What Crete United does

Crete United is a national network of 40+ Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP), and Building Automation specialist companies serving commercial, industrial, institutional, and government customers across 21 U.S. states. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the company was founded in 2020 (originally as Crete Mechanical Group) and operates through a federated model in which locally branded operating companies retain their identity, leadership, and customer relationships while gaining access to group purchasing, marketing, back-office support, capital, and workforce development through a central platform. A national execution arm, Crete United Energy Services (CUES), pursues multi-location enterprise accounts and routes work to the appropriate regional operator, enabling the platform to compete for large national customers while preserving local responsiveness.

The company's core offering is built around four service lines — Mechanical/HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing/Water Management, and Service & Maintenance delivered through tiered maintenance plans — augmented by an energy and sustainability advisory practice spanning LED lighting retrofits, energy audits, sustainable building certifications (LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Energy Star, Living Building Challenge, and others), solar and renewables (PV, EV charging, microgrids, battery storage), energy procurement, utility bill management via the EnergyCAP platform, financial incentive advisory (IRA, 179D, 45L, ITC), and GHG emissions reporting. Proprietary technology assets include the patented Catalyst HVAC retrofit technology — a manufacturer-agnostic package combining IoT sensors, variable frequency drives, CO2 occupancy sensing, and economizer control with a documented 2-3 year payback — and building automation integration across the Tridium Niagara framework and major BAS vendors (Distech, Honeywell, Siemens, ABB, Johnson Controls, Trane).

Revenue mechanics combine project-based design-build and installation work, recurring maintenance contracts, hardware sales (solar, EV charging, generators), and managed/advisory services. GTM is sales-led, pairing enterprise field sales through CUES with a partnership recruitment model that brings independent MEP business owners into the network in exchange for majority equity and platform resources. Customer concentration is diversified across healthcare (Novant Health, Scotland Memorial), government (US Naval Academy, GDIT, Grandville Clean Water Plant), commercial real estate (Wells Fargo), industrial (Igloo, Public Storage, Caliber Collision's ~1,100 locations), and hospitality (Sheraton, Busch Gardens). The company is privately held and received institutional funding from Ridgemont Equity Partners in June 2022.

Name

Crete United

Legal name

Crete United

Website

https://creteunited.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Crete United is a national network of 40+ MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) and Building Automation specialist companies serving commercial, industrial, institutional, and government customers across 21 U.S. states through a federated operating-company model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Building Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (8112), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (221330)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy Services (Retrofits/Commissioning/Testing & Balancing) (IMAIABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hard Services (MEP/HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) (BPABAAAA), MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAE), Data Center MEP & Commissioning (Electrical, Mechanical, BMS, Integrated Systems Testing) (IMAFAIAH), Renewable Energy Asset O&M (Wind, Solar, Hydro, Geothermal) (EUAEAGAB), MEP Systems Installation & Upgrades (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) (EDAEABAD)

Keywords

• Mechanical services
• Building automation
• Energy efficiency consulting
• HVAC maintenance
• MEP design-build

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices40 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. MEP Design-Build and Installation Services: Project-based revenue from design-build and installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Services include new construction, retrofits, renovations, and system upgrades delivered by local operating companies.
2. HVAC Maintenance and Service Contracts: Recurring revenue from tiered maintenance plans (Diagnose/Test & Inspect, Proactive Preventive, Labor Inclusive, Full Protection). Plans include diagnostic testing, preventive maintenance, component coverage, repair/replacement labor, emergency service, and 24/7 coverage.
3. Energy Procurement and Utility Bill Management: Revenue from energy procurement services (daily active management, risk mitigation, optionality/structured terms, reporting and forecasting) and utility bill pay services using EnergyCAP platform. Includes sustainability tracking and reporting.
4. Renewables and Solar Installation: Revenue from installation of on-site solar PV, EV charging stations, power generators, microgrids, and energy storage systems. Includes ground mount solar facilities and rooftop solar projects for commercial and industrial customers.
5. Sustainability Consulting and Certification Services: Advisory services for sustainable building certifications (LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Energy Star, Living Building Challenge, NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, BREEAM, Green Globes, SITES), energy audits, commissioning, financial incentive advisory (IRA, 179D, 45L, ITC), and GHG emissions reporting.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Crete United is a national network of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP), and Building Automation specialists delivering integrated design-build, installation, maintenance, and energy efficiency services to commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, government, and data center customers. Its core offerings span HVAC/mechanical, electrical, plumbing, building automation, and a tiered service/maintenance portfolio, supplemented by sustainability advisory, renewables, utility bill management, and LED lighting retrofits. The company serves customers through 40+ locally operated companies unified under a national infrastructure with proprietary Catalyst retrofit technology and EnergyCAP utility management.

Product overview

Crete United is a national network of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP), and Building Automation specialists offering integrated building solutions across the United States. The company is organized as a platform of locally operated businesses (40+ operating companies) unified under a central national infrastructure. Its core product portfolio is structured around four primary service lines: Mechanical/HVAC Services (delivered via the proprietary Catalyst retrofit technology), Electrical Services, Plumbing/Water Management Services, and Service & Maintenance (offered through tiered maintenance plan options). These are complemented by a suite of energy and sustainability advisory offerings including Energy & Sustainability Advisory Services, Renewables & Decarbonization Support, Sustainable Building Certifications (LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Energy Star, etc.), Financial Incentive Advisory Services (IRA, 179D, 45L), Energy Procurement, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting. Smart Buildings/Building Automation, Design-Build & Installation, and LED Lighting Services round out the technical services portfolio. The company also operates two named sub-brands: Crete United Energy Services (CUES), its national execution arm, and Crete Building Services (CBS), serving as a commercial MEP support entity. The proprietary Catalyst HVAC retrofit technology and EnergyCAP utility bill pay platform represent Crete United's key proprietary technology assets embedded within its service delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mechanical & HVAC Services Comprehensive mechanical and HVAC services including installation, performance optimization via patented Catalyst technology, service and maintenance, retrofit and rebuild, boilers, chillers, cooling towers, compressed air equipment, air filtration, exhaust systems, ventilation, humidifiers, and custom air handler fabrication for industrial and commercial buildings.
• Electrical Services Full-service electrical installation, service and maintenance, data analysis and diagnostic testing, design-build services, custom electrical panel fabrication, emergency power and generator systems, LED lighting and controls, power distribution, and UPS systems for commercial and industrial facilities.
• Water Management / Plumbing Services Commercial and industrial plumbing design and installation including water metering, process piping, large-scale pipefitting, custom pipe fabrication, trenchless sewer pipe repair, plumbing replacement, Sovent systems, video pipe inspection, sewer and pipe cleaning, and backflow prevention certification services.
• Service & Maintenance Plans HVAC maintenance plans offered in four tiers: Diagnose/Test & Inspect, Proactive Preventive Maintenance, Labor Inclusive Maintenance, and Full Protection Plan. Plans include diagnostic testing, preventive maintenance, repair and replacement labor, emergency service, components and supplies, and OEM-standard inspection adherence.
• Smart Buildings / Building Automation Customized building automation systems integrating all building systems under a single interface. Services include sensor installation and placement, real-time monitoring, continuous optimization reporting, and IoT automation via the Tridium Niagara open-source network. Supports Distech Controls, Honeywell, Siemens, ABB, Johnson Controls, Trane, CCN Controls, Lyncx Spring Controls, Niagara Controls, and Vykon Controls.
• Design-Build & Installation Integrated design-build project delivery for MEP systems, covering facility condition assessments, mechanical and electrical engineering, comprehensive energy retrofits, energy supply connections, on-site renewable energy (solar and EV), and distributed energy systems.
• LED Lighting Services Commercial LED lighting retrofit and installation services, including fixture replacement, energy savings analysis, and operational optimization. Delivered through ProStar Energy Solutions across large multi-location portfolios (e.g., Caliber Collision's 1,700+ auto body locations).
• Energy & Sustainability Advisory Services Energy and sustainability consulting covering MEP design, building and system life-cycle assessments, renewable energy system design and installation, predictive maintenance solutions, smart building systems, energy audits, sustainable building certifications (LEED, WELL, Fitwel), commissioning, energy modeling, utility benchmarking, funding advisory services, and utility rebate programs.
• Renewables & Decarbonization Support Renewable energy and decarbonization advisory and implementation services, including water conservation, heat pumps (VRF, geothermal, air and ground source), distributed energy and solar, electrification planning, and microgrid and power resiliency solutions. Includes evaluation of renewables at site, building, or through third-party arrangements.
• Sustainable Building Certifications Sustainability consulting and certification advisory for building projects, covering LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Energy Star, Living Building Challenge, NGBS, Enterprise Green Communities, BREEAM, Eco-Districts, Green Globes, and SITES rating systems. Services include energy modeling, building life-cycle assessments, commissioning, energy audits, and financial incentive advisory.
• Financial Incentive Advisory Services Advisory services identifying and documenting energy savings to attract utility rebates, tax credits, deductions, and local incentives. Expertise spans Inflation Reduction Act funding (179D, 45L, ITC), utility and EnergyStar rebate programs, state and local grants, and energy and operational savings models.
• Energy Procurement & Utility Bill Pay Energy procurement and market strategy services including daily active management, optionality and business case analysis, structure and terms negotiation, reporting and forecasting, utility bill pay via EnergyCAP software, bill audits, quarterly business reviews, and sustainability tracking and reporting.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Greenhouse gas emissions reporting and advisory services, including materiality assessment across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, tracking and reporting frameworks, compliance guidance, and sustainability roadmap development for clients starting or advancing their GHG reporting journey.
• Crete United Energy Services (CUES) - National Execution The national execution arm of Crete United, CUES specializes in comprehensive building solutions and multi-state national customer delivery. Services include Building Systems (BMS/BAS/IoT), LED lighting, utility and sustainability management, utility bill pay, energy procurement and renewable power, facility advisory, and consulting and administrative services — coordinated across the Crete United network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment lifetime costs reduced by 20% through effective maintenance
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HSI Training SolutionscoreOthersHSI Training Solutions provides access to over 2,000 courses for all Crete United employees through the Crete University training platform. This partnership supports the company's training and development initiatives across safety education, personal development, diversity initiatives, discrimination and harassment training, and energy efficiency coursework.
• Tridium (Niagara Framework)coreTechnology or IntegrationTridium's Niagara Framework is a core building automation platform used by Crete United's network of companies. The company specifically references being part of the Tridium Open Source Niagara Network. Technicians support multiple controls systems including Tridium/Niagara Controls and Vykon Controls built on the Niagara Framework, enabling integration across Distech, Honeywell, Siemens, ABB, Johnson Controls, Trane, and CCN systems.
• EnergyCAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationEnergyCAP is an industry-leading utility bill processing and energy benchmarking software platform used by Crete United for its Utility Bill Pay services. The platform enables bill audits, quarterly business reviews, sustainability tracking and reporting, and AP cost reduction per invoice processing.
• Folds of HonorminorOthersCrete United partners with Folds of Honor, an organization providing educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen soldiers. The partnership offers assistance and funding to help these families build brighter futures through academic and professional support.
• K9s for WarriorsminorOthersCrete United partners with K9s for Warriors, which pairs specially trained service dogs with soldiers struggling with PTSD. The program has led to 92% of participants experiencing a reduction in medication use, with 60% of dogs being rescues from local shelters.
• Soldier's AngelsminorOthersCrete United supports Soldier's Angels, the largest organization providing direct support to the VA Hospital network and beyond, with a focus on food for homeless veterans. Local teams engage in hands-on partnership in Dallas, Denver, and Orlando.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EMCOR Group: EMCOR is the largest publicly traded national MEP services and energy infrastructure provider in the U.S. Directly comparable to Crete United in offering integrated HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and building automation services to commercial, industrial, and institutional customers across geographies.
• Comfort Systems USA: Comfort Systems USA is a leading national provider of mechanical services including HVAC, plumbing, and building automation, primarily to commercial and industrial customers. Operates a decentralized operating company model similar to Crete United's national network structure.
• Limbach Holdings: Limbach Holdings operates a national network of MEP and building automation specialists serving commercial, institutional, and industrial customers. Most directly comparable to Crete United given its decentralized operating company model, building automation focus, and energy services positioning.
• IES Holdings: IES Holdings provides electrical and mechanical infrastructure services for commercial, industrial, and residential markets across the U.S. Comparable in scope to Crete United's electrical and MEP service delivery, particularly through its subsidiary footprint.
• ABM Industries: ABM Industries is a large national provider of integrated facility services including HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and energy solutions. Comparable to Crete United in offering MEP services as part of a broader IFM value proposition to multi-location enterprise customers.

Broad incumbents

• APi Group: APi Group is a diversified safety, specialty, and industrial services holding company. Comparable to Crete United as a parent platform that aggregates specialized building and life safety service providers, though APi operates across a broader portfolio beyond MEP.
• Trane Technologies: Trane Technologies is a global HVAC and building technologies manufacturer and service provider. Comparable to Crete United in the HVAC and building automation space but operates as a much larger OEM-driven incumbent with broader capabilities and global reach.
• Johnson Controls International: Johnson Controls is a global leader in building automation, HVAC, and energy efficiency solutions. Comparable as a competing platform for BAS-integrated MEP services to large enterprise and institutional customers, though it is much larger and more vertically integrated.

Emerging players

• Cenergistic: Cenergistic provides energy management and sustainability advisory services to K-12, higher education, and commercial customers. Comparable to Crete United's sustainability consulting and utility bill management offerings, though focused on a narrower consulting angle.

Others

• BrightView Holdings: BrightView is the largest commercial landscaping services provider in the U.S., operating a similar decentralized operating company roll-up model. Comparable as a structural reference for the federation-acquisition strategy Crete United is executing, though not a direct competitor.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOmhz1VWR5TTo5OcF-iCLfw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crete-mechanical-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/creteunited
• Facebookfacebook.com/CreteUnited

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries39 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Crete United