Building Growth Through Transparent Engineering with Dennis Berlien of Glumac

Build for Impact host and LEED fellow, Daniel Huard, spoke with long-time friend, Dennis Berlien, Chief Operating Officer at Glumac. Berlien leads operations that focus on technical and operational best practices for green buildings.

Berlien and Huard discussed building techniques and strategies that are tailored to geography as well as minimizing environmental impact. Berlien elaborated on how different locations are prone to particular natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and flooding, and how buildings can be designed to be resilient to these dangers.  He further commented on the progress in building techniques to minimize carbon footprint, reprocess water, and reduce energy consumption.

The transition in building codes was another key topic of their discussion. “Codes are constantly changing and what the building departs are holding us accountable for are ever changing”, Berlien said. “Commissioning is definitely critical.”

The pair also took a look at materials transparency in MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), and the strides being taken to streamline and improve material selection with regards to embodied carbon and sustainability.Building

Lastly, the two examined building design with regards to wellness.  The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this topic to the forefront as personal health and wellbeing are taking center stage in building design. Berlien touched on readiness and return to work surveys, air particle testing, and how the HVAC systems distribute air and its effects on the spread of infectious diseases.

Listen To Previous Episodes of Build for Impact Right Here!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

hvacr
Women in HVACR Are Driving Change Across the Skilled Trades
July 15, 2025

Trade school enrollment climbed 4.9% between fall 2020 and fall 2023, signaling a national shift toward skills-based careers as alternatives to four-year degrees. This modest but meaningful rebound underscores growing interest in trades like HVACR, where demand is high, but representation remains lopsided. For decades, women in the field have been overlooked despite playing…

Read More
personal assistant
The People Business: How To Make AI Your Personal Assistant and More
July 14, 2025

In today’s fast-paced world, AI has moved from being a corporate buzzword to a hands-on tool for everyday life. With tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude now widely accessible, the conversation is shifting from what AI is to how it can actually help individuals. From boosting productivity to transforming education, AI is poised to become…

Read More
cardiac care
Just Thinking… About the Role of Critical Thinking in Cardiac Care With Dr. Minh Tran
July 14, 2025

As cardiovascular disease continues to rank as the leading cause of death globally, the importance of expert cardiac care has never been more evident. The American Heart Association reports that over 800,000 Americans experience a heart attack each year, and many rely on the fast, critical thinking of cardiac specialists to survive. In an…

Read More
IP radios
Icom’s IP Radios Fill Critical Gaps in Privacy, Range, and Cost for Commercial Fishermen
July 11, 2025

The 2024 Pacific Marine Expo served as a platform for exploring how advanced radio technologies are supporting specialized industries. Secure and far-reaching communication remains a critical need for the commercial fishing sector. Rick Waedekin, the President of Coast Marine Marketing and Icom’s West Coast Sales Rep, spoke with Harold Whittlesy of Satellite Technical Services…

Read More