Gene Schmidt, President of SCG, is a Certified Commissioning Agent through AABC Commissioning Group's (ACG). ACG is a non-profit association of certified commissioning authorities, dedicated to the advancement of professional, independent commissioning services through education, training, and certification of qualified architects and engineers.

HVAC systems must be energy efficient, satisfy stringent indoor air quality and comfort expectations, and still be designed and constructed within a set budget. Commissioning is a systematic process that facilitates and ensures the required communication, coordination, testing, and verification, and results in the delivery of a building whose HVAC systems perform as intended.

The responsibility of a Commissioning Authority is to provide leadership in the planning, organization and facilitation of the completion of the commissioning process on behalf of the Owner. In addition to having good technical knowledge of the systems being commissioned, the CxA must also have a complete understanding of the commissioning process and possess the organizational, documentation, communications, and team-building skills that are necessary to lead and coordinate an effective commissioning team and to ensure that the intent of the building Owner is achieved.

Commissioning is also a vital part of the LEED Certification process. EA Prerequisite 1: Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems of LEED for New Construction requires that a CxA lead, review and oversee the completion of the commissioning process; while EA Credit 3 of LEED for New Construction requires that a independent CxA to lead, review, and oversee the completion of all commissioning process activities.

Mr. Schmidt has provided Commissioning services for the following projects: