Natural Systems Enginering

What Natural Systems Enginering does

Natural Systems Engineering, PLLC (NSE) is a Syracuse, New York-based specialty consulting engineering firm founded in 2007 that provides environmental engineering services to government agencies, municipalities, property developers, NGOs, and residential property owners. The company's practice is organized around three core service lines: (1) green stormwater infrastructure design (porous pavements, bioretention areas, rainwater harvesting, green roofs, wetlands, infiltration measures); (2) natural channel design and stream restoration using Rosgen principles and HEC-RAS hydraulic modeling; and (3) geothermal (ground source heat pump) system design and installation, for which NSE is a NYSERDA and New York State-approved designer and installer. Additional services include hydrologic studies, dam removal feasibility assessments, and LEED certification support. Notable technical components include HEC-RAS flood modeling, Carrier HAP heat-load analysis, and field thermal conductivity testing.

The firm's business model is project-based professional services revenue derived from engineering design fees and turnkey geothermal project delivery. GTM is sales-led and direct: enterprise and municipal engagements are won through RFPs (e.g., 2014 Onondaga County Save the Rain contract as JV with Spectra Engineering), while mid-market and residential geothermal work is delivered turnkey. Customers benefit from utility rebate eligibility (NYSERDA and National Grid Clean Heat Program), with rebates of $6,450 per residential installation and up to $20,000 for full-load 2026 installations. Documented customer outcomes include stormwater management of 400,000 to 1,000,000+ gallons per year per project. The company is privately held, founder/Principal-operated (Kyle E. Thomas, P.E.), with 1-10 employees, no external funding or parent company, and a regional footprint concentrated in New York State.

Name

Natural Systems Enginering

Legal name

Natural Systems Engineering, PLLC

Website

https://naturalsystemsengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Natural Systems Engineering is a Syracuse, NY-based specialty environmental engineering consulting firm (founded 2007) that designs green stormwater infrastructure, geothermal ground source heat pump systems, and stream restoration projects for municipalities, developers, and homeowners across New York State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stormwater & Drainage Infrastructure Construction (Sewer, Detention, Outfalls) (IMAFAGAF), Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)

Keywords

• Environmental engineering services
• Green infrastructure design
• Stormwater management consulting
• Geothermal system design
• Stream restoration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Environmental Consulting Services: Provides specialized engineering consulting services for green stormwater infrastructure, watershed protection, and stream restoration projects to government agencies, NGOs, and commercial clients
2. Geothermal Design Services: Design and installation services for ground source heat pump systems including commercial project design and turnkey residential systems. Revenue generated through engineering design fees and installation project delivery

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Natural Systems Engineering is a specialty consulting engineering firm that designs green stormwater infrastructure (porous pavements, bioretention areas, wetlands, rainwater harvesting systems, green roofs), performs natural channel design and stream restoration using Rosgen principles, and serves as a NYSERDA-approved designer and installer of geothermal ground source heat pump systems for residential and commercial clients. The firm primarily serves government agencies, municipalities, NGOs, and real estate developers across New York State.

Product overview

Natural Systems Engineering is a specialty consulting engineering firm offering environmental engineering services. The company's portfolio consists of three core service lines: Green Infrastructure Design (porous pavements, bioretention, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, wetlands, and infiltration measures), Natural Channel Design and Stream Restoration (watershed protection, creek restoration, HEC-RAS flood modeling), and Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pump Systems (design and installation of vertical/horizontal ground loop heat exchangers for residential and commercial HVAC). Additional services include hydrologic studies, dam removal feasibility assessments, and LEED certification consulting. The company is NYSERDA and National Grid Clean Heat Program approved for geothermal system design and installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Green Infrastructure Design
• Natural Channel Design and Stream Restoration
• Geothermal (Ground Source Heat Pump) Design and Installation

Quantifiable outcome

• Manages minimum 400,000 gallons of stormwater per year for individual projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• River Research and Restoration, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Collaborated with River Research and Restoration, LLC on the Penfield Pond Dam Removal Feasibility Study for Essex County and Town of Crown Point NY. NSE served as lead with this partner providing technical expertise on dam removal and stream restoration assessments.
• Onondaga Environmental Institute (OEI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnered with OEI on the Penfield Pond Dam Removal Feasibility Study. The team conducted field investigations, environmental reviews, and feasibility assessments for the historic dam removal project.
• U.W. Marx Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Ground loop design for 2-building apartment complex in Albany NY representing almost 100 tons design load with 18 vertical wells. Ongoing partnership on multiple geothermal projects.
• Earth Energy Connections, Inc.supportingTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2024Performed field thermal conductivity testing for the Colvin Avenue Apartments geothermal project in Albany NY, supporting accurate system design.
• Regan DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership on the Lion Factory Apartments geothermal project (150 units, 90 wells) in Troy NY. At time of completion, this was the largest ground source heat pump system under National Grid's Clean Heat Program.
• Spectra EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2014Joint venture team winning Onondaga County RFP for Green Project Design Professional Services under the Save the Rain program. The team was awarded the contract for designing 'green streets' projects.
• Utter Well DrillingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGround loop drilling partner for residential geothermal projects including the DeWitt NY installation (350-ft vertical closed loop).
• EMM Heating ServicessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHeat pump installation partner for geothermal projects in Croghan and Lowville NY. Partner on multiple residential geothermal installations.
• Wood Well DrillingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWell drilling partner for the Schmid Guest House geothermal installation in Willsboro NY (320 ft closed loop geothermal well).
• Lan-Co ConstructionsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for green infrastructure projects including Crest Acura porous asphalt lot and Grace Episcopal Church projects under Onondaga County Save the Rain program.
• Shaffer Building ServicessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for green roof installations including Zip Networks vegetated roof and Onondaga Tower extensive green roof projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Haley & Aldrich: Environmental and geotechnical engineering consultancy with growing climate resilience, stormwater management, and sustainability practices. Comparable to NSE in environmental engineering consulting focus, though broader in scope.

Regional players

• Greenman-Pedersen: Northeast US engineering and construction services firm with environmental, civil, and site design practices including stormwater and green infrastructure work. Comparable to NSE in Northeast regional focus and environmental engineering offerings.
• Barton & Loguidice: Mid-size NY-based engineering firm offering civil, environmental, and water resources services including green infrastructure, watershed, and stream restoration. Directly comparable to NSE in geography and service mix, though larger in scale and broader in capabilities.
• C.T. Male Associates: New York-headquartered engineering firm providing civil, environmental, and site development services including stormwater management and green infrastructure. Comparable to NSE in NY geography and environmental engineering focus, though considerably larger.
• Popli Architecture + Engineering & Land Surveying: Rochester, NY-based multi-disciplinary firm offering civil engineering, site design, and environmental services. Comparable to NSE as a New York-based engineering consultancy serving municipal and developer clients.
• Fisher Associates: Western NY engineering, planning, and environmental services firm with site/civil and water resources practices. Comparable to NSE in NY geography and environmental/sustainable infrastructure focus.

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: Global engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with extensive water resources, community development, and energy practices. Represents the broader incumbent competition NSE faces on municipal and developer RFPs.
• Tetra Tech: Global engineering and consulting firm with major water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure practices including green stormwater and climate adaptation. Provides a broader, larger-scale alternative to NSE for municipal RFPs.

Direct peers

• Dandelion Energy: Residential geothermal heat pump installer and provider operating in the Northeast US with NYSERDA-eligible offerings. Comparable to NSE's residential geothermal turnkey business model, though with a more productized, consumer-facing go-to-market.
• Biohabitats: Ecological restoration firm specializing in stream and river restoration, watershed planning, and green stormwater infrastructure using natural channel design. Closely comparable to NSE's stream restoration and green infrastructure practices.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NaturalSystemsE
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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 Natural Systems Enginering