Thomas G. Gallagher

TG Gallagher Announces 2nd LEED Accredited Professional

Date: February 10, 2009

Cambridge, MA – Mike Betts, Senior Project Manager at Thomas G. Gallagher, Inc., has become the second engineer to earn certification as a LEED Accredited Professional, joining CEO Brian Potter. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ratings are well-known and widely accepted standards for sustainable green building and development practices.

“The whole industry is moving toward greener building,” says Betts. “Becoming a LEED AP has taught me a lot about how to manage a project for LEED certification.”

The LEED Green Building Rating Systems™ have been developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, in an open process led by committees of experts from diverse backgrounds. Different criteria apply to a range of project types, including new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, schools and healthcare. “Mechanical systems are a very important element in LEED certificaton,” says Betts, “because they use so much electricity. There’s also an Indoor Environmental Quality section, which has a lot to do with HVAC, and a Water Efficiency section which involves plumbing, which we also do. So in some projects, we could be involved with 50% to 60% of the LEED points.”

Points are based on specific, measurable criteria, and verified by independent third parties. Depending on the points earned, a building may be Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. TG Gallagher has completed or is working on more than 30 LEED-certified projects.

Betts attended a LEED Accredited Professional class, and then had to pass a 2 ½ hour exam. “It was tough,” he says. “It’s a closed-book test. You have to learn and understand the material from the LEED book, and then understand how to apply what you’ve learned.”

“TG Gallagher has done a really good job as a leader in the industry,” he adds, crediting CEO Potter with promoting the principles of green building. “Everybody here, whether they’re a LEED AP or not, is pretty well educated in it. I don’t think you’ll find many companies in the industry with two LEED APs on staff. And we have others who are studying for the exam.”