Sustainable construction and environmentally responsible building practices are becoming increasingly important in the global real estate industry. Developers, investors, and public institutions are focusing more on improving energy efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and creating healthier indoor environments. One of the most widely recognized frameworks for measuring sustainable building performance is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system. It evaluates buildings across several sustainability categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development. Based on the number of credits achieved, projects can earn certification levels such as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
Portugal has experienced a growing interest in sustainable building design, particularly in commercial office developments, hospitality facilities, residential buildings, and mixed-use projects. Many developers pursue LEED certification to demonstrate environmental performance and align their projects with international sustainability standards.
Achieving LEED certification requires detailed environmental analysis, strategic planning, and extensive documentation. Because the certification process involves collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, and project owners, many project teams work with specialized LEED consultants who guide them through the certification process.
Below are several consulting firms that 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 located 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 range of building types such as airports, hospitals, corporate headquarters, and transportation facilities. Some notable projects in the company’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
The ERKE team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs), WELL APs, BREEAM Assessors, and sustainability specialists, enabling the firm to provide comprehensive consulting services.
ERKE assists project teams with LEED strategy development, sustainability analysis, credit documentation management, and certification coordination. With experience delivering complex international projects, the firm helps developers and architects achieve recognized sustainability standards.
2. ARUP
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm founded in 1946 and headquartered in London. The company provides services across engineering design, architecture, urban planning, and sustainability consulting.
Arup’s sustainability specialists support projects pursuing LEED certification through services such as energy modeling, environmental performance analysis, and sustainable building design strategies.
The firm’s multidisciplinary approach integrates engineering systems, environmental strategies, and architectural design, helping project teams optimize building performance and environmental outcomes.
Arup collaborates with developers, architects, and public sector organizations worldwide to support high-performance buildings and sustainable urban developments.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Canada, operating 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 supporting LEED certification, including energy performance modeling, environmental impact analysis, and sustainable materials evaluation.
These services allow project teams to identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, and resource management during building design and construction.
WSP works closely 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 strategies into building design and construction.
Khatib & Alami’s experience in large infrastructure and development projects allows 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 reducing environmental impacts and improving energy efficiency.
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 specializes in project management, cost management, and construction advisory services for complex development projects.
Although Linesight primarily focuses on project delivery and cost control, the firm frequently participates in projects pursuing green building certifications such as LEED.
Linesight works with project teams to ensure that construction planning, procurement strategies, and project coordination align with sustainability objectives and certification requirements.
Through its involvement in large-scale developments, the firm contributes to the effective implementation of sustainability goals during the construction phase.
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 structured framework for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings, focusing on factors such as energy efficiency, water management, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. As sustainable construction continues to expand globally, many developments pursue LEED certification to demonstrate environmental responsibility and improved building performance.
Consultancy firms supporting LEED certification typically provide services such as sustainability strategy development, energy modeling, environmental performance analysis, and certification documentation management. Some firms specialize primarily in sustainability consulting, while others integrate these services within broader engineering and project advisory practices.
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 appropriate consultancy partner generally depends on project scale, sustainability objectives, certification requirements, and the expertise required within the project team.