how to” professional consulting books, with plans to write my book about how to become a leader in the sustainability consulting profession. Books that I have read and applied to both my life and business include the following: First Things First (Stephen Covey) Value Based Fees (Alan Weiss) The Business of Expertise (David C. Baker) Million Dollar Consulting (Alan Weiss)
My advice for entrepreneurs of all ages is to be technically sound in whatever you choose to do. Provide solutions to your clients, and work to know your competition. As a business, provide value-based fees. Most importantly, always finish what you start.
Website Green Ideas Linkedin Charlie Popeck Linkedin Project Portfolio Green Ideas Blog info@egreenideas.com Recent Press Release