The Energy Conservatory

What The Energy Conservatory does

The Energy Conservatory (TEC), founded in 1980 and headquartered in Oakdale, Minnesota, designs and manufactures precision diagnostic equipment for the residential and commercial building science industry. Its core product lines include the Minneapolis Blower Door for building envelope airtightness testing, the Minneapolis Duct Blaster for HVAC duct leakage measurement, the DG-1000 digital pressure gauge, and the Digital TrueFlow Grid for HVAC airflow measurement, complemented by accessories such as the Fog Puffer and DuctMask. TEC equipment is referenced or required under major building performance standards including ASTM, RESNET, ISO, EN, and CGSB, and the company maintains multiple trademarked brands including Minneapolis Blower Door™, Minneapolis Duct Blaster®, and TrueFlow®.

TEC's product architecture couples physical measurement hardware with proprietary software (TECTITE, Linklog, REM/Design) that is bundled free with instruments and forms a tightly integrated workflow for energy raters, HVAC contractors, builders, and utility program administrators. Hardware pricing ranges from $714 to $13,582 per kit, with the DG-1000 digital pressure gauge priced at $2,080, and the company generates recurring revenue through calibration and repair services ($170 two-channel, $105 single-channel). The go-to-market model is direct-to-customer through e-commerce and phone sales in North America, supplemented by an international distributor network. A trade-in program for older TEC equipment supports installed-base renewal and recurring customer engagement.

The company is privately held, has 11-50 employees, and operates as a for-profit specialty manufacturer. Its 2023 partnership with the National Comfort Institute (NCI) and its 2024 relocation to a new Oakdale headquarters signal continued investment in operational capacity and channel expansion, while its 40+ year operating history and standards-driven demand profile point to a stable, cash-generative niche equipment business.

Name

The Energy Conservatory

Legal name

The Energy Conservatory

Website

https://energyconservatory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Energy Conservatory designs and manufactures precision diagnostic equipment for residential and commercial building science, including the Minneapolis Blower Door, Duct Blaster, and DG-1000 digital pressure gauge. Founded in 1980 in Oakdale, Minnesota, TEC serves HVAC contractors, energy raters, builders, and utilities through direct sales and an international distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Performance Diagnostic Equipment

NAICS

Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC & Industrial Ventilation (Chillers, AHUs, Exhaust, Filtration) (EUAEAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fans, Blowers & Ventilation Units (Supply/Exhaust/Inline) (IMADANAB), Dust Collection & Air Filtration Equipment (Industrial) (IMAHALAF)

Keywords

• Building airtightness testing
• Duct leakage diagnostics
• Digital pressure gauges
• HVAC airflow measurement
• Building performance equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Equipment Sales: One-time sale of diagnostic testing equipment including blower doors, duct blasters, pressure gauges, and accessories. Products sold as complete kits or individual components with varying price points from $1 to $13,582.
2. Calibration and Repair Services: Factory calibration services for digital pressure gauges at $170 (two-channel) or $105 (single-channel). Includes NIST traceable calibration certificate with return shipping. Fans maintain calibration unless damaged.
3. Software: All TEC software (TECTITE, TECLOG, TECBLAST, etc.) is provided free of charge to promote equipment adoption and testing frequency.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Energy Conservatory manufactures precision diagnostic equipment for the building science industry. Its core offerings include the Minneapolis Blower Door™ for building envelope airtightness testing, the Minneapolis Duct Blaster® for duct leakage measurement, digital pressure gauges (DG-1000 and DG-8), and the Digital TrueFlow® Grid for HVAC airflow analysis. The company pairs this hardware with proprietary software (TECTITE, TECLOG, TECBLAST, mobile apps) and NIST-traceable factory calibration services.

Product overview

The Energy Conservatory manufactures MINNEAPOLIS brand precision diagnostic equipment for the building science industry. The product portfolio centers on two flagship core systems—the Minneapolis Blower Door (for measuring building envelope airtightness) and the Minneapolis Duct Blaster (for testing duct system leakage)—paired with digital pressure gauges (DG-1000 and DG-8), the Digital TrueFlow Grid for HVAC air handler flow measurement, and complementary tools including the Exhaust Fan Flow Meter, Pressure Pan, and Fog Puffer. Supporting the hardware is a suite of proprietary software including TECTITE 4.0, TECLOG 4, TECBLAST, and mobile apps (TEC Auto Test, TEC Gauge, TrueFlow HVAC Air Flow) that enable automated testing, data logging, and wireless connectivity to TEC gauges. The company also offers training products like the TEC Trainer simulator and consumables such as DuctMask register sealing tape and flow rings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Minneapolis Blower Door™: Industry leading blower door testing system for building airtightness testing
• Minneapolis Duct Blaster®
• Digital TrueFlow® Grid
• TEC Trainer™
• Roomulator™
• Fog Puffer™
• DuctMask™
• FlowBlaster®

Products and services

• Minneapolis Blower Door™ System Calibrated air flow measurement system for testing building envelope airtightness. Includes Model 3 fan, adjustable aluminum frame, nylon panel, flow rings, and fan speed controller. Provides accurate flow measurements across a wide CFM range.
• Minneapolis Duct Blaster® System Calibrated air flow measurement system designed to test and document airtightness of forced air duct systems in houses and light commercial buildings. Provides quick and accurate measurements across a wide CFM range.
• DG-1000 Digital Pressure and Flow Gauge Two-channel digital micro-manometer for pressure and flow measurements. Features high-resolution touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, and Ethernet connectivity, with embedded apps and 0.9% of reading accuracy.
• DG-8 Digital Pressure Gauge Digital pressure gauge designed for building performance testing applications, providing pressure measurement for use with TEC accessories and airflow measurement tools.
• Digital TrueFlow® Grid HVAC air flow measurement system that works with DG-8 or DG-1000 gauges for comprehensive HVAC air system analysis. Includes adapter plates for various filter grille sizes to provide total air handler flow measurements.
• Exhaust Fan Flow Meter Device for accurately measuring exhaust fan air flow. Used for measuring air flow moving from outside the device to inside, with verification on calibration equipment.
• Fog Puffer™ Smoke generating device used to visualize air leakage paths in buildings. Kit includes spare battery, replacement cartridge, propylene glycol, and USB charger.
• DuctMask™ Register Sealing Tape Premium temporary register sealing tape for temporarily sealing registers and grills during duct leakage testing. Available in multiple widths.
• TEC Trainer™ Air Tightness Training Simulator Training simulator for teaching airtightness testing procedures without needing to physically set up equipment, designed to make training easier for performance testing companies.
• TECTITE 4.0 Software Building airtightness test analysis program for Windows-based computers. Provides automated testing with on-screen messages, detects common setup problems, generates comprehensive reports, and supports multi-fan testing with wireless connectivity.
• TECLOG 4 Software Premier software for whole building and multi-family testing as well as long-term data logging applications. Monitors and stores data from multiple gauges simultaneously.
• TEC Auto Test Mobile App Mobile app for iOS and Android devices for running automated building envelope or duct leakage tests. Works with DG-1000 and DG-700 with WiFi Link. Provides PDF report generation and includes Wind Assistant feature.
• TEC Gauge Mobile App Free mobile app providing wireless control and display of DG-1000, DG-700, and DG-500 Pressure and Flow Gauges. Includes capture feature for recording readings.
• TECBLAST Software Software that helps sell profitable duct testing and repair services by quickly analyzing duct airtightness test results. Features user-friendly entry screens and professional reports.
• TrueFlow HVAC Air Flow Mobile App Mobile app designed to work with the Digital TrueFlow Grid and DG-8 or DG-1000 gauges for comprehensive HVAC air system analysis. Available for iOS and Android.
• Pressure Pan Pressure measurement device used in zone pressure diagnostics to identify and prioritize air sealing opportunities. Available in standard and large sizes.
• Factory Calibration and Repair Services Factory calibration and repair services for TEC digital pressure gauges and Duct Blaster fans. Calibration certificates are NIST traceable and include both 'as found' and 'current condition' pressure data.

Quantifiable outcome

• Accuracy of 0.9% of reading for DG-1000 pressure measurements
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Comfort Institute (NCI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2023TEC and NCI announced a partnership for HVAC air flow and diagnostics training. NCI provides training courses that incorporate TEC equipment for hands-on instruction in HVAC airflow measurement and diagnostics. This partnership extends TEC's reach through NCI's training network while providing NCI students with access to professional-grade diagnostic tools.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Retrotec: Direct competitor manufacturing blower door systems and duct leakage testing equipment for the building performance industry. Retrotec is the most directly comparable alternative to TEC's Minneapolis Blower Door and Duct Blaster platforms.
• TSI Incorporated: Manufactures airflow, pressure, and indoor air quality measurement instruments used in HVAC, cleanroom, and industrial hygiene applications. Overlaps with TEC on precision airflow and pressure measurement for HVAC diagnostics.
• Testo: Global manufacturer of portable test and measurement instruments including HVAC airflow meters, combustion analyzers, and IAQ monitors. Targets similar HVAC contractor and building performance professional customers as TEC.
• Bacharach: Manufacturer of HVAC combustion and emissions analyzers plus airflow diagnostic instruments for technicians and service contractors. Competes with TEC in the HVAC technician diagnostic toolkit category.
• Dwyer Instruments: Manufacturer of pressure, flow, level, and temperature measurement instruments sold into HVAC, building automation, and industrial applications. Comparable to TEC's precision pressure/flow measurement technology base.
• Kanomax USA: Specializes in airflow measurement instruments for HVAC, indoor air quality, and cleanroom environments. Competes with TEC on airflow capture hoods and HVAC register/grille measurement solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Fluke Corporation: Large established manufacturer of test and measurement instruments with a broader HVAC/electrical portfolio. Overlaps with TEC on pressure and airflow diagnostics but operates as a generalist test-and-measurement incumbent rather than a building airtightness specialist.

Others

• National Comfort Institute (NCI): HVAC training organization that partners with TEC to incorporate TEC equipment in its airflow and diagnostics training courses. Acts as a distribution and adoption channel rather than a direct equipment competitor.
• RESNET: Residential Energy Services Network that sets HERS rater standards and indirectly drives demand for airtightness testing equipment like TEC's. Functions as a standards/ecosystem partner rather than a competing manufacturer.

Emerging players

• Infiltec: Smaller specialist in blower door and building envelope leakage testing equipment serving a niche of energy auditors and weatherization contractors. Partial overlap with TEC's residential airtightness testing use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TEC_Minneapolis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/energyconservatory/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/EnergyConservatory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-energy-conservatory

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 The Energy Conservatory