MRc5 question:

It's funny, but I don't think it does. Your policy must cover MRc1, and then you have to choose at least to address at least one of the following: MRc2, MRc3, or MRc4. For some reason, the rating system language leaves MRc5 out of the mix when outlining your options for the Purchasing Policy and there have not been any addenda to adjust this. To be safe, I would still address at least one of the three specified credits in your policy, in addition to MRc5. Remember that the high-level language outlined in your policy does not require you to actually earn (or even attempt) the credit itself as part of your LEED application, so feel free to set goals and strategies for as many categories as possible in your policy.

Along the same lines . . . We are pursuing MRc5 but the reference guide apparently does not require a specific policy for this credit and it seems to exclude MRc5 from the prereq. Can we mention Sustainable Food in the prereq and start documenting our purchases? As a state agency we are rarely allowed to pay for food services, but we do have a couple of opportunities a year - including one in March. Thanks.

p.s. The sustainable food credit also doesn't mention appropriate packaging, utensils, plates, etc., which we would like to tack on to the credit. No use serving Fair Trade coffee in a Styrofoam cup.

Hi Lee Ann,

You're free to include or exclude food from your MRp1 policy at your discretion. I recommend including it though if you're even a little bit interested in selecting sustainable food options or are thinking of attempting MRc5. It's nice to have all your sustainable purchasing criteria laid out clearly in one place.

You're right about MRc5 not being concerned with packaging. However, those kitchen supplies you mention, like disposable cutlery and dinnerware, can be tracked in MRc1 as ongoing consumables. You can find a little more information about that under MRc1.

Trista