Sustainable building practices have become a central focus in the global construction industry. Developers, architects, and investors are increasingly adopting environmental standards to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance building performance. One of the most widely recognized frameworks used to measure sustainable building performance is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is an international certification system that evaluates buildings based on several sustainability categories. These categories include energy efficiency, water conservation, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development. Projects pursuing certification can achieve different levels such as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, depending on the number of credits achieved.
In Portugal, sustainable construction practices have gradually gained momentum in recent years. Commercial office developments, hospitality projects, residential complexes, and mixed-use buildings are increasingly adopting environmental strategies and pursuing LEED certification to demonstrate environmental responsibility and align with international sustainability expectations.
The process of achieving LEED certification requires detailed sustainability planning, technical analysis, and comprehensive documentation. Because of these requirements, project teams often collaborate with experienced LEED consultants who guide the certification process from early design phases through construction and final approval.
The following companies provide LEED consulting and sustainable building advisory services relevant to projects in Portugal.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is an international sustainability consulting firm founded in 2007, with offices in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company focuses on green building certification consulting, including LEED, BREEAM, WELL, and other sustainability frameworks.
ERKE has completed more than 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries, covering a wide variety of building types such as airports, hospitals, corporate headquarters, transportation facilities, and mixed-use developments. Some major projects in the firm’s portfolio include:
- Bahrain International Airport – 200,000 sqm – LEED Gold
- Istanbul Çam Sakura Hospital – 1,000,000 sqm – LEED Gold
- King Abdulaziz Transportation Center – 20,000 sqm – LEED Gold
- Allianz Istanbul Headquarters – 45,000 sqm – LEED Platinum
ERKE’s team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), WELL APs, BREEAM Assessors, and sustainability specialists, allowing the firm to deliver comprehensive consulting services.
The consultancy supports project teams through LEED strategy development, sustainability analysis, credit management, and certification documentation coordination. With experience in complex international developments, ERKE assists clients in achieving recognized sustainability standards.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm established in 1946 and headquartered in London. The company provides services in engineering design, architecture, planning, and sustainability consulting.
Arup’s sustainability specialists support projects pursuing LEED certification through services such as energy modeling, building performance analysis, and sustainable design consulting.
The firm uses an integrated design approach that combines engineering systems, environmental performance, and architectural strategies. This approach helps project teams improve energy efficiency and environmental performance while meeting certification requirements.
Arup works with developers, architects, and infrastructure organizations worldwide to deliver high-performance buildings and sustainable urban developments.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Canada, with operations in more than 50 countries. The company provides services across infrastructure, environmental engineering, and building design sectors.
Within its sustainability consulting practice, WSP offers services that support LEED certification, including energy performance modeling, environmental impact analysis, and sustainable materials evaluation.
These services help project teams identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, water management, and resource optimization throughout the design and construction process.
WSP collaborates with architects, developers, and engineering teams to guide projects through green building certification frameworks and sustainability planning processes.
4. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is a multidisciplinary engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The company operates across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, delivering services in architecture, engineering, environmental consulting, and project management.
The firm provides sustainability consulting services including green building strategy development, environmental performance analysis, and energy efficiency studies.
These services support projects pursuing certifications such as LEED, helping project teams integrate sustainability principles into building design and construction.
Khatib & Alami’s experience with infrastructure and large-scale developments enables the firm to incorporate environmental design strategies within complex building environments.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering and consultancy firm founded in 1945. The company operates internationally across sectors including buildings, infrastructure, environment, and energy.
Ramboll provides sustainability consulting services that support green building certification programs, including LEED. The firm’s expertise includes energy modeling, carbon reduction strategies, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable building design.
These services allow project teams to evaluate building performance and implement strategies aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Ramboll works with architects, developers, and engineering teams to integrate sustainability considerations throughout the building lifecycle.
6. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy founded in 1976 in Ireland. The company focuses on project management, cost management, and construction advisory services for complex development projects.
Although Linesight primarily specializes in project delivery and cost management, the firm frequently participates in projects pursuing sustainability certifications such as LEED.
Linesight supports project teams by ensuring that procurement strategies, construction planning, and project coordination align with sustainability objectives and certification requirements.
Through its involvement in large development projects, the firm contributes to the effective implementation of sustainability goals during construction.
7. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, is a global engineering and consulting organization headquartered in Canada. The company provides services across infrastructure, engineering design, environmental consulting, and project management.
The firm offers sustainability consulting services that support LEED certification, including energy performance analysis, environmental strategy development, and sustainability reporting.
These services help project teams integrate sustainability considerations into building design and infrastructure projects.
AtkinsRéalis works with developers, architects, and public sector organizations to support projects pursuing environmental performance improvements and green building certification.
Summary
LEED certification provides a framework for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings, addressing factors such as energy efficiency, water conservation, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. As sustainable construction practices continue to expand, many developments pursue LEED certification to demonstrate environmental responsibility.
Consultancy firms supporting LEED certification typically provide services including sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, environmental performance analysis, and certification documentation management. Some firms specialize in sustainability consulting, while others integrate these services within broader engineering and project advisory activities.
Companies discussed in this article include 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. ARUP 3. WSP Global 4. Khatib & Alami 5. Ramboll 6. Linesight 7. AtkinsRéalis. These firms represent a mix of green building specialists and multidisciplinary consulting organizations involved in sustainable building projects.
The most suitable consultancy partner generally depends on project scale, sustainability objectives, certification requirements, and the expertise required within the project team.