Smart Site Planning. Lighter Footprint. Better Outcomes.
Sustainable design is the thoughtful use of energy and natural resources to create sites that are healthy, efficient, and ecologically responsible. We are passionate about protecting the environment and committed to incorporating sustainable design principles throughout our work. Our goal is to minimize environmental impact in terms of energy use, waste generation, and consumption of raw materials. We also support the use of products from manufacturers that demonstrate sound environmental practices, and we seek opportunities to reduce waste and inefficiencies through recycling, reuse, and pollution prevention.
Our approach to sustainable design is grounded in practical, site-responsive strategies that preserve natural systems, reduce material consumption, extend infrastructure life, and improve long-term environmental performance. Across site development, utility design, and stormwater management, we pursue solutions that are both environmentally responsible and technically sound.
Site Preservation
Sunde Engineering identifies site constraints and then prioritizes site layouts that minimize disturbance and preserve natural open space. Development footprints are strategically clustered to reduce land consumption, narrow road widths, and incorporate shared driveways that limit paved surfaces. Wildlife corridors, wetland restoration areas, and integrated stormwater features are used to maintain habitat continuity and support ecological function across the site. Where appropriate, traditional high-maintenance turf is replaced with native prairie grasses and wildflowers — reducing long-term maintenance needs, increasing habitat value, and maximizing green space.
Waste Reduction
Our Company reduces waste by selecting durable materials, optimizing infrastructure design, and limiting unnecessary construction. Reinforced concrete pipe and ductile iron pipe are frequently specified for their long service lives — often exceeding 50 years — which reduces premature replacement and associated waste. Advanced modeling tools allow precise sizing of pipes and utilities, ensuring materials are used efficiently. Where feasible, stormwater ponds and natural site features are incorporated into drainage systems to reduce the length and diameter of storm sewer piping. These strategies lower the volume of manufactured materials required for construction, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources.
Reuse and Recycling
Whenever practical, we incorporate existing or salvaged materials into project design and construction. Existing utilities can often be excavated and reused on site, reducing both waste and new material demand. We also support the use of recycled pavement and base materials as part of sustainable site construction, further reducing the need for virgin materials.
Energy Conservation
Sunde Engineering identifies opportunities to reduce energy use through integrated site and utility design. Green roofs are one effective strategy: they provide insulation, cool roof surfaces, and reduce the urban heat island effect. Buildings beneath green roofs typically experience lower HVAC loads. Green roofs also retain rainfall, reduce peak discharge rates, and improve water quality through evapotranspiration and pollutant removal. Optimized grading reduces cut/fill hauling — significantly lowering diesel consumption. And efficient utility routing minimizes pumping and transmission losses. Together, these strategies reduce both operational and construction-phase energy use.
Stormwater Management
Stormwater management is a central component of our sustainable design practice. We provide comprehensive stormwater design for rate control, water-quality treatment, and compliant discharge management, including projects pursuing LEED certification. On sites adjacent to sensitive environmental features such as protected wetlands, we employ rigorous erosion protection and sediment control measures throughout site preparation and grading, including diversion berms, temporary sediment basins, silt fencing, temporary seeding, and grassy swales. Where appropriate, we design biofiltration facilities, rain gardens, and permeable pavements to reduce runoff volumes, promote groundwater recharge, and protect downstream water resources while meeting watershed district and regulatory requirements.
