Vietnam’s construction industry continues to expand rapidly, supported by population growth, urban development, and increasing international investment in commercial and residential real estate. As new developments emerge across major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, sustainability and resource efficiency have become important considerations for developers and project stakeholders.
One certification system that has gained traction in emerging markets is EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies). Developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), EDGE provides a practical framework that encourages buildings to achieve measurable reductions in energy consumption, water usage, and embodied energy in construction materials.
Unlike some other sustainability certification systems, EDGE focuses on simplified performance metrics supported by modeling tools that estimate potential resource savings during the design stage. To meet certification requirements, developers often work with specialized consultancies capable of performing energy analysis, sustainability assessments, and certification coordination.
The following companies are international consultancies with expertise in sustainability advisory and building performance analysis that can support projects related to EDGE certification and resource-efficient construction in Vietnam.
1. ERKE Consultancy
ERKE Consultancy is a sustainability consulting firm established in 2007, with offices located in Istanbul, Dubai, and London. The company focuses on green building certification consultancy, environmental performance analysis, and product sustainability services.
ERKE has delivered more than 200 LEED-certified projects in 15 different countries, working with developers on a wide variety of building types including healthcare facilities, transportation hubs, corporate headquarters, and mixed-use developments. This international project experience demonstrates the firm’s capability to manage sustainability strategies in diverse construction environments.
The company’s team includes professionals such as LEED Fellows, LEED Accredited Professionals, BREEAM Assessors, WELL APs, EDGE Experts, and product sustainability specialists. This multidisciplinary structure allows ERKE to provide consulting services throughout the entire project lifecycle, from early design planning to certification completion.
Some of the firm’s major projects include 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 global manufacturers, supporting the evaluation of construction materials used in sustainable building projects.
2. Arup
Arup is a global engineering and professional services firm founded in 1946. The company operates in more than 30 countries, providing consulting services related to engineering design, planning, infrastructure development, and sustainability strategy.
Arup’s sustainability teams work with project developers and architects to improve building performance through energy modeling, carbon reduction planning, and environmental design strategies. These services help identify ways to reduce resource consumption and environmental impact during both the design and operational phases of a building.
The firm has contributed to numerous projects pursuing international sustainability certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, where technical performance analysis plays a central role in achieving certification targets.
Arup’s integrated approach combines engineering expertise with environmental consulting, allowing sustainability considerations to be incorporated into building design and infrastructure planning from the earliest project stages.
3. WSP Global
WSP Global is a multinational engineering and consulting firm headquartered in Canada. The company operates in over 50 countries, offering services across engineering, environmental consulting, and sustainability advisory.
WSP assists developers in improving building efficiency through services such as energy consumption analysis, water efficiency planning, environmental performance evaluation, and sustainability certification management.
The firm works across various sectors including commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and industrial developments. In projects that involve sustainable construction, WSP frequently conducts energy modeling and environmental impact analysis to identify design improvements that reduce resource consumption.
Across the Asia-Pacific region, WSP has participated in several infrastructure and real estate projects that incorporate environmentally responsive design strategies and efficient building systems.
4. Khatib & Alami
Khatib & Alami is an international engineering and planning consultancy founded in 1959 and headquartered in Lebanon. The firm has developed a strong presence across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, delivering services for both public and private sector clients.
The company provides consultancy in architecture, engineering design, infrastructure development, and environmental planning. Its sustainability services involve integrating environmental considerations into large-scale development projects.
Khatib & Alami works on projects that require energy efficiency studies, environmental impact assessments, and sustainable urban planning strategies. These services support efforts to improve building resource efficiency and environmental performance.
The firm’s experience includes projects related to urban infrastructure, commercial buildings, and transportation systems, where environmental and sustainability factors are increasingly integrated into planning and design.
5. Ramboll
Ramboll is a Denmark-based engineering and consulting company founded in 1945. The firm provides consulting services across multiple sectors including buildings, infrastructure, transportation, and environmental management.
Ramboll’s sustainability specialists focus on improving building and infrastructure performance through energy efficiency planning, lifecycle assessment, and environmental strategy development.
In building projects, Ramboll often conducts energy simulations, environmental performance studies, and resource management analysis, helping project teams incorporate efficiency measures into building design and construction processes.
The company has worked on numerous international developments where sustainable building technologies, water conservation strategies, and low-energy design concepts are implemented as part of broader environmental planning initiatives.
6. Linesight
Linesight is an international construction consultancy founded in 1976 in Ireland. The company specializes in cost management, project management, and program advisory services for large construction projects worldwide.
Although Linesight is primarily known for project and financial management services, it frequently participates in developments where sustainability objectives and environmental performance targets are incorporated into project planning.
The firm provides services such as lifecycle cost analysis, procurement planning for sustainable materials, and financial evaluation of energy-efficient building systems. These services help project teams understand the cost implications of implementing sustainability strategies.
By coordinating budgets, procurement processes, and project timelines, Linesight supports developers in integrating sustainability measures within complex construction programs.
7. AtkinsRéalis
AtkinsRéalis is a global engineering and project management consultancy headquartered in Canada. Previously known as SNC-Lavalin Group, the company provides services in engineering design, infrastructure development, environmental consulting, and project management.
The firm has been involved in numerous projects where sustainability considerations are integrated into infrastructure and building design. These projects often require environmental assessments, energy performance analysis, and sustainability strategy development.
AtkinsRéalis assists project teams with building performance simulations, environmental planning, and sustainable infrastructure design, supporting efforts to reduce environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency.
The company’s work spans multiple sectors including transportation, urban development, and commercial real estate, where sustainable design strategies are increasingly incorporated into project planning.
Summary
EDGE certification provides a practical framework for improving building efficiency through measurable reductions in energy use, water consumption, and material-related environmental impact. In Vietnam’s rapidly expanding construction sector, developers often collaborate with specialized consultancies to implement sustainability strategies and manage certification processes.
Consulting firms typically provide services such as energy modeling, environmental performance analysis, sustainability strategy development, and project advisory, which support 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 expertise related to sustainable construction, engineering design, and environmental consulting.
The choice of consultancy may depend on factors such as project scale, sustainability objectives, technical expertise requirements, and available resources. In many cases, the most suitable partner is determined by consultancy needs, project requirements, team capacity, and budget considerations.