About us
BES is a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy dedicated to delivering sustainable, high-performance building solutions. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, we serve clients worldwide with innovative, efficient and environmentally conscious systems.
Our story
Building Energy Solutions Ltd. (BES) was founded by Sean Mac Aodh, P.Eng., and Steve Arnold, P.L.Eng., and incorporated in 2011 with a clear purpose: to improve the performance, efficiency, resilience and long-term value of buildings through practical, integrated engineering solutions.
Before establishing BES, Sean developed extensive international experience in high-performance building design and energy engineering. Working in Ireland and Australia, he contributed to major commercial buildings, stadiums and large-scale multi-unit residential developments. His expertise included mechanical and electrical engineering design, energy modelling, building-performance analysis and the delivery of complex, energy-efficient building systems.
Steve brought extensive experience in design-build construction and the management of complex special projects throughout the United Kingdom. He was recognized early in his career with the CIBSE Five Counties Award and the West Midlands Apprentice of the Year Award. His experience included managing significant design-build projects, with London's Millennium Dome among the landmark projects on which he worked.
Sean and Steve recognized a need for an engineering company that could bridge the gap between ambitious energy-performance objectives and practical, constructible solutions. BES was created to provide clients with technically rigorous, independent advice supported by real-world design, construction and implementation experience, the founders' expertise highly complementary: Sean's background in high-performance building design, energy modelling and integrated mechanical and electrical engineering, combined with Steve's practical design-build knowledge, construction expertise and special-project management experience.
In 2025, BES continued its international growth by establishing its Irish office under the leadership of Regional Director Robert Tone, extending BES's engineering and building-performance expertise into the European market while strengthening the connection to the founders' early professional experience in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Since its incorporation, BES has grown into a multidisciplinary engineering and energy-consulting firm serving commercial, institutional, healthcare, municipal and multi-unit residential clients. Although the company has expanded considerably, its founding purpose remains unchanged: to provide practical, high-quality engineering solutions that make buildings more efficient, sustainable, reliable and ready for the future.
BES was founded in response to increasing market demands for facility cost savings and energy efficiency, with a clear purpose: to deliver innovative, energy-efficient building solutions that support a more sustainable future.
Within a single year we became approved consulting engineers with both BC Hydro and FortisBC, laying the groundwork for a strong reputation in energy consulting and performance-driven design.
Our growing team moved into its first dedicated office space. By the end of the year we had helped clients secure over $1 million in utility incentives.
Demand for our services drove the team to double in size.
The incentive total secured on behalf of our clients reached $10 million.
We relocated to a larger office to accommodate continued growth.
With a team of more than 12 energy specialists and engineers, we moved to our current Vancouver headquarters, a space that reflects our commitment to collaboration, innovation and sustainability.
We expanded into Ireland. With projects across North America and Europe, BES continues to lead with expertise, integrity and purpose.
Our goal is to deliver intelligent solutions that support smarter infrastructure, reducing environmental impact, enhancing performance, and serving the evolving needs of both the climate and the communities we work with.
We uphold the highest standards across all of our work while maintaining our innovative outlook. This applies to every project, including those involving LEED, Passive House and Zero Energy Building (ZEB) certifications. Viewing sustainability as an ongoing journey, we take a holistic approach: we navigate the full roadmap to deliver solutions catered to today’s agenda while accounting for tomorrow’s potential.
Guided by our core values, we combine technical excellence with a collaborative, forward-thinking mindset. This approach allows us to create long-term value for our clients and the environment.
We are committed to fostering meaningful connections. Through a collaborative spirit, we aim to create a positive, lasting impact built on trust and mutual growth. By focusing on long-term relationships, we understand that the quality of our work is strengthened by the ongoing support of our partnerships and the people we serve.
We empower our people to create smarter solutions and more efficient processes. By fostering a culture that promotes creativity, we believe innovation thrives through collaboration. The best ideas come from diverse perspectives that come together to help us reimagine what is possible. We do not just adapt to change, we lead it.
We build strong relationships through trust. By holding ourselves to the highest standards, we can serve our community with confidence. Through consistent action and honest communication, we shape and protect who we are by always doing what is right. We take ownership of our actions.
We understand that our work shapes real-world outcomes. Through continuous improvement, we embrace challenges as opportunities to exceed expectations. From conception to completion, we focus on long-term value and uphold the highest quality in everything we do.
Our vision
To be industry leaders in sustainable and resilient engineering design.
Our mission
To deliver innovative, sustainable engineering solutions that serve our communities and the environment, today and tomorrow.
