What Ee Concept does

Ee concept GmbH is a Darmstadt-headquartered, German private consulting firm spun off from TU Darmstadt in 2006 that delivers sustainable-building advisory across six integrated service pillars: requirements planning and competition supervision (Bedarfsplanung + Wettbewerbsverfahren), sustainability consulting and certification under DGNB, BNB, BREEAM, ÖGNI, SGNI, HCH, NaWoh and NBBW, circular architecture and lifecycle assessment (Ökobilanzierung), material concepts and building-biology consulting with proprietary indoor-air measurement, energy concepts and building physics, and climate-protection strategies for building-stock transformation. Its offering is built on three codified assets: the SNAP methodology for embedding sustainability in architectural design competitions (2013, updated 2021, referenced in the federal 'Leitfaden Nachhaltiges Bauen'), the consortium-led DIN SPEC 91606 standard for applied building LCA (effective July 2026, aligned with EPBD 2024), and an in-house material and product database covering building-health, gray-energy and lifecycle criteria, plus a 2022–2024 BMWK ZIM-funded BIPV early-phase design tool co-developed with TU Dresden.

The customer base is dominated by German federal, state and municipal public-sector clients — BMWSB, BBSR, BBR, BImA, BMUKN, BMAS, GMSH Schleswig-Holstein and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen — alongside housing companies and developers (GEWOBA, BEAN, Alnatura Arbeitswelt) and cultural institutions (Greenpeace Deutschlandzentrale, Propsteikirche St. Trinitatis). Approximately 40 staff operate across three offices (Darmstadt HQ, Studio Berlin, Studio Süd in Mähringen); the team includes 7 DGNB auditors, 2 building biologists, a BNB coordinator and partners holding active professorships at TU Darmstadt, TU Berlin, HTWG Konstanz and TH Rosenheim, with adjunct teaching across at least nine further German universities.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees: direct consulting engagements (negotiated per project), public-procurement tenders (Verfahrensbetreuung) at federal, state and municipal level, recurring framework contracts (GMSH, BMWSB, BUKEA Bremen), government-commissioned research from BMWSB, BBSR and DBU, and continuing-education seminars for architects and building professionals through the German Architects' Chambers and DGNB Akademie. There is no software, API or AI offering; distribution runs through public tenders, reputation-driven referrals and recurring sub-consultant relationships with marquee German and European architecture firms including Partner und Partner, Schulz und Schulz, Lacaton & Vassal, C.F. Møller and Herzog & de Meuron.

Name

Ee Concept

Legal name

ee concept GmbH

Website

https://ee-concept.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ee concept GmbH is a German sustainable-building consulting firm and TU Darmstadt spin-off (2006) delivering sustainability certification, lifecycle assessment, energy concepts, and climate-protection advisory to federal, state, and municipal governments and private developers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Building Consulting

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Architectural Services (541310), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

EHS Management Systems & ISO Consulting (ISO 14001/45001) (BPAHAJAF)

Keywords

• Sustainable building consulting
• Sustainability certification
• Building physics services
• Circular architecture consulting
• Life cycle assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sustainable Building Consulting Services: The company generates revenue through professional consulting services for sustainable construction. Services include sustainability certification consulting (DGNB, BNB, BREEAM), energy concepts, building physics, circular architecture advisory, material concepts, and climate protection strategies. Revenue is project-based, with engagements ranging from individual building certifications to large-scale portfolio analyses for government agencies and housing companies. The firm also earns fees through research contracts commissioned by federal and state ministries (BMWSB, BBSR, DBU), and through continuing education/training seminars delivered to architects and building professionals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ee concept is a specialized B2B consulting firm providing sustainable building services across six integrated pillars: requirements planning and architectural competition procedures, sustainability consulting and certification (DGNB, BNB, BREEAM and other systems), circular architecture and life cycle assessment, material concepts and building biology consulting, energy concepts and building physics, and climate protection strategies for building portfolios. The firm generates revenue primarily through project-based professional consulting engagements with government agencies, housing companies and real estate developers, supplemented by research contracts from federal ministries and fees from continuing education seminars.

Product overview

Ee Concept is a sustainability consulting firm and TU Darmstadt spin-off offering comprehensive consulting, planning, research, and publishing services focused on sustainable building. The company's portfolio consists of six integrated service pillars: (1) Requirements Planning + Competition Procedures for integrating sustainability from project inception, (2) Sustainability Consulting + Certification covering all major German-language certification systems (DGNB, BNB, etc.), (3) Circular Architecture + Life Cycle Assessment for closing material cycles and carbon footprint analysis, (4) Material Concepts + Building Biology Consulting for healthy indoor environments, (5) Energy Concepts + Building Physics for renewable energy-based solutions, and (6) Climate Protection Strategies + Building Stock Transformation for portfolio-level decarbonization. The company operates at the intersection of practice, teaching, and research, and does not offer software products, APIs, or AI-powered tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bedarfsplanung + Wettbewerbsverfahren (Requirements Planning + Competition Procedures) Consulting service that supports users and clients in defining requirements, needs and goals during the needs assessment phase, and acts as competition supervisor for sustainability, expert witness or specialist jury member in architectural design competitions to integrate sustainability aspects from the preliminary design stage. For government agencies, real estate developers and architecture firms planning sustainability-oriented competitions.
• Nachhaltigkeitsberatung + Zertifizierung (Sustainability Consulting + Certification) Comprehensive sustainability consulting and certification across all major German-language certification systems (BNB, DGNB, ÖGNI, SGNI, HCH, NaWoh, NBBW) and BREEAM, including individual sustainability strategies, pre-checks, documentation, specialist planning, simulations and evidence compilation. For clients and planning teams in all project phases.
• Zirkuläre Architektur + Ökobilanzierung (Circular Architecture + Life Cycle Assessment) Services that apply circular value creation principles to establish closed material cycles through reusable or recyclable construction materials and demountable constructions, combined with life cycle assessments (LCA) for material efficiency and carbon footprint analysis across the entire building lifecycle. For building owners, developers and architecture teams planning decarbonization, resource efficiency and demountable buildings.
• Materialkonzepte + Baubiologische Beratung (Material Concepts + Building Biology Consulting) Consulting for emission-reduced material use, providing product advice on pollutant-free material alternatives and building biology-compliant construction materials with positive effects on health and comfort, including room air measurements. For building owners and planners seeking healthy indoor environments and pollutant-free construction.
• Energiekonzepte + Bauphysik (Energy Concepts + Building Physics) Development of future-proof energy concepts for quarters, buildings and portfolios based on renewable energies, with optimization of building envelope and building technology, full building physics services including simulations, evidence and monitoring. For building owners, housing companies and developers seeking renewable-energy-based, low-tech energy solutions.
• Klimaschutzstrategien + Bestandstransformation (Climate Protection Strategies + Building Stock Transformation) Advisory services for companies and municipalities to develop greenhouse gas-neutral climate protection strategies for their building stock, including portfolio analyses, development strategies, renovation and climate protection roadmaps, and implementation support. For corporate and municipal building owners managing portfolios towards Klimaneutralität 2045.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 completed or ongoing certified sustainable building projects
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022DBU co-funded the Woodscraper research project (2022-2025) developing strategies for circular timber construction in high-rise buildings, quantifying CO2 emissions, resource efficiency, and lifecycle costs. Also funded the Propsteikirche St. Trinitatis sustainable church design research (2011-2015) and the Augsburg Environmental Education Centre Ökobilanz project (2016-2018).
• Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Bauwesen (BMWSB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020BMWSB commissioned ee concept for multiple research projects including the BMWSB framework contract 'Handlungsplan Nachhaltiges Bauen' (since 2020), development of QNG and KNN funding programs, and the DIN SPEC 91606 consortium (2026). The company participates in BNB system development, SNAP methodology updates, and various research working groups on behalf of the ministry.
• Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung (BBSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013BBSR has commissioned ee concept for numerous research projects since 2013, including BNB system variants for laboratory buildings, SNAP methodology development and update (2019-2021), evaluation of BNB system (2018-2019), IR heating systems research (IR-Bau, 2017-2020), and Design2PV BIPV development (2017-2020). The BBSR is the primary governmental research funding body for sustainable construction.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012ee concept has been involved with DGNB since its founding — moderating the pilot application in 2008, developing the certification training curriculum, creating the model documentation framework, and participating in the DGNB training advisory board, expert pool, and specialist committees. The company holds multiple senior auditor designations and develops new system variants.
• Gebäudemanagement Schleswig-Holstein AöR (GMSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing framework contract (since 2022) for implementing the 'Bauen und Bewirtschaften von Landesliegenschaften' strategy for Schleswig-Holstein state properties. Includes climate protection strategy development, BNB certification consulting, conformity reviews, material strategy development, and annual climate reporting.
• Freie Hansestadt Bremen / Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft (BUKEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBUKEA framework contract (2020-2024) for various activities in energy-efficient and sustainable construction. Projects include heat recovery as renewable energy replacement, LCA methodology for demolition vs. renovation decisions, standard text modules for architectural competitions, and consultation on introducing LCA funding modules.
• Prof. Dr. Thomas Lützkendorf (Karlsruher Institut für Technologie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Lützkendorf from KIT serves as editorial lead for DIN SPEC 91606 and is a long-standing research partner in the BMWSB framework contract on sustainable building, providing academic rigor to the consortium's standards development work.
• TU Dresden / SOLARSCHMIEDE Software GmbHsupportingTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative R&D project (2022-2024) funded by BMWK's ZIM program to develop a BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaics) design tool for early planning phase analysis. TU Dresden provides academic research capabilities; SOLARSCHMIEDE provides software development expertise.
• Multiple Architecture Firms (Partner und Partner, Schulz und Schulz, Bob Gysin & Partner, Lacaton & Vassal, C.F. Møller Architects, Herzog & de Meuron, and others)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributoree concept frequently acts as sustainability sub-consultant on projects led by prominent architecture firms. While not formal channel partnerships, these ongoing working relationships with leading firms (Partner und Partner, Schulz und Schulz, Bob Gysin & Partner, Lacaton & Vassal, C.F. Møller, Herzog & de Meuron, Wulf Architekten, Kleihues + Kleihues, and many others) represent a significant distribution channel for ee concept's services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bollinger + Grohmann: Frankfurt-based structural engineering firm with growing sustainability and building physics capabilities. Frequently engaged as sustainability sub-consultant on complex cultural and public buildings, overlapping with ee concept's competition support and certification work.
• Werner Sobek: Stuttgart-based engineering and sustainability consultancy founded by Prof. Werner Sobek with strong focus on energy-efficient design, LCA, and circular construction. Closely comparable niche positioning, award-winning project portfolio, and academic affiliations.
• Transsolar: Munich-based engineering consultancy specializing in building physics, climate-responsive design, and energy concepts. Direct competitor to ee concept on building physics and energy concept services for high-profile projects, with comparable academic pedigree (Stuttgart/TU roots).
• Drees & Sommer: Germany's leading engineering consultancy with a major sustainability and DGNB practice; competes head-to-head with ee concept on federal building certifications and sustainability advisory, but at significantly larger scale and with broader service portfolio including project management and real estate consulting.

Others

• DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen): Germany's primary green building certification body. Not a direct competitor but a critical standards-setting organization where ee concept staff hold senior auditor roles and committee positions; relationship is symbiotic but also creates potential channel conflict.

Broad incumbents

• WSP in Deutschland: Global engineering consultancy with established German operations offering sustainability advisory, DGNB/BNB certification, and energy consulting. Competes in public tenders but typically delivers sustainability as part of a broader multi-disciplinary engagement.
• Arcadis Germany: Global design and consultancy firm with German sustainability practice covering ESG advisory, building certification, and climate strategy. Larger and more diversified than ee concept, competing primarily on large public-sector framework contracts.
• Ramboll Germany: Nordic-origin engineering consultancy with German sustainability practice focused on decarbonization, energy concepts, and building certification. Competes for large public-sector framework contracts and brings international sustainability benchmarks.

Emerging players

• Sphera (formerly thinkstep): Software-and-consulting provider of LCA and sustainability solutions for buildings, with strong GaBi/LCA tool heritage. Competes with ee concept on the lifecycle assessment side, particularly for corporate and industrial clients using standardized LCA software workflows.

Regional players

• ATP architects engineers: Austrian integrated design firm with DGNB-certified project portfolio and in-house sustainability expertise. Comparable boutique scale to ee concept and operates in adjacent DACH markets, sometimes competing for cross-border cultural and public-sector projects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xcompetitionline.com/buero/ee-concept/wettbewerbe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ee-concept

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Ee Concept