What Sustained Ability Construction does

Sustained Ability Construction is a sole-practitioner residential energy efficiency consulting firm founded in 1999 and headquartered in the Fox Valley area of Illinois (Naperville), operating under the direction of Principal and Head Building Analyst Craig Schneider. The firm provides building-science consulting, construction performance testing (HERS ratings, blower door tests, duct tightness, thermal imaging), HVAC system design using Manual J/S methodologies, decarbonization retrofitting, utility rebate and Inflation Reduction Act incentive advisory, and grant writing services to homeowners, construction professionals, and property managers in the residential market. Its core proprietary offering is patent-pending Climate Panels, a physical building panel product invented by Schneider for residential climate control applications, marketed through a standalone climatepanels.com property alongside the main consulting practice.

The business runs as a project-based professional services operation with quote-based pricing and no publicly disclosed rates. Customer acquisition is driven by referrals, professional credentials, and presentations through affiliations including RESNET, BPI, USGBC, AIA, NEST (Naperville), the Illinois Green Alliance, and GTI Energy. Schneider's qualifications — RESNET HERS Rater, LEED Accredited Professional, BPI Building Analyst and Envelope Professional, and co-authorship of the Sustainable Naperville 2036 Climate Action Plan — form the core credibility layer for the firm. The firm transitioned from residential architecture (1999-2013) to residential construction (2008-2016) and has operated as a residential sustainability consultancy since 2016.

Commercially, the firm combines consulting fees, code-required testing fees, and Climate Panel installation revenue, with no institutional ownership, external funding, or parent company involvement evident. The entire service delivery depends on a single principal, making the business a high-expertise, founder-dependent micro-practice rather than a scalable enterprise.

Name

Sustained Ability Construction

Legal name

Sustained Ability Construction

Website

https://sustained-ability.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sustained Ability Construction is a sole-practitioner residential energy efficiency consulting firm based in Fox Valley, Illinois, providing building-science diagnostics, HERS testing, HVAC design, decarbonization retrofits, and patent-pending Climate Panels to homeowners, builders, and property managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Energy Efficiency Consulting

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Architectural Services (54131), Residential Remodelers (236118)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Testing, Adjusting & Balancing (TAB) & Performance Verification (BPABACAJ), Green Building & Energy-Efficient Construction (LEED, Weatherization) (EDAOAAAO), Housing Rehabilitation, Weatherization & Home Repair Grant/Loan Programs (FSALAKAJ), HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting (IMAFALAB), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Residential energy consulting
• Building performance testing
• HERS rating services
• Energy efficiency retrofitting
• HVAC system design

Headquarters

HQ city

Fox Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Energy Efficiency Consulting Services: Building science consulting, energy audits, cost benefit project analysis, electrification guidance, and project planning services for homeowners and builders.
2. Construction Testing Services: Performance testing including blower door tests, duct tightness testing, thermal imaging inspections, HVAC system design, and HERS ratings for code compliance.
3. Climate Panel Installation: Installation of patent pending Climate Panels for decarbonization retrofitting and energy efficiency improvements.
4. Utility Rebate & Incentive Consulting: Guidance on utility rebates, Inflation Reduction Act incentives, and tax breaks for energy efficient projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Sustained Ability Construction provides residential building science consulting, energy efficiency advisory, construction performance testing (blower door, duct tightness, HERS rating), HVAC system design using Manual J and Manual S, energy modeling, and decarbonization retrofitting services for homeowners, builders, and architects. The firm also sells and installs its patent-pending Climate Panels product as part of energy efficient residential projects.

Product overview

Sustained Ability Construction is a residential energy efficiency consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of building science consulting services and products. The company operates as a Residential Energy Coach providing energy audits, construction testing, HVAC design, and retrofit services. Their flagship proprietary product is the patent-pending Climate Panels, which complement their broader service offerings. The company combines consulting services (HERS ratings, energy modeling, decarbonization retrofitting, grant writing) with physical products (Climate Panels) and technical services (infrared inspections, weatherization, heat pump sizing) to deliver comprehensive energy efficiency solutions for homeowners and construction professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Climate Panels: Patent pending climate panels invented by Craig Schneider, Principal of Sustained Ability Construction. These are referenced as a product available for installation as part of the company's miscellaneous services including decarbonization retrofitting and emerging technology installations.

Products and services

• Climate Panels Patent-pending building panel product for climate control and energy efficiency in residential applications, invented by Principal Craig Schneider and installed as part of decarbonization retrofit and emerging technology projects.
• Construction Performance Testing

Quantifiable outcome

• Lower emissions and reduced energy costs through energy efficient residential improvements

Named customers3 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RESNETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRESNET HERS Rater affiliation. RESNET is a national standards developer for home energy efficiency rating systems, providing the HERS Index used to measure and compare home energy efficiency.
• AIA (American Institute of Architects)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner9 years legacy membership. Professional architecture organization providing continuing education and standards for residential architecture.
• BPI (Building Performance Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner6 years legacy membership with Building Analyst & Envelope Professional certifications. BPI sets standards for home performance contracting.
• USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner2x National Programs Committee Officer (2012-2013). Organization that develops LEED certification standards for green buildings.
• NEST (Naperville, Illinois)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-Chair of Building and Development Committee. Local sustainability organization for Naperville, Illinois. Co-author of Sustainable Naperville 2036 Climate Action Plan (2021).
• Illinois Green AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple time presenter at Illinois Green Alliance events. Regional green building advocacy and education organization.
• GTI EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with GTI Energy, an organization developing energy efficiency solutions for residential housing.
• Sustain NapervilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Naperville sustainability organization affiliation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CLEAResult: Large-scale energy efficiency program administrator hired by utilities and governments to run residential incentive programs — the type of incumbent Schneider may interact with on rebate/IRA projects, and a potential competitor for program-driven consulting work.
• Franklin Energy: National energy efficiency program implementer delivering weatherization, HVAC, and electrification services at utility-scale — broader portfolio but operates in adjacent residential efficiency space.
• Resource Innovations: Women-owned energy and climate consulting firm with significant residential and building decarbonization practices — a comparable consulting peer at greater scale with similar service breadth.

Direct peers

• Energy Logic: Midwest-based residential and light-commercial energy efficiency consulting firm offering blower door, HERS, energy modeling, and HVAC design services — directly overlapping with Sustained Ability's core service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Sealed: Tech-enabled residential weatherization and electrification retrofit company that combines diagnostic testing with project management — competing for the same homeowner energy efficiency wallet share with a more scalable model.
• EnergySage: Online marketplace for rooftop solar and home energy products with growing electrification content — a comparable go-to-market in driving homeowner demand for the same efficiency and electrification services Sustained Ability delivers.
• BlocPower: Residential and small-commercial building decarbonization platform focused on retrofitting older housing stock, including low-income multifamily — directly overlapping with Sustained Ability's low-income apartment retrofit work.

Others

• IBS Advisors / Illinois Building Science (HERS Rater community): RESNET and the broader community of certified HERS raters and BPI professionals represent the direct competitive set of independent raters that Sustained Ability belongs to — relevant peer ecosystem for benchmarking credentials and market position.

Regional players

• Elevate Energy: Chicago-based nonprofit focused on equitable energy efficiency and decarbonization in Illinois — a regional peer operating in the same geography with overlapping residential retrofit and incentive navigation services.
• Slipstream (now part of Elevate): Wisconsin-based nonprofit energy efficiency organization that historically delivered residential building performance research and consulting in the Upper Midwest — geographically adjacent peer with overlapping building science expertise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustained-ability-construction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Sustained Ability Construction