U.S. Green Building Council Board of Directors, February 26, 2007

SUBJECT: TSAC REPORT ON PVC

[Rachel's introduction: In assessing the suitability of vinyl as a building material, the U.S. Green Building Council has reaffirmed its commitment to precaution: "U.S. Green Building Council will be guided by the precautionary principle in utilizing technical and scientific data to protect, preserve, and restore the health of the global environment, ecosystems and species."]

From: U.S. Green Building Council, Board of Directors Date: Monday, February 26, 2007 Subject: TSAC Report on PVC

[The original memo can be found here.]

Four years ago, the Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee (TSAC) [of the U.S. Green Building Council] undertook the exploration of a question posed by the LEED Steering Committee, and raised as an issue by members through the LEED for Commercial Interiors development process: what is the technical and scientific basis for a PVC- related credit within the LEED Green Building Rating System. Having completed their intensive study of the issue, TSAC's report [2 Mbytes PDF] is attached. The publication of TSAC's report concludes one process, and begins another.

Through the course of this assessment, larger questions became evident. TSAC has thoughtfully raised these in their recommendations. The built environment itself is a complex system of systems. Therefore, it's no surprise that the study of any one material would offer no simple yes or no answers.

In order to apply TSAC's findings to a decision about credits within LEED, the report points to the fact that we must first address a series of policy issues raised through TSAC's research. These issues include:

* How should risks to human health and risks to the natural environment be reconciled?

* Should LEED offer credits for avoiding less desirable materials, or create credit incentives for the use of preferable, often innovative alternative materials or processes?

* Should LEED address individual materials through its credits, or should it focus on areas of impact?

TSAC's report will provide invaluable technical input to USGBC's policy-making processes, and will be applied together with our Guiding Principles:

* PROMOTE THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE: USGBC will pursue robust triple bottom line solutions to clarify and strengthen a healthy and dynamic balance between environmental, social and economic prosperity.

* ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP: USGBC will take responsibility for both revolutionary and evolutionary leadership by championing societal models that achieve a more robust triple bottom line.

* RECONCILE HUMANITY WITH NATURE: USGBC will endeavor to create and restore harmony between human activities and natural systems.

* MAINTAIN INTEGRITY: USGBC will be guided by the precautionary principle in utilizing technical and scientific data to protect, preserve, and restore the health of the global environment, ecosystems and species.

* ENSURE INCLUSIVENESS: USGBC will ensure inclusive, interdisciplinary, democratic decision-making with the objective of building understanding and shared commitments toward a greater common good.

* EXHIBIT TRANSPARENCY: USGBC shall strive for honesty, openness and transparency.

Going forward, consistent with the 9-step process USGBC has defined for questions addressed by TSAC, the LEED Steering Committee will review the report and its recommendations, determine which policy issues to address first, and engage USGBC's Board of Directors and other member committees to develop policies and positions in response to the issues.

Regarding any proposed changes to LEED credits that may result from this process, USGBC's membership will be the ultimate arbiter through our consensus balloting process.