SES

What SES does

SES (Sustainable Energy Savings Inc.), founded in 2010 and headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, is a regional engineering and consulting firm that delivers energy management and carbon footprint reduction services to manufacturing plants, commercial buildings, and institutional facilities across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The firm operates as a certified trade ally for Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, accessing client demand through utility rebate programs, and engages customers through project-based consulting rather than recurring software contracts.

The company's core service suite spans existing-building recommissioning (RCx), ASHRAE Level 1/2/3 energy audits, building commissioning (Cx), geothermal and HVAC design (delivered through its SES Design subdivision), compressed air supply-side and demand-side studies including ultrasonic leak detection, infrared thermography diagnostics, NEBB-certified test and balance, and high-accuracy flow meter measurement for chilled water, hot water, glycol, gas, and compressed air systems. Service delivery relies on certified personnel — a Minnesota-licensed mechanical engineer, ASHRAE-certified commissioning professionals, NEBB-certified air and water balancing associates, and CAGI-certified compressed air experts — supplemented by on-site diagnostic instrumentation. SES also facilitates federal Section 179D tax deductions (up to $1.80 per square foot) and contingency-based sales/use tax refund studies for schools, non-profits, manufacturers, and healthcare facilities, priced on a "no refund, no fee" basis.

The revenue model is professional services: each engagement is scoped and quoted based on facility size, complexity, and study scope, with an initial free consultation. The customer base is horizontal across manufacturing (Uponor, Faribault Foods, Phillips Distilling), commercial real estate (Atria Corporate Center, Target Field, Colliers), government and institutional (Como Zoo, St. Paul Police Department, Saint Cloud State University, Mayo Clinic Garage), and healthcare (Silk Road Medical). Marketing relies on educational blog content, an active LinkedIn presence, published case studies, and utility partner referrals rather than paid demand generation. Cumulative outcomes reported by the firm include 143M+ kg of CO2 avoided, 161M+ kWh and 15.7M+ therms in utility savings, $23.5M+ in customer cost savings, and $11M+ in utility rebates and incentives secured over 15 years of operation.

Name

SES

Legal name

Sustainable Energy Savings Inc.

Website

https://ses-inc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SES (Sustainable Energy Savings Inc.) is a Minnesota-based engineering and consulting firm delivering recommissioning, ASHRAE energy audits, HVAC design, compressed air studies, and utility rebate facilitation for manufacturing plants, commercial buildings, and institutional facilities in the Upper Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Energy Management Consulting Services: Professional consulting services including recommissioning studies, energy audits, engineering studies, and building commissioning. Services are project-based with one-time engagements for specific client facilities.
2. Technical Services: Specialized technical services including compressed air studies, flow meter services, infrared diagnostics, test and balance services. Offered as standalone services or bundled with consulting engagements.
3. Tax Incentive Facilitation: Assistance with federal Section 179D tax deductions and sales/use tax refund studies. Company operates on contingency basis for tax refunds ('if you don't get a refund, we don't get paid').

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SES is an energy management consulting and engineering firm that delivers energy and carbon management solutions to manufacturing and commercial facilities through recommissioning studies, ASHRAE energy audits, HVAC and geothermal design, building commissioning, compressed air studies, infrared diagnostics, and flow meter services. The firm also facilitates federal Section 179D tax deductions and sales/use tax refund studies for clients. Engagements are project-based, scope-driven engineering studies delivered on-site at customer facilities rather than software products.

Product overview

SES (Sustainable Energy Savings Inc.) is a single-service company providing energy and carbon management solutions for manufacturing and commercial facilities. The core offering is a suite of energy efficiency consulting services, including recommissioning studies, ASHRAE energy audits, geothermal and HVAC design, building commissioning, compressed air studies, infrared diagnostics, and flow meter services. SES Design is a sub-division providing custom HVAC engineering. The company also assists with federal tax deductions (Section 179D) and sales/use tax refunds. All services are delivered through engineering studies and on-site assessments rather than a software platform or product suite.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recommissioning Studies (RCx) Building tune-up service that identifies energy-saving opportunities in existing facilities and verifies that HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems operate as originally intended. Sold as project-based engineering engagements to commercial and manufacturing customers.
• ASHRAE Energy Audits (Levels 1, 2, 3) Comprehensive building energy audits at ASHRAE Levels 1, 2, and 3 that evaluate energy consumption and recommend efficiency improvements. Delivered as consulting engagements to commercial and industrial customers.
• Xcel Energy Building Energy Assessments (BEA) Utility-funded energy assessment program identifying energy savings for commercial and industrial customers, delivered by SES as an approved Xcel Energy trade ally.
• Building Commissioning (Cx) Ensures building HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems are designed, installed, and tested to project requirements and owner expectations, typically for new construction or major retrofits.
• Geothermal and HVAC Design Custom HVAC system design services including geothermal heating and cooling solutions for commercial and manufacturing facilities, including rooftop unit replacement and condensing boiler upgrades.
• Compressed Air Studies (Supply Side and Demand Side) Supply-side and demand-side compressed air system analysis using ultrasonic leak detection to identify energy savings and optimize industrial compressed air systems.
• Compressed Air Ultrasonic Leak Survey Visual ultrasonic leak detection survey identifying compressed air leaks in industrial systems and quantifying their cost impact.
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Evaluations Assessment of air quality parameters in buildings to ensure healthy environments for occupants and support productivity.
• Infrared Diagnostic Services Thermal imaging services identifying building envelope issues, electrical problems, overheating equipment, and mechanical deficiencies.
• Flow Meter Services Measurement of liquid and gas flow rates with 1% accuracy for chilled water, hot water, glycol, and compressed air troubleshooting, including non-intrusive ultrasonic installation.
• Test and Balance Services NEBB-certified air and water balancing services that optimize building system performance and verify HVAC airflow and water flow design intent.
• Federal Section 179D Tax Deduction Services Assistance obtaining federal tax deductions of up to $1.80 per square foot for energy-efficient commercial buildings under Section 179D.
• Sales and Use Tax Refund Studies

Quantifiable outcome

• Typical energy savings of 5-20% of annual gas or electric bills
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Xcel EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary utility partner and trade ally. SES is recognized as a top performing commercial trade partner for Xcel Energy's Business Energy Efficiency Programs. Operates as approved provider for Building Energy Assessments (BEA) and various energy efficiency studies. Provides access to utility rebates and incentives for clients.
• CenterPoint EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary utility partner providing recommissioning and energy efficiency services. SES is recognized for Ongoing Excellence in Recommissioning for four consecutive years. Partner provides partial funding for client energy projects including recommissioning studies and building energy assessments.
• ASHRAEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association partnership. SES professionals hold ASHRAE certifications. Company participates in ASHRAE technology awards program and has won multiple regional and national awards through ASHRAE recognition.
• Manufacturers AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSES is a Manufacturer's Alliance partner, providing technical expertise and case studies that are published through the organization's industry resources.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Willdan Energy Solutions: Willdan provides energy efficiency consulting, engineering studies, and utility program services to commercial and industrial customers, directly competing with SES in the recommissioning and energy-audit space.
• CLEAResult: CLEAResult operates as a utility trade ally and energy efficiency program implementer across North America, offering audits, retro-commissioning, and HVAC optimization services that overlap directly with SES's core offerings.
• Franklin Energy: Franklin Energy designs and delivers utility energy efficiency programs including building audits, retro-commissioning, and HVAC optimization for commercial and industrial clients, making it a close functional peer.
• Cx Associates: Cx Associates is a dedicated building commissioning and energy consulting firm focused on existing-building recommissioning and optimization — a direct specialty competitor to SES.
• ME Engineers: ME Engineers is a mechanical and energy engineering consultancy providing HVAC design, commissioning, and energy audits for commercial and institutional buildings, closely mirroring SES's service mix.
• RMF Engineering: RMF provides mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering including commissioning and energy services for institutional and commercial facilities, making it comparable to SES on building-focused energy engineering.
• CMTA: CMTA is an engineering firm specializing in high-performance building design, commissioning, and energy optimization, frequently working with utilities and institutional clients on projects analogous to SES's portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• ICF International: ICF is a large advisory and engineering firm with a dedicated energy efficiency and buildings practice; while far larger, it competes for the same utility-driven energy management and decarbonization engagements.
• Trane Technologies: Trane is a major HVAC manufacturer and services provider whose Trane Commercial Services arm offers building recommissioning, energy audits, and upgrades, overlapping with SES's HVAC and recommissioning services.
• Carrier Global: Carrier's HVAC and building services business competes for commercial HVAC design, retrofit, and energy efficiency work similar to what SES Design delivers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SES