TSAC provides support for each of the LEED products and advice on topics as assigned by the LEED Steering Committee and the USGBC Board of Directors. TSAC provides an independent and impartial forum for vetting these technical issues.
Committee Membership
The Technical and Scientific Advisory Committee (TSAC) is a standing LEED committee comprised of 6-8 respected persons representing a diversity of building community perspectives (e.g., academia, industry, environmental organizations), and technical areas of competency (e.g., engineering, physics, architecture, construction, air quality, etc.). TSAC members are appointed by, and report to, the LEED Steering Committee with approval by the USGBC Executive Committee. The TSAC Chairperson is a member of the LEED Steering Committee.
PVC (vinyl) Task Group
TSAC has issued its final report to the LEED Steering Committee on the technical and scientific basis for a PVC-related credit within the LEED® Green Building Rating System™.
Final report: Assessment of the Technical Basis for a PVC-Related Materials Credit for LEED (PDF file, 2 MB)
Background and history of PVC Task Group, including the 2004 draft report and public comments.
LEED Steering Committee PVC Report Policy Recommendations (PDF file)
PVC Task Group's LCA Database
The database is downloadable directly here. (20.2 MB) The password is "USGBC". To view the database and perform assessments, simply download the free Demo of SimaPro software.
NOTES: The database contains data gathered by USGBC and data from the EcoInvent database. USGBC data has medium protection. You can browse all the assumptions and USGBC data, and perform analyses and comparisons. EcoInvent data is fully protected due to copyright requirements. You can see data from the EcoInvent database that was used (processes, names, etc). The results take all the EcoInvent data into account. To attain the ability to use the EcoInvent data in analyses, one must purchase a license (see www.ecoinvent.ch).
HydroChloroFluoroCarbons Task Group
The Treatment by LEED of the Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants
The LEED Steering Committee's Charge to TSAC, regarding EA Credit 4 (Ozone Protection)
Send comments or questions about TSAC to tsac@committees.usgbc.org.