Mark Wilhelm

Mark Wilhelm, Principal

Mark Wilhelm is a founding principal of Green Ideas, Inc. and is responsible for project management, consulting services and technical development. He and his team have managed over 100 LEED, green building, and sustainable development projects representing over 36 million square feet of building space. Over 40 of these projects have earned LEED certification.

Mark has devoted over three decades to energy efficient and sustainable building design and planning. He has trained over 5,000 professionals in sustainable design and construction. He delivers courses to help professionals earn LEED-AP, Certified Energy Manager, and Sustainable Building Advisor accreditation. He taught a week long course in sustainable design and construction at an engineering university in Bogota Colombia. Mark is a dynamic and motivational speaker who is sought-after internationally to speak on sustainability, green building, and the energy enterprise.

Mark is the appointed Chairman of the State of Arizona’s Solar Energy Advisory Council and its Climate Change Subcommittee. He is a founding member and past Chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Arizona Chapter. He Chaired the USGBC Greenbuild 2009 Host Committee and is a past Director and founding Co-Chairman of the USGBC West Region Council. He is past President and Chairman of the Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers. He serves as a member of the EPA’s Technical Advisory Group for Building Healthy Hospitals, the GPEC Techonomy Leadership Council, and the Arizona Energy Sector Partnership Business Committee.

Mark earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Master’s Degree in Environmental Planning from Arizona State University with a focus on energy-efficient building design, solar energy technology, and building energy simulation. While at ASU, Mark operated the ASU Solar Test Yard at the College of Architecture and Environmental Design. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Energy / ASU National Solar Water Heater Workshop, through which he taught homeowners to build solar water heaters.

Prior to forming Green Ideas, Mark was President of GreenBuilt Consulting, a sustainability consultancy serving clients in the energy, manufacturing and AEC industries. Through GreenBuilt, Mark consulted with many companies to develop market transformation strategy, including EPRI, IBM, SAIC, First Solar, Energy Central, and KEMA Consulting.

Mark spent four years with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), where he was Product Line Leader for Commercial and Mass Markets, eBusiness Strategic Alliance Manager, and Director of Practitioner Communities for ElectricWindow, a vertical e-commerce portal for the energy industry operated by EPRI and SAIC. In addition, Mark worked with KEMA Consulting and LogOn Consulting to establish the Process Control Systems Cyber Security Workshop, which was an international consortium serving electric utilities and government agencies.

Mark spent thirteen years in marketing, customer service and sales leadership positions with Arizona Public Service Company. Mark managed the APS residential, commercial and electric-critical market segments and developed and implemented DSM, conservation and technology-transfer strategy. His teams managed business relationships with top APS customers and opinion leaders throughout Arizona.

While at APS, Mark directed the development of a world-class technology transfer project, the APS Environmental Showcase Home (ESH). This sustainable residence was designed to consume 85% less energy and 60% less water than a typical home, while showcasing over 150 sustainable technologies, strategies and materials. Over 40,000 people toured the home, which received 26 major environmental awards, including an international award in 1997 as the Top Environmental Project in North America. The ESH was the subject of an eight-part PBS television series titled “This New House”, and a book titled “The Environment Comes Home”, for which Mark was a contributing author.

Education

  • MS, Environmental Planning, Arizona State University

  • BA, Economics (cum laude), University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Affiliations

  • Solar Energy Advisory Council, State of Arizona, Chairman

  • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED Accredited Professional

  • Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, 2009 Host Committee, Chairman

  • USGBC Arizona Chapter, Founding Member and Past Chairman

  • USGBC West Region Council, Founding Co-Chairman and Past AZ Chapter Representative

  • Association of Energy Engineers, Phoenix Chapter, Past-President and Chairman

  • EPA Technical Advisory Group for Building Healthy Hospitals, Member

  • Smart Homes Alliance, Board of Directors, Member

  • AZ Energy Sector Partnership Business Committee, Member

Mark’s Video Series
Understanding the Energy Codes and Standards
Free Video Series >

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