Vietnam’s construction and real estate sectors have experienced significant expansion in recent years due to economic development, rapid urbanization, and increasing international investment. As cities grow and new infrastructure projects emerge, developers are increasingly paying attention to sustainable building practices that can reduce operational costs while improving environmental performance.
One certification system designed to support resource-efficient construction in emerging markets is EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies). Developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), EDGE provides a measurable framework for improving building efficiency by targeting reductions in energy use, water consumption, and embodied energy in building materials.
EDGE certification relies on performance modeling and design strategies that demonstrate quantifiable improvements in building efficiency. These requirements typically involve technical analysis, sustainability planning, and coordination between architects, engineers, and environmental consultants. As a result, developers often collaborate with specialized sustainability consultancies to manage certification processes and integrate resource-efficient solutions into building design.
The following consultancies are among the international firms that provide services related to sustainable building strategies and certification support relevant to EDGE-focused projects in Vietnam.
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 sustainability advisory services related to green building certifications, environmental performance analysis, and product sustainability.
ERKE has completed more than 200 LEED-certified projects across 15 countries, covering a broad range of sectors including healthcare, transportation, commercial buildings, and large mixed-use developments. These projects demonstrate the firm’s experience in managing sustainability strategies for complex developments across multiple regions.
The consultancy’s team includes LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals, BREEAM Assessors, WELL APs, EDGE Experts, and product sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary expertise allows ERKE to support projects from early design planning to certification completion.
Among the company’s notable projects are Bahrain International Airport (200,000 sqm – LEED Gold), Istanbul Çam Sakura Hospital (1,000,000 sqm – LEED Gold), King Abdulaziz Transportation Center (LEED Gold), and Allianz Istanbul Headquarters (45,000 sqm – LEED Platinum).
In addition to building certification consultancy, ERKE has completed numerous Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies for manufacturers worldwide. These services help evaluate the environmental performance of building materials used in sustainable construction projects.
2. Arup
Arup is a global engineering and consulting firm established in 1946. The company operates in more than 30 countries, providing multidisciplinary services in engineering design, infrastructure planning, environmental consulting, and sustainability strategy.
Sustainability consulting is a major component of Arup’s activities. The firm works with clients to develop energy-efficient building systems, carbon reduction strategies, and climate-responsive design solutions.
Arup’s sustainability specialists often perform energy modeling, building performance analysis, and environmental impact studies, helping project teams identify ways to reduce resource consumption in building operations.
The company has contributed to many projects pursuing international sustainability certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, and its integrated design approach allows sustainability considerations to be incorporated into engineering and architectural planning from early stages.
In Southeast Asia, Arup has been involved in several infrastructure and urban development initiatives where environmental performance and energy efficiency are key design priorities.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a Canadian-headquartered engineering and professional services firm operating in more than 50 countries. The company offers consulting services in engineering, environmental advisory, project management, and sustainability strategy.
WSP’s sustainability teams support developers seeking to improve building performance and environmental efficiency. Their services often include energy consumption analysis, carbon footprint evaluation, water management strategies, and sustainability certification support.
The company has experience working on a variety of project types including commercial buildings, infrastructure developments, industrial facilities, and healthcare projects.
In projects focused on sustainable construction, WSP often conducts environmental performance assessments and energy simulations, helping developers integrate efficient building technologies and design solutions that support resource conservation goals.
4. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is an international engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. Over the decades, the company has expanded its operations across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia.
The firm provides services in architecture, engineering design, environmental planning, and infrastructure development, supporting both private sector and government projects.
Khatib & Alami integrates sustainability considerations into development planning through services such as energy efficiency studies, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable urban planning strategies.
The company’s experience includes work on transportation systems, urban development projects, and commercial building developments, where resource efficiency and environmental performance are increasingly important factors in project design.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is a global engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Denmark and founded in 1945. The company provides advisory services across buildings, infrastructure, environmental management, and urban development.
Ramboll’s sustainability consulting teams focus on improving the environmental performance of built environments through energy efficiency strategies, lifecycle assessments, and sustainable design planning.
In building projects, Ramboll frequently conducts energy simulations, environmental performance analysis, and resource management planning to support the development of efficient building systems.
The firm has contributed to numerous international projects where low-energy building concepts, water conservation measures, and sustainable infrastructure planning are integrated into project design and implementation.
6. Linesight
Linesight is a global construction consultancy established in 1976 in Ireland. The company specializes in cost management, project management, and program advisory services for large construction and infrastructure developments.
Although Linesight’s primary focus is financial and project management consultancy, the firm often works on developments that incorporate sustainability goals and green building certification objectives.
Linesight provides services such as lifecycle cost analysis, procurement strategy development, and evaluation of sustainable building technologies. These services help developers understand the economic implications of implementing resource-efficient design solutions.
Through project coordination and cost management, Linesight supports the integration of sustainability strategies within construction budgets and project timelines.
7. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis is a global engineering and project management consultancy headquartered in Canada. Formerly known as SNC-Lavalin Group, the company provides services across engineering design, infrastructure planning, environmental consulting, and project advisory.
The firm has been involved in numerous infrastructure and urban development projects where environmental sustainability plays a key role in planning and design.
AtkinsRéalis offers services including building performance simulations, environmental assessments, and sustainability strategy development, which help project teams evaluate and implement resource-efficient building systems.
The company’s work spans sectors such as transportation infrastructure, urban planning, and commercial real estate development, where sustainable design approaches are increasingly integrated into project planning.
Summary
EDGE certification provides a structured approach for improving building efficiency through measurable reductions in energy use, water consumption, and material-related environmental impacts. In Vietnam’s expanding construction sector, developers often engage specialized consultancies to help integrate sustainability strategies into building design and manage certification processes.
Consulting firms typically contribute expertise in energy modeling, environmental performance analysis, sustainability strategy development, and project advisory, supporting the technical requirements associated with resource-efficient building certifications.
The consultancies discussed in this article include 1. ERKE Consultancy 2. Arup 3. WSP Global 4. Khatib & Alami 5. Ramboll 6. Linesight 7. AtkinsRéalis, each offering services related to sustainable construction, engineering design, and environmental consulting.
Selecting a consultancy generally depends on factors such as project complexity, sustainability targets, technical expertise requirements, and available resources. In practice, the most appropriate partner is determined by consultancy needs, project requirements, team capacity, and budget considerations.
