By Robyn Aitken
An attempt to credit developers who avoid using Polyvinyl chloride(PVC) in new home construction has taken a foothold within the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), but certification is still a long way off.
In a recently issued report, the council recognized that their findings raised broader questions that must be answered before any ruling can be issued. The USGBC turned over the report to its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) division for additional comments.
“With the report in hand, the LEED Steering Committee will begin a review of the report and its recommendations, determine which policy issues to address first, and engage USGBCs Board of Directors in that process,” said Scot Horst, chairman of the LEED Steering Committee.
Horst added that the handoff of the report is not necessarily a setback, but a transition in “developing a plan and timeline for USGBCs next steps.”
In 2002, the proposal to add a LEED credit for avoiding the use of PVC was discussed by USGBC members serving on the LEED for Commercial Interiors development committee. The issue was then referred to the USGBCs Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee (TSAC) later that year.
TSAC reported on the technical and scientific basis for a PVC-related credit within the LEED Green Building Rating System. A public comment period occurred in Dec. 2004.
Based on the extensive comments and papers submitted in response to the draft report, TSAC expanded its analysis to address concerns and new data raised during the process, including end-of-life issues such as backyard burning and landfill fires. Burning PVC releases highly carcinogenic dioxins — persistent toxins that are a threat to human health.
Malcolm Lewis, chairman of TSAC, questioned if, “The available evidence indicates that PVC-based materials are consistently among the worst of the alternative materials studied in terms of environmental and health impacts?
“Through the course of our intense research and study, however, we concluded that a simple yes or no answer to this question was not adequate, and a more nuanced answer which points the way to dealing with some larger issues was essential,” said Lewis.
Tom Hicks, USGBCs vice president of LEED noted, “USGBC recognizes that there are both strong environmental and human heath concerns, as well as significant industry and financial interests, at stake. We will need to continue to work closely with advocates on all sides of this issue to move forward and respond to the larger questions raised through TSACs report.”
To review the complete report and post comments, go to www.usgbc.org.
